Leo Teton talks on the Healing with our Bungu Spirit panel on March 11.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Providing a safe place for the community to heal through their grieving journey together is the goal of the Waapi Kani Cedar House Mental Wellness & Recovery Center 2024 Grief Conference.
It’s the 21st annual event and took place at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center on March 11 and 12. This is the first year it’s a two-day event at the request of the 2023 survey, which has given them the opportunity to offer more on the agenda, like icebreakers, a horsehair activity, presentations, and cultural sharing.
Each year an animal is selected to be the focus of the conference, with this year’s theme, “Healing with our Bungu Spirit.” Bungu Spirit honors the deep connection between Indigenous people and the bungu (horse).
Jason Butler, Behavior Health Manager, wanted to see more community participation with the common components of togetherness, helpfulness, love and community.
“So I think just getting back to that idea of helping each other, you know which is a cultural belief that we have,” said Butler.
Jason Butler, Behavior Health Manager, talks to FHBC’s Ladd Edmo, on day two of the Grief
Conference.
A packet distributed to participants stated, “Grief involves the process and emotions we experience when our significant relationships are disrupted or come to an end, often due to events like death, divorce, relocation, theft or destruction.”
Grief is an internal journey where individuals must focus on healing and reconstructing their sense of self. It reaches its conclusion when we have addressed the absence of the lost person or thing and can resume daily activities again.
Butler said when we talk about grief we talk about the loss of people and with the slideshow they present it shows they have people of all ages who have passed on, making it not just exclusive to maybe one age group or one type of person.
“People are passing on from all different things, we have things like suicide, which can be hard to deal with,” he said.
He hopes the event will show people they have a lot of different options to help them through their grieving process.
“It all starts with this, the community coming together and just being one,” said Butler.
Each day had a panel. Moderating both of them was Alonzo Coby.
The first day’s panel featured experienced horse handlers, who talked about how their love of caring for the animal has taught them how to deal through their grief journey. The panelists included Krissy Broncho, Leo Teton, Denny Teton and Clarence Teton.
Horses mean a lot to Clarence Teton who talks to them when he’s going through times of grief because they listen. One thing he enjoys doing is watching his horses and he’s still learning from them.
“It’s therapy for me, because I learned that each of these horses can trust me,” said Clarence. “They’re a good therapy.”
Clarence shows his horses they’re appreciated by taking time to cedar them. He finds joy in caring for them and showing them love.
Leo Teton referred to the horse as a gift, who possesses a power to help heal. He said it was important to always have respect for the animal.
Leo said that horses have always been there for him and helped him through the loss of his daughter and son. His daughter passed after a courageous fight with cancer and he shared his last moments with her. He said everyone grieves differently, his advice to others is to be strong and to remember to pray every day. He told people that laughter is the best medicine and told a couple of jokes to get the crowd chuckling. He suggests everyone get a horse.
Recovery Coaches ask participants to share memories of their loved ones during an icebreaker.
Krissy Broncho talked about getting hurt while riding as a young girl, but how she managed to overcome and get back on. Her most important lesson in life is to live each day to the fullest. She said anyone can be called home by the Creator at any time. She encouraged people to let go of bad feelings. She reminded people to reach out to their loved ones and said it’s important to communicate and to tell them you love them.
Krissy said any animal that can be a support for you through your time of grief is important.
Denny Teton was asked how he knew his bungu was connected to him, he said they are sensitive animals. “My horses, they know me,” he said. Denny said he had to put down a horse and there’s grief that comes with that too.
The second day of the conference opened with a prayer by Fort Hall Business Council Treasurer Ladd Edmo.
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Develynn Hall welcomed attendees by talking about the loss of her aunt and her process of healing.
Hall said, “No matter where we are in life there’s always grief and how you handle it is up to you.”
Her advice was not to let it consume you and to have conversations with one another, especially the youth about grief.
A moment of silence was observed for the late Donna Honena, who recently passed. She was the employed with the Tribal Health Department for 35 years and worked as the Manager of Four Directions Treatment Center and Recovery Coach Coordinator.
Recovery coaches led an icebreaker that gave participants the chance to speak of their grief and their loved ones.
Annique Dayley, a Chaplain at Enhabit Home Health and Hospice did a presentation on her work and the topics of grief, death and suicide.
A healing panel, consisting of Prairie Caldwell, Gifferd Osborne, Lexie Teton, Raedyn Teton, and Raelyn Dixey spoke about what they learned while dealing with loss and trauma in their own lives and how staying close to their horses helped them cope.
A healing panel on day two of the Grief Conference. Gifferd Osborne speaks.
Gifferd Osborne talked about the passing of his two sons and said it was tough for a parent to see their child struggle. He said for youth to learn to let things go and to listen to their parents and be good. He talked about how hard it was for a parent to experience the loss of their children. For him, he has leaned on the cultural teachings of his father and family to move forward and also believes in the healing power of prayer.
Prairie Caldwell was told to talk to animals when she was frustrated and they would be there for her. They would also never get mad at her. Prairie lost her favorite uncle and since then has dedicated all of her accomplishments through basketball and relay in his memory. She sees the need for our community to have more of a relationship bond with animals because if you take care of them, they’ll take care of you.
Raelyn Dixey was young when her father committed suicide and she didn’t understand it. Being with her horses meant a lot to her and they were there for her through the daily struggles of life and work. She sees horses as positive in her life and finds peace in relay racing.
Raedyn Teton had a bad horse accident during relay racing, which resulted in a serious brain injury. Through it all she still respected her horses and said they have always been constant in her life. She said when one looks into a horses eyes it can also be a mirror to your soul.
She noted that grief is not always about losing somebody to death, but when they go through hard times and they change, as she’s witnessed in her family.
Lexie Teton spoke about her experience with the loss of her boyfriend to suicide, which she witnessed first-hand. The incident severely changed her, giving her PTSD and severe depression. However, it was the strength and love of her family and companion that pulled her through everything that was getting her down. She continues to be hopeful in her outlook on life and would one day like to take over her grandfather’s horses.
Moderator, Alonzo Coby said horses mean a lot to the panelists and their processes of grieving, while also emphasizing the importance of family, hard work, listening to elders and showing respect to animals.
Tribal elder Zelphia Towersap offered the prayer for lunch. The remainder of the day was spent viewing the memorial video, Language & Culture Department did an activity presentation, there was a Missing Murdered Indigenous Persons session and closing prayer and round dance led by Jason Butler.