Native American Indian General Service Office of AA
December 20, 2007 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
“The Native American Indian General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous functions to provide a vision of recovery, unity and service to the more than 500 sovereign Indian Nations in North America, which are recognized by the Federal Government. Please browse the links for information about our purpose, services, events and how to register.”
The Native American Indian General Service Office of AA is a framed web site so navigation is a bit old-fashioned.
Statement Of Purpose
“To provide a vision of service by the Native American Indian General Service Office (NAIGSO-AA) to the more than 500 sovereign Indian Nations in North America recognized by state governments and the Federal Government. The structure of the fellowship is in a form as to become attractive to the alcoholic Native American Indian. NAIGSO-AA recognizes the need for each Nation, tribe, and band to honor their spiritual customs and traditions and to base recovery on those living principles. The form of these spiritual customs and traditions cannot be separated from the social aspects of daily living and thus it cannot be separated from the structure and form of AA. This applies to individuals in recovery, to the AA group, and to NAIGSO-AA as a whole.”
I’ve read the 12 Steps and I don’t think this is for me. I was raised in Native way and Creator,
Maheo,Great Spirit is the way I see the Supreme
Being. Not God.
Another thing does God have testicles? I see God refer to as a HE.
Like I heard before the Big Book is a Bible? huh
You’re trying to tell me what Thomas? This is what I see above;
“to honor their spiritual customs and traditions and to base recovery on those living principles.”
I see no mention of “God.”
If its not for you, its not for you but I’d offer a suggestion to try to keep an open mind – you never know…
I read once about a step program for american indians called 13 feathers. im not 100% sure it was 13 but I read them in a workbook by the hazelden co. On substance abuse my wife is a micmac indian and also an alcoholic. So im looking for any information available on this. I am also in recovery and want to help her in any way I can. Please help.
Thank you
Paul B
Paul,
I’m going to have to leave this up to our readers because I have no answer.
Anyone?
To fellow A.A. members,
My name is Ross T. and I want to make you aware of the 51st ICYPAA (Internation Conference for Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous). Atlanta is hosting the convention from the dates May 21-24, 2009. The web site for additional information or registration is http://www.icypaa.org/ . I have been elected Native American Outreach chair so if you require any more information I can be reached at Uaman83@hotmail.com. Hope you have a great day, and hope to see you there!
Ross T.
I just started the SAA recovery program and I had the same trouble that Thomas did. I found something called the Spiral Steps online. I’m not fond of the word or idea “God,” so these Spiral Steps really work for me.
Here it is:
Spiral Steps
1. We admitted that we had a problem and made the decision to reclaim our lives.
2. We came to believe that there was hope for healing, health and balance.
3. We now honor our connection with the divine, as we understand it, and we accept the process of change.
4. We make a searching, fearless and honest inventory of our behavior and beliefs. We consider their effect on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves and their impact on our relations with others.
5. We admit to ourselves and to another human being what is both healthy and unhealthy in our lives and we make a daily commitment to heal ourselves in body, mind and spirit.
6. We are willing to seek our Highest Good and to grow both spiritually and emotionally.
7. We let go of dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors and we consciously welcome joy, love and peace into our lives.
8. We make a list of all beings we have harmed, including ourselves, and we become willing to make amends to them all.
9. We work to restore balance in our lives. We make direct amends to others wherever possible and we value and care for ourselves.
10. We continue to take personal inventory and promptly acknowledge both our mistakes and our achievements whenever they occur.
11. We continue to grow in compassion, strength and understanding. We learn to celebrate our lives and our connection to all living things.
12. Having had a spiritual and emotional awakening, we work to help others along the path and we practice these principles in all our affairs.
13. We seek to find our calling and to develop the will and the wisdom to follow it.
Here’s another one:
THE NINE-STEP FREEDOM TRAIL
1) We came to feel enslaved by excessive behaviors which were harmful to us, throwing our health and relationships out of balance through addictions, compulsions, or both.
2) We realized that resources were available to help us win our freedom, if we were willing to use them.
3) We became willing to reach out for help, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
4) We sought help from our Deities, fellow humans, healers, clergy, groups, or whatever source necessary, to aid us toward freedom and health.
5) We established a pattern of life-affirming behaviors, avoiding the sorts of isolation which would make us vulnerable to relapses, creating a foundation of supports which could help us recover from whatever lapses we might have.
6) We considered, acknowledged, and took full responsibility for the harm we had done to others and ourselves in the time of our slavery.
7) We considered and discussed with a neutral adult, the harm we had done, and how we might make restitution or otherwise restore balance, facing the fact that in some situations no direct redress was possible.
9) Remaining constructively vigilant in our self-regard, we continued to grow strong in health and freedom, eventually becoming a source of support for others seeking to bring their own lives into healthy balance.