When you're focusing on a craft...
You're not thinking of those negative thoughts that you're constantly hearing...
Or imagining.
My name is Amelia Simeonoff, I'm from Kodiak Island.
I teach sewing, beading.
Cultural activities to youth and adults.
I started working with ANTHC back in 2016.
That's when I started working with Grandma Rita Blumenstein.
She is the first traditional healer to be recognized by the governor here in Alaska.
She worked with many different porgrams.
I was just mostly taking care of her schedule.
An in one of our meetings she was like I think it would be really good if someone teaches Alaska Native arts
You can't say no to Elders so I was like I'll do it! I know how to bead! I know how to make things.
So that's where my journey began.
When I teach beading, I just tell them it's okay if you haven't beaded before.
It's okay if it's not perfect.
We were doing hearts, and this lady was having trouble...
Her sewing was all different and there were knots showing.
And then when I helped her it got better and better.
And she was the one that recognized that's me heart! this is how it was and this is how it will be when I leave.
So she saw that her heart was hurt.
She saw that she had to heal it herself.
You can't teach someone that.
It has to come within.
When you're not doing anything with your hands, or you're playing harsh video games, or if someone's talking mad trash...
Now with Tiktok and everything, it's not bad but it kind of get's to you.
You gotta remember to be gentle with yourself.
Could be depression that you're going through, or maybe you're having suicidal thoughts.
But if it's coloring, if it's painting if it's carving, anything, you gotta keep your hands moving
So you can keep your mind from that dark spot.
So I learned how to do talking circles four years ago.
It's a training circle for others, to let go of that grief, a way to love yourself again.
We'll say it's okay if you don't want to share.
But you hearing someone else's story, they heal too. That is healing because you're releasing it.
Many years ago, I used to smoke cigarettes, I used to drink alcohol.
One time, I wasn't feeling good. I was like I'm sorry, I drank.
Grandma Rita said it's okay, you made a choice.
She didn't punish me for that she said it's okay, it happens, don't dwell on that.
So from then I went on more healing and forgiving myself and others.
To prepare myself for this role. I quit drinking, I quit smoking, so I could be a better role model.
I want to be better than I was yesterday, no one else just myself.
Because it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be bumpy and there's gonna be emotions.
You just go day by day you don't worry about what's gonna happen tomorrow you just worry about the moment you are in.
Take time to recognize okay, I'm gonna do this differently.