Indian Child Welfare Services:
82 foster children and youth received care, assistance, and access to needed services. Another 80 siblings also received assistance and access to community resources. A total of 47 Native foster homes, licensed by United Indians, were also reviewed and given licensing support during the year. 94 foster parents were also given regular parenting, counseling, and services support.
Indian Child Welfare Advocacy takes place in the form of United Indians representation on the Local Indian Child Welfare Act Committee (oversees off reservation ICW cases), we also sit on the DSHS State Tribe 701 Policy Committee which oversees services to Indian families on and off reservation.
Since the inception of our ICW component we have worked closely with over 200 tribes nationwide in matters of child services. We work closely with 7 Washington State tribes providing foster home licensing service and advocacy.
Therapy & Treatment:
72 children and 120 other family members benefited from family reconciliation services and Indian child welfare services. 48 victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse received counseling, anger management, and other support and advocacy services. 33 families received alternate response services to keep them out of the CPS system and 26 young people participated in cradleboard activities. Another 15 children worked on self-esteem and cultural identity issues while learning how to make powwow regalia and how to dance and drum.
Elder Services:
127elders were fed balanced nutritional lunches during the week and participated in conversation and other activities involving nutrition, health care, and community resources.
Support & Advocacy:
118 street kids and other low-income youth took part in re-entry educational classes (for suspended youth or those who had dropped out of school), computer literacy classes, and crisis counseling. Some also received assistance with the juvenile justice system and all were given access to other community services and resources.
Substance Abuse Outpatient Treatment:
259 youth were assessed for alcohol and drug abuse and participated in outpatient treatment and enhancement services.
Housing:
275 homeless youth were housed at the United Indians Youth Home as part of the transitional living program, interim and foster group care, or emergency placement by the juvenile justice system. These youth were given meals, and participated in educational and employment opportunities, medical care, crisis counseling, life skills work, mental health services, cultural activities, and transportation to other community services.
Daybreak Gallery of Native American Art:
1,140 students and adult visitors received an educational guided tour of the art collection at Daybreak Star. Another 800 individuals attended exhibition openings of several Native artists from around the region who were featured during the year with two or three month periods. 3,375 additional visitors attended the 9 Native American Art Markets that were held during the year.
Community Education:
1,296 young people and adults took GED tests at our testing center in an effort to further their education in preparation for jobs, apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, and higher educational facilities.
Indian Seafair Powwow
10,200 community members and local residents attended the annual Indian Seafair Powwow hosted by United Indians at Daybreak Star.
Daybreak Star Cultural Center
10,920 visitors came to the Center during the year to see the art collection and visit the gallery. Another 11,180 participated in various events at the Center ranging from international conferences, state gatherings, weddings, funerals, drumming and dancing groups, and various Native American annual and quarterly gatherings.
Maritime Heritage Canoe House
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation continued work on the Native American segment of the South Lake Union Park. This project will consist of a longhouse and a canoe carving shed that will be used primarily as a learning facility for youth and a ceremonial place for the community.
National Community Building
Since 2003, The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation has housed and provided lead thinking, staff and technical support the National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC). The NUIFC is a national coalition dedicated to providing an Urban Indian learning platform and developing relationships between American Indian organizations from 18 different cities and 22 different American Indian service organizations. The NUIFC has organized 4 national summits including representation from Government, Philanthropy, other national American Indian organizations, Universities and stakeholders. For more information on the NUIFC visit www.nuifc.org
International Community Building
In December 2005, the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF) Board of Directors unanimously appointed Phil Lane Jr. (Yankton Dakota/Chickasaw) as Chief Executive Officer. Through this appointment, UIATF joined forces with the Four Worlds International Institute For Human and Community Development based in Alberta Canada to implement the Four Worlds Model for Human and Community Development as the integrative scheme of thought for all UIATF programming. Through this partnership, an international network of Indigenous peoples has been united and is steadily growing across the Americas and beyond. The primary focus of this international network is the manifestation of the Reunion of the Condor and Eagle through The Fourth Way, as prophesized by the Ancient Ones. Background information on The Fourth Way: An Indigenous Contribution for Building Sustainable and Harmonious Prosperity in the Americas is available by emailing fourthway@unitedindians.org.
