Northern Quest Resort and Casino - Sept 27th - Sept 29th 2016 Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Camas Path Airway Heights, Washington

Registration Information

Registration Type	Price	Fee	Quantity
3-Day Early Bird Registration	$200.00	$0.00	Ticket Quantity Select

3-Day Registration after 9/16	$250.00	$0.00	N/A
1-Day Early Bird Registration	$75.00	$0.00	Ticket Quantity Select

1-Day Registration after 9/16	$100.00	$0.00	N/A
Camas FoundationCamas Foundation is a vision of the Kalispel Tribe to help the community, such as the Tree of Healing. Registration fees are reduced due to the generosity of Camas Foundation. Donations are very much appreciated to continue this valuable work in the community. Camas Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation and all donations are tax deductible.	Enter donation ($)
Ladies of Native Comedy & DinnerTwo hours of comedy and a contemporary Native gathering meal. Conference attendees may purchase one ticket, limited additional tickets may be available at the conference. Comedy and dinner ticket sales end 9/16/2016 - hurry and register.	$5.00	$1.27	Ticket Quantity Select

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Event Details

We are very excited about our confirmed presenters for this year’s Tree of Healing conference. There are many additional presenters that are in process and we will add as they confirm their availability.  Bio’s for each presenter will be posted as they come in.

There are up to 22 CEU’s available.

 

Tree of Healing Conference 2016

AGENDA

 

 

Tuesday, September 27^th - Cultural Track

 

7:30am-8:15am            Check In and Breakfast

8:15am-8:30am            Opening Song

Welcoming & Housekeeping: Glen Nenema

 

8:30am-10:00am           Keynote Speaker: Lowa Beebe - A Way of Life, Creating Spiritual and Conscious Awareness

 

10:15am-11:45am         Breakout Sessions:

Room 1– Lowa Beebe

Room 2- Jack Gladstone – Native storytelling and songs

Room 3- Pending

 

 

12:00pm-1:30pm           Lunch (Provided)

 

1:45pm-3:15pm            Keynote Speaker: Cecilia Firethunder - Heroic Servant Leadership: Using the lessons of our ancestors from long ago coupled with cultural values and teachings for our nations and people to succeed for individual, family and community

 

3:30pm-5:00pm            Breakout Sessions:

Room 1- Cecilia Firethunder

Room 2- Theeda New Breast

Room 3- Lois Ellen Frank – Native American traditional foods (Red Mesa Cuissine) Healthy eating with traditional foods.

 

 

Wednesday, Sept 28^th - Clinical Track

 

7:30am-8:15am             Check In and Breakfast

 

8:15am-8:30am             Wake up Song

Welcoming & Housekeeping:

 

8:30am-10:00am           Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kevin McCauley – Managing Recovery

 

10:15am-11:45am         Breakout Sessions:

Room 1– Phil Diaz, Phd – FAS

Room 2- Pending

Room 3- Wiley Harwell D.Min., LPC, NCGC-IIIdentifying and Treating Problem Gamblers, History of problem gambling as a diagnosis, Assessment tools, Gambling and Native Americans, Treatment.

 

 

12:00pm-1:30pm           Lunch (Provided)

 

1:45pm-3:15pm             Keynote Speaker: Jane Middleton Moz (Trauma)

 

3:30pm-5:00pm            Breakout Sessions:

Room 1– Jane Middleton Moz -Training for professionals treating trauma clients

Room 2- Tom Cloyd – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy in Indian Communities

Room 3-Pending

 

Entertainment:

 

5:30pm–7:00pm            Dinner: Stew, Fry Bread and Huckleberry butter (all proceeds will be donated to local food banks

 

6:00pm-8:00pm            Ladies of Native Comedy

 

 

*concessions will be available for the entertainment

 

 

Thursday, Sept 29^th – Community Track

 

7:30am-8:15am             Continental Breakfast

 

8:15am-8:30am             Welcome, Keynote Speaker

 

8:30am-10:00am           Keynote: Adrianne Chalepah "Think like a Comedian: The healing power of positive thinking and humor."

 

 

10:15am-11:45am         Breakout Sessions:

Room 1- Carol LaRue STRESSCARE: Activating Habits for Health, Happiness & Harmony

Room 2- Steve Saffron - The Healing Power of a Positive Attitude and Laughter is Medicine

Room 3- Larry Watson, Director – Muckleshoot Tribe, Adult Behavioral Health Recovery House – Lessons learned from 8 years of transitional recovery.

 

12:00pm-1:30pm           Lunch

 

1:45pm-3:15pm            Keynote: Steve Saffron (Hat Guy)

 

 

 

Jack Gladstone is “Montana’s Troubadour.”

