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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Early Childhood Center, Tyotkas Use Food to Bridge Generations

April 13, 2016

Jon Ross introducing Kenaitze delegation

Jon Ross introduces a song before the Kenaitze delegation performed at the U.S. Forest Service Chief’s reception honoring the Capitol Christmas Tree.

The Early Childhood Center and Tyotkas Elder Center are using food to help connect the wisest members of the tribe with some of the youngest.

For the past few months, Early Childhood Center students have been visiting Tyotkas to eat lunch with Elders, sharing tables, food and conversation.

“It’s important to us to bridge that gap between the younger kids and the Elders,” said Diane Bernard, education and disability coordinator at the Early Childhood Center.

Bernard said the programs had a similar arrangement in the past, but it wasn’t until last summer when the idea was reborn and planning began.

Now the partnership is established and visits have been occurring once every couple weeks, with about five ECC students participating each time.

During a visit in November, Nikiski resident Sam Hodena sat at a table with Diego, a student from ECC. Hodena began attending Tytokas events in summer 2015 after seeing a flyer at the Dena’ina Wellness Center and said she appreciates the transportation services offered by the tribe and enjoys going to the beach with Elders.

As Hodena ate baked ham, corn on the cob and macaroni and cheese, Diego played with small toys across the table between bites of food.

“Everything is wonderful,” Hodena said, smiling at her younger counterpart.

Also in attendance was Barbara Kinzy, who recently moved to the central Kenai Peninsula from Crooked Creek, Alaska, to help care for her mother.

Kaydence Kline-Samson, right, looks at Barbara Kinzy's beaded ear rings

Kaydence Kline-Samson, right, looks at Barbara Kinzy’s beaded ear rings at Tyotkas Elder Center. Kaydence was at the center with others from her class at the Early Childhood Center.

Kinzy shared a table with 4-year-old Kaydence. Together, they cut corn from the cob, played with plastic sea creatures and practiced writing letters of the alphabet.

“I can do letters!” Kaydence exclaimed, holding up a piece of paper mid-meal.

The move drew a chuckle from Kinzy.

“She’s very intelligent,” Kinzy said.

For their part, Tyotkas staff has embraced the partnership as well.

Employee Deb Coveyou, taking a quick break from serving food, said the children bring energy to the building and that it’s fun watching them interact with the Elders.

“They’ve been so awesome,” Coveyou said. “They’ve been good little kids.”

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Locations

Kenaitze Administration • (907) 335-7200
Dena'ina Wellness Center • (907) 335-7500
Early Childhood Center • (907) 335-7260
Yaghanen Youth Programs • (907) 335-7290
Tyotkas Elder Services • (907) 335-7280
Na’ini Family and Social Services • (907) 335-7600
Kenaitze Tribal Court • (907) 335-7219

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Heidi King, NCAC II, CDCS

Recovery Support Manager/Counselor
Heidi has eight years of experience in the chemical dependency field. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from the University of Alaska. She is a nationally accredited Chemical Dependency Clinician, and a state accredited Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor.

Heidi has a background in providing residential chemical dependency counseling. She is certified as a Conflict Resolution and Relapse Prevention Trainer with the National Association of Addiction Counselors. She is also a certified Peer Supports Trainer and Supervisor through the Alaska Commission of Behavioral Health Certification.

When she’s not serving un’ina, Heidi teaches yoga as a certified and registered instructor. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time with her child, spouse, and numerous pets, camping all over Alaska.

Heidi provides chemical dependency counseling services in group settings and individual sessions.

Heidi can personally relate to chemical dependency and is passionate about helping those seeking recovery supports. For Heidi, healing is community, and community is an important part of connection with one’s self. She sees the positive ripple effect that healing can provide throughout the community.

Fridrik Rafn Gudmundsson, MSW, LCSW

Recovery Support Manager
Fridrik has earned his master’s degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He studied massage therapy in Iceland, and became fascinated with the mind-body connection. He completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a psychology minor.

Fridrik has had the opportunity to live in four countries and to travel to many others. He counts finding and marrying the love of his life and adopting his son among his greatest accomplishments. He is grateful to be able to live in this beautiful and sacred part of the world and to serve the Tribe and un’ina, “those who come to us.”

When he’s not serving un’ina, Fridrik loves spending time with his family, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, traveling, and having fun. He enjoys learning, listening to music, and taking time for spiritual practice.

Fridrik provides assessments and individual, family and group psychotherapy at Chuq’eya Qenq’a, Birch Tree House.

For Fridrik, coming to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe felt like coming home. The more he learned about the Tribe and its history, as well as the history of the Alaska Native people, the more he knew he had found a place to be of service.

Teresa A. Ford, MSW, LMSW

Behavioral Health Clinician
Teresa earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Limestone University in South Carolina, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Campbellsville University in Kentucky. Teresa’s experience includes serving homeless and other disadvantaged populations, as well as work in outpatient rehabilitation, hospice, chemical dependency, adult and adolescent counseling, and prevention.

Teresa appreciates the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s traditional values. She sees them as a driving force in how we treat ourselves and others, and how we serve those in need of help.

When not serving un’ina, “those who come to us,” Teresa spends her time bonding with her family, creating and traveling. She also enjoys learning about Alaska Native culture, exploring new hobbies, and gardening.

Teresa provides individual, family, and group therapy services. Teresa takes a variety of approaches to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Teresa has always been a helper at heart. Being able to overcome the things she experienced growing up in South Carolina empowered and inspired her to help others navigate through their life journeys.