Cottonwood Connections is a suicide prevention grant that began in December of 2016. It is a 5 year grant, received from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), and runs into September of 2021. The grant was successfully written and submitted by the MSPI team, their evaluator, and their Supervisor. This grant focuses on utilizing Northern Cheyenne identity (history, culture, language, and spirituality) as the basis of prevention. The premise is to teach tribal members, especially the youth, their identity by instructing them in their oral history and exposing them to the Cheyenne language. From this early history and the life lessons, values, and disciplines emulated and outlined in this history, youth will learn the value of life, the value of each other, and to work together to create a healthy future for themselves, their family, and the community. Currently, the Northern Cheyenne Curriculum is being developed and outlined for use in the schools and in programs. A coloring book project is also being outlined, which will give young kids the opportunity to learn their history in a fun and interactive way. Cottonwood Connections has already conducted a Community Readiness Assessment to gauge the community's feasibility to change in regards to addressing suicide by means of prevention, education, and intervention. This scoring and pertinent data is available to the Northern Cheyenne community and can be viewed at the Community Health Programs' office in Lame Deer, MT. A series of surveys involving Northern Cheyenne knowledge is being developed and will be implemented in the coming future. Please participate and encourage others to participate. What is learned from these surveys will help shape the direction and focus of the grant's efforts. Pass the word to your fellow tribal and community members. Even though this grant focuses on suicide prevention, it will provide a great opportunity for tribal members and community members to learn more about the Northern Cheyenne history and identity.