An enrolled citizen of the Blackfeet Indian Nation, Jack illustrates Western and Native American culture through a mosaic of music, lyric poetry, and spoken word.

Jack is a cultural bridge builder, articulating historical, mythological, and contemporary narratives through his songs and public presentations.

In a career spanning over three decades, Jack has most recently been recognized with the 2015 Montana Governor's Humanities Award and the Art Council Innovation Award. In 2014 "Jack Gladstone and Friends" were featured on Montana PBS. Previously, in 2013, Jack was inducted into the University of Washington Alumni Hall of Fame and was recipient of the C.M. Russell Heritage Award. Jack's most recent release, "Native Anthropology" (2011) garnered the prestigious Native American Music Award for Best Historical Recording.

 

 

 

MaureenGreeley
Executive Director

Maureen Greeley has worked with and for the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling since 1998, becoming Executive Director in November 2006. Her commitment to expanding treatment services and awareness of Problem Gambling is demonstrated not just at ECPG, but in her service at state and national levels. At the national level, she holds an Affiliate seat on the Board for the National Council on Problem Gambling and is the Board’s Immediate Past President. In 2013, Maureen received the NCPG Award for Advocacy — recognizing dedication to improving the lives of problem gamblers and their families through advocacy, training, and the promotion of public awareness. She has presented on Problem Gambling, Process Addictions, Responsible Gaming, Gambling Counselor Certification, Social and Internet Gaming Standards and more across the United States. In Washington State, she serves on the Problem Gambling Advisory Council for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ Behavioral Health Administration. Maureen is a volunteer in the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program at Providence St. Peter Hospital, where she serves as a compassionate companion to dying patients on their end-of-life journey.

 

 

Cecelia Firethunder is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, her clan is the Kiyaksa Tiospaye from the Pejuta Haka/Medicine Root District of Kyle, South Dakota. The elders gave her first Lakota name in her clan, which is Tawachin Waste Win (her will is good) and as an adult in ceremony the grandfathers gave her the name of a grandmother who was a healer who had been watching her to carry. Spoke only Lakota till age five, at catholic boarding school learned English. Cecelia moved with her family to California on the Relocation program in 1963, completed high school and became a nurse. Cecelia co-founded the American Indian Free Clinic in Los Angeles in the 70’s, after moving to San Diego in 1976 co-founded the American Indian Health Center in 1979.

 

After living and learning away from home returned to Kyle in 1987, co-founded the Oglala Lakota Women’s Society whose work brought attention to the violence against Lakota women and children. The Oglala Sioux Tribe was the first tribe in 1989 to pass a mandatory arrest ordinance in response to the women’s work. She helped with the creation of Cangleska Inc. on the Pine Ridge and Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains who worked with tribes and tribal communities in the region. She had the first resolution passed at the 2001 National Congress of American Indians recognizing the high rates of violence against Indian women in Indian country. The tribe and community also addressed the child abuse/sexual abuse issues by reviewing and strengthening the children’s code along with training and investigation protocols for tribal law-enforcement.

 

Cecelia traveled for the next 15 years to tribal communities in U.S. and spent five years across Canada on many reserves for Health Canada, Assembly of First Nations and Indian Northern Affairs Canada. Of the hundreds of keynotes given the most memorable was the Spirit of Worldwide Healing where she addressed over a thousand in her beginning period of being deaf in 2003. She was the only native person from U.S. invited to the gathering in Edmonton, Alberta where the many reserves shared their projects/programs from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation grants on the impact of residential schools.

 

In April of 2003 soon after setting up a office for the re-election of Senator Tim Johnson she lost her hearing, however continued to work with volunteers in six of the nine districts and traveling to University of Iowa Medical Center for evaluation and subsequent surgery for cochlear implants which allowed her to hear. Senator Johnson retained his seat and she ran for the Presidency of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and became the first woman ever chosen to lead the Tribe. She is the President of Oglala Lakota Nation Education Coalition, Board of Directors for Little Wound School (K-12) and Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye (Medicine Horse Society) addressing trauma in children using Lakota healing practices After along career in health related issues, she is a adjunct instructor at Oglala Lakota College, where she teaches Lakota Language, Culture, Traditional Art and American Indian Women.

 

She travels to many tribal communities as trainer, facilitator and motivational speaker, as she addresses issues of long term affects of trauma: historical, institutional, family and community. Healing is possible from all these traumas, as a long time member of boards also understands internalized oppression behaviors in work places, leadership and community.

