About this story: In response to recent suicide attempts on the reservation of The Colville Confederated Tribes, James Pakootas & Devonte Pearson of New Age Warriors were asked to facilitate and guide creative writing workshops with grades 7-12 at Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School as a way to build positive coping skills, as well as teach and sharpen artistic forms of expression to the student body.

James, being a fellow graduate of LRHS, and an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes quickly realized the gravity of the situation, and the importance of community support in that moment. Together; James, Devonte, and Indian Education Program employee, Liz Peasley facilitated 32 sessions in 4 days as a way to connect with our young ones, help them connect with each other, themselves, and learn how to organize their thoughts, then put those thoughts on paper in any artistic form they saw fit for that moment.

This short documentary chronicles a 4-day-journey of artistic expression of self amidst trauma during a global pandemic.

Watch a video about these creative writing sessions:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Text ‘HOME‘ to 741741 to be connected with a crisis counselor