Native American Advocacy Program Celebrates 15 Years

By Heather Haley

The Native American Advocacy Program celebrated their 15th Anniversary and office dedication on Saturday, July 7th. It may have been 100 degrees, but the hot weather did not damper the spirits of the people who attended the celebration.
The Native American Advocacy Program (NAAP) began in 1992. In 1997, they merged with the Tateya Topa Ho Independent Living Center to strengthen their voice for Native Americans with all types of disabilities in South Dakota. The NAAP is a nonprofit Native American organization for persons with all types of disabilities as well as youth and communities at risk.
The NAAP began as a federal grant project to do education about mental illness in Indian country. “From there we developed an advisory group and we decided to establish an organization to help those with psychiatric disabilities,” comments Marla Bull Bear, NAAP Executive Director. “Our first project was to develop a mental health code that addressed involuntary civil commitment for Native Americans in the state.” With the help of about 20 people from throughout the state, the code was written and today four of the nine South Dakota tribes have adopted this code.
There was then an opportunity to write a grant to establish a center for independent living for people with all types of disabilities. “We were able to help those with physical or psychological disabil-ities,” comments Bull Bear. “This became the first Native American Center for Independent Living in the nation.” The Independent Living movement was started by those with disabilities. “We really believe that the program must be consumer-guided,” said Bull Bear. “Eventually the group asked us to manage the program.” Today there are two centers for Independent Living – one here in Winner and one in the Navajo Nation. 
The NAAP also serves non- Native Americans. “We serve those that live on or near the reservation,” comments Bull Bear. “So, people living in Winner that have a significant disability are eligible to receive independent living services from us.” There are also three other independent living centers in the state. They are located in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Rapid City. The Winner location is the only rural-located center.
The Independent Living Services Program offers Four-Core Services. These 4 basic services include Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Support Groups, Information Referral, and Lay Advocacy. During the Independent Living Skills Training, NAAP helps people with adjusting to life with their disability. This is commonly seen with those who have a newly developed disability and are just returning to their homes. Peer Support Groups help people get connected with peers in the community. Information Referral is available for people to connect with outside resources they may not know about. Finally, Lay Advocacy is available from the NAAP by teaching people to stand up for themselves whether it is on housing issues or other issues that are affecting them.
The NAAP also provides a Home Modification and Adaptive Pro-gram. This program allows for grab bars, ramps, etc. to be installed in a person’s home. Qualifications for this program are based on income. The ramps are provided from the prison industries and then NAAP hires local contractors to install the much-needed ramps.

The NAAP has also received a grant that allows them to rehab people’s homes that need things such as wider doorways for wheelchairs or roll-in showers. “We have about $10,000 to spend per home to use for needed adjustments,” comments Bull Bear. “There are some homes here in Winner that we are currently working on.” The grant the NAAP received is quite competitive, but they are planning on reapplying for it this year. The Forgivable Loan Program, as it is referred to, through the Federal Home Loan Bank, allows the homeowner to not make any repayments if he or she lives in the home for at least 5 years.
The NAAP is also an Accredited Prevention Provider for alcohol, drug, and violence prevention. “We work with the native youth in our more isolated communities,” comments Bull Bear. “We would also like to establish an after school program for Native Americans here at the Winner school this fall.” The Prevention program is more than just an after-school program. “We work with the kids from a cultural perspective,” said Bull Bear. This year the NAAP is providing Youth Leadership Camps each season. The next four-day youth camp will be held in White River in August. The camp provides a time for youth to learn about traditional art, along with a time to hear from their elders. Along with the NAAP, there are also partners who help them provide these camps. The partners are Sinte Gleska University, Reclaiming Futures Program, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Diabetes Program, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Wellness Court.
The celebration held on Saturday, July 7th, was held to not only recognize the efforts of the Native American Advocacy Program, but to also recognize some special people who have helped the NAAP throughout the years. Among those honored at the celebration were Senator Julie Bartling, Legislators; Tom Van Norman, and Theresa Two Bulls Theresa Maule, attorney, Gib Sudbeck, Director of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Lionel Bordeaux, President of Sinte Gleska University.
The Saturday celebration was also used to dedicate the Native American Advocacy Program’s new offices. Their new office is located in the old Home Federal Bank building located along Highway 18. “We’d love for people to just stop in and see our new place,” said Bull Bear. “It’s always an open invitation to stop by and have a cup of coffee with us.”

For 15 years, the Native American Advocacy Program has helped youth and adults in need. “I have had the great opportunity throughout the years to help people,” said Bull Bear at Saturday’s celebration. “We need to show our youth that we have committed our hearts to them.” For 15 years Bull Bear and others have committed not only their hearts, but also their minds and souls to the youth and disabled people of this community.