New Mexico CYFD Cultural Services to Indian Youth

New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
Cultural Services to Indian Youth

Indian youth at YDDC form a drum group and record a four track CD entitled, "War Wolves Future Chiefs."

The lack of access to culturally relevant and appropriate services is among the issues affecting American Indian youth in short or long-term confinement in New Mexico (NM) Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) controlled facilities. Incarcerated Indian youth often come from rural and distant Tribes or Pueblos in NM. For a variety of reasons, Indian youth have little contact with their families or tribal service providers while in CYFD custody. The lack of contact with family and/or tribal service providers affects the rehabilitation, treatment, and re-entry plans for incarcerated Indian youth.

In FY 2007, the CYFD provided funding to the American Indian Development Associates (AIDA) to provided cultural services to incarcerated Indian youth. The underlying purpose of the project is to provide culturally relevant technical assistance and training. The project will also address CYFD's mandates under the NM Children’s Code (§32A-1-4 NMSA et. seq.) that require provision of culturally appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services to confined Indian youth located at the John Paul Taylor Center in Las Cruces, NM and the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center in Albuquerque, NM.

Through the project AIDA provides a cultural services program in collaboration with the CYFD Tribal Liaisons, CYFD Program Managers, CYFD Juvenile Correction Officers and the AIDA Cultural Advisors and/or consultants. Through the program the team is able to do the following:

Plan and implement spiritual-based activities,

Plan and implement cultural activities,

Plan special activities, such as speaking engagements and presentations, and

Plan and conduct onsite training for CYFD facility staffs.

With assistance from Shawn Miller, Cultural Advisor to the project, youth at YDDC formed a drum group and recorded a four track CD entitled, "War Wolves-Future Chiefs." Each member of the group was provided a copy to take home when they leave the facility. The WarWolves recently received an invitation and performed for the opening ceremonies for Native American Day at the State Legislature.

Other cultural activities include, sweat lodges, spiritual counseling, talking circles, storytelling, arts and crafts, and cultural preservation activities utilizing different media and technology. Special activities and presentations are conducted quarterly and include, presentations on traditional subsistence and tribal justice systems. Plans are underway to bring to the YDDC facility the first ever CYFD Traditional Feast and Exhibition Powwow. The purpose of the event is to show case how Native American drum groups and dancers use their culture to form and shape positive identities.

As a result of this program, incarcerated Indian youth are able to use culture-based methods, approaches, values, and philosophies to address their behavior issues. It was reported, that the youth who participated in the culturally appropriate services through this project were less likely to be a behavioral problem when they returned to the regular programming schedule at each facility. These youth who had very limited family contact due to the distance and lack of transportation for their Indian families were able to maintain their Indian identity and culture through the services provided by this program.

AIDA is currently seeking out volunteers to provided activities beyond this year's funding. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact AIDA at the below contact information.