Walk for Prevention Brings Awareness to Local Students
Contributed by Lily Elliston, MY House Communications Intern
Today, people from in and out of the community in Sutton, Alaska, gathered for the Walk for Prevention. Students from Yah Ne Dah Nah and Sutton Elementary, school staff, City Council members, elders, and other members of the community came together for a community walk starting at the Sutton Library and ending at the C’eyiits’ Hwnax Life House Clinic. Along the way, they stopped to take part in Ahtna cultural learning, singing, and dancing.
Once arriving at the walk destination, local recovery vendors were set up with tables and merchandise, ready to engage with participants of the Walk for Prevention and teach a little bit about what each program specialized in. Storytelling, games, activities, and lunch were also included in the event.
“My younger brother had an alcohol use disorder, and hosting the Walk for Prevention today is my way of giving back to his memory,” said Alma Robinson, who is a Tribal Opioid Response Case Manager and Chickaloon Village Traditional Council member.
As part of the Walk for Prevention, students participated with local comic book authors Dimi Macheras and Casey Silver from 80% Studios, who are the authors of “The Chickaloonies” graphic novels. Dimi and Casey hosted an official Chickaloonies Character Collaboration Workshop, in which the students got to gather around and give their feedback on what the character design, background story, and plot of the students’ unique comic would be.
“One of our favorite things to do is collaborate with students in the workshop, where they give us ideas and suggestions,” Dimi shared. “Casey will field the questions, and I will draw the character live.”
“This is Screech the Sailor Cat and his friend Spike the Turtle,” Casey remarked. “They are captains of a giant yacht.”
Emily Jordan, principal of Sutton Elementary, stated, “It’s exciting to learn more about our local community and unite with other organizations. We like to put the message of prevention at the front of kids’ brains, talking about awareness and about consequences to choices that are being made. It’s been fun, and we were lucky to be here.”