The Wellbriety Movement

Journey of the Sacred Hoop makes stops in the area“Our mission is 100 communities in healing by 2010,” said Don Coyhis of the Mohican Nation, who is president and founder of White Bison, Inc., an American Indian nonprofit organization based in Colorado Springs, Colo.

White Bison is a facilitator of the Wellbriety Movement, which teaches that culture is key to prevention of chemical dependency and other dysfunctional behaviors, according to the White Bison Web site.The White Bison philosophy:“We know that we are part of the change that needs to take place,” Coyhis said.

But, he said, no one can change a community directly. He said change begins with individual healing. Once individuals change, he said, families begin to change, and when families begin to change, communities—and eventually nations—begin to change.

He emphasized the role that culture plays in wellbriety, a term defined by White Bison as being sober and well.

“Our culture is prevention,” said Coyhis, noting that being well involves people knowing and living who they are.