Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 4, 2006 14:22:45 GMT -5
Comic addresses suicide among Native youth
Strip drawing attention from Native American tribes
Native American Times 9/28/2006
www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?actionfiltered=displayarticle&artic\
le_id=8213
<http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8\
213>
A new comic tailored to Native youth takes aim at stopping the epidemic
of teenage suicide.
�"Darkness Calls�" relates the story of a teen named Kyle, an
overweight youngster desperately unhappy at home and school. An evil
spirit called Weetigo attempts to lure Kyle into taking his own life.
Animator Steve Sanderson, Cree, said the attempted suicide of a cousin
inspired him to create the comic.
�"He just called me out of the blue and said that he was going to
kill himself," said Sanderson in a June of 2006 interview. "He meant it.
He was at the end of his rope."
Sanderson rushed to his cousin�'s side and tragedy was averted, but
the scare got him thinking about the mounting toll of teen suicide and
what can be done to stem its evil tide. National figures show suicide is
the second cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives aged
15 to 24 and the third cause of death for Native American children aged
10 to 14. In Canada, where Sanderson is based, the statistics among
First Nations youth are similarly grim, with some reserves posting
suicide rates almost ten times the national average.
Non-profits groups have jumped behind the comic, praising it for its
positive message and appeal to teenagers.
�"It�'s the story of a teenager that feels socially isolated and
has difficulty at school. Even though Kyle has tremendous artistic
talent and the support of a good friend he finds one day just too
overwhelming and considers taking his own life,�" said Sean Muir of
the Healthy Aboriginal Network in Vancouver, British Columbia.
�"It�'s the story of the struggle between good and evil over the
spirits of youth.�"
Muir also said the comic could have an impact on �"hard to reach
populations.�"
When Natives living in Canada celebrated the annual National Aboriginal
Day this past summer, 33,000 issues of the comic book were distributed
free of charge. Readers caught on and the strip is now seeing increasing
interest from south of the border. Workers with the Circle of Life Youth
Program, part of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, recently
placed an order for 1,000 copies.
For more information call 604-876-0243 or e-mail
sean@thehealthyaboriginal.net.
Strip drawing attention from Native American tribes
Native American Times 9/28/2006
www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?actionfiltered=displayarticle&artic\
le_id=8213
<http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8\
213>
A new comic tailored to Native youth takes aim at stopping the epidemic
of teenage suicide.
�"Darkness Calls�" relates the story of a teen named Kyle, an
overweight youngster desperately unhappy at home and school. An evil
spirit called Weetigo attempts to lure Kyle into taking his own life.
Animator Steve Sanderson, Cree, said the attempted suicide of a cousin
inspired him to create the comic.
�"He just called me out of the blue and said that he was going to
kill himself," said Sanderson in a June of 2006 interview. "He meant it.
He was at the end of his rope."
Sanderson rushed to his cousin�'s side and tragedy was averted, but
the scare got him thinking about the mounting toll of teen suicide and
what can be done to stem its evil tide. National figures show suicide is
the second cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives aged
15 to 24 and the third cause of death for Native American children aged
10 to 14. In Canada, where Sanderson is based, the statistics among
First Nations youth are similarly grim, with some reserves posting
suicide rates almost ten times the national average.
Non-profits groups have jumped behind the comic, praising it for its
positive message and appeal to teenagers.
�"It�'s the story of a teenager that feels socially isolated and
has difficulty at school. Even though Kyle has tremendous artistic
talent and the support of a good friend he finds one day just too
overwhelming and considers taking his own life,�" said Sean Muir of
the Healthy Aboriginal Network in Vancouver, British Columbia.
�"It�'s the story of the struggle between good and evil over the
spirits of youth.�"
Muir also said the comic could have an impact on �"hard to reach
populations.�"
When Natives living in Canada celebrated the annual National Aboriginal
Day this past summer, 33,000 issues of the comic book were distributed
free of charge. Readers caught on and the strip is now seeing increasing
interest from south of the border. Workers with the Circle of Life Youth
Program, part of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, recently
placed an order for 1,000 copies.
For more information call 604-876-0243 or e-mail
sean@thehealthyaboriginal.net.