 

 

 

 

Native American with a modern twist

A Santa Fe, New Mexico     based chef, author, Native foods historian and photographer Lois Ellen     Frank was born in New York City and raised on Long Island, New York with     her father's side of the family. She is from the Kiowa Nation on her     mother's side and Sephardic on her father's side. Her first career     experiences were as a professional cook and organic gardener. Lois has spent over 25 years documenting foods and life ways of Native     American tribes from the Southwest.  This lengthy immersion in Native     American communities culminated in her book, Foods of the Southwest     Indian Nations, featuring traditional and contemporary recipes.     It won the James Beard Award in the Americana category and was the     first Native American book to win the award. She has worked with     world-renowned chefs, scientists and academicians and collaborated with     them to publish many culinary posters and cookbooks. She has worked with     National and International advertising agencies as well as many editorial     clients as a chef and a photographer. Lois received her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in Culinary     Anthropology in July 2011. Her dissertation entitled The Discourse and     Practice of Native American Cuisine: Native American Chefs and Native     American Cooks in Contemporary Southwest Kitchens, will also be one of her     next books, tentatively entitled The Turquoise Plate. She received her     Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology in May, 1999 where she focused on     the importance of corn as a common thread to all Indigenous tribes     throughout the Americas. In October of 2011, Dr. Frank was awarded the Krider Prize for Creativity     by the UCDA Foundation, University and College Designers Association, which     honors creativity in an individual or organization at their annual     conference held this year in Phoenix, Arizona. She continues to be involved in research on foods, including medicinal and     spiritual plants, as well as working on projects focusing on the importance     of traditional foods amongst Indigenous Peoples throughout the     Americas, as sustenance and their uses ritually.  Her Ph.D. thesis     examines contemporary Southwestern Chefs using indigenous ingredients in     their cooking and how this is representational of their own identities. She     worked with Native American & Non-Native chefs that combine traditional     ingredients with contemporary techniques. A big part of her dissertation     work included the senses, the ethno-aesthtics of food and food     presentation, and food as an integral part of local identities.She     continues to use her strong photographic background with her learned     academic knowledge to publish books, museum exhibitions, and papers on this     subject. Chef Frank is a featured cooking instructor at the Santa Fe School of     Cooking where she teaches about Native American foods of the     Southwest.  Guest Chef appearances have taken her to many famous     restaurants around the country where she, with Native Chef Walter     Whitewater (Diné) have prepared delicious menus from the foods she has studied.      She continues to teach about foods as a guest chef, lecturer, and     instructor Nationally. Dr. Frank is an adjunct professor at the Institute of American Indian Arts     (IAIA), in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she teaches a four credit science     class on the Indigenous Concepts of Native American Food, from a curriculum     that she developed. Dr. Frank has appeared in several TV Shows including, "Southwest     Cooking with Bobby Flay" Food TV Network, a segment entitled cooking     with Native American Foods produced by Kashi, and released two public     education DVD's as part of the Food for Life program with the Physician's     Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) using Plant Based Ancestral     Native American ingredients for healthy Native American cooking entitled     "The Power to Heal Diabetes: Food for Life in Indian Country" Dr. Frank has written food articles for New Mexico Magazine, Guest Life New     Mexico, Edible Santa Fe, Aboriginal Voices,Vegetarian Times Magazine, to     name a few, on foods of the Southwest and Native American foods of the     region. In many of the published pieces she has been the photographer     as well as the author and the chef. She was the project coordinator for an     event at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, entitled, Connecting     Communities: Native Foods and Wellness. Chef Frank started a Native American Catering and Food Company named Red     Mesa Cuisine. Red Mesa cooks for private events, parties, weddings,     corporate meetings and gallery openings as well as Native events     and organizations all over the United States.  Red Mesa combines     Native American Culture and Cuisine by providing patrons with the history     of the foods from the Southwest Indian Nations where she along with Chef     Walter Whitewater (Dine) give patrons a unique fine-dining experience     unlike anything anywhere in the state. Chef Frank has worked with the     Cultural Conversance (TCC), American Indian Science and Engineering Society     (AISES), the Tohono O’odham Community Action group (TOCA), the Center for     Sustainable Environments at the University of Northern Arizona University     (CSE), the Cultural Conservancy in San Francisco, the California Indian     Basket weavers Association (CIBA), Museum of Natural History in New     York,  The Grand Canyon Trust, Bioneers, The Global Center for     Cultural Exchange (GEEC), and The New Mexico Community Foundation and     opened the exhibit Totems to Turquoise at the Southwest Museum in Los     Angeles. Corporate Clients include the Sysco Board of Directors, Seed     Savors Board of Directors, Women in Business, as well as The Garden Club of     Portland, Kiva Fine Art Gallery and many others. Chef Frank along with Chef Whitewater taught a series of cooking classes at     the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC), the Institute of American Indian     Arts (IAIA), on Healthy Native American Foods and cooking sponsored by PCRM     and taught a Native American Kids Camp for the Santa Fe Public Schools. In addition, Dr. Frank was the keynote speaker at FUZE SW in September of     2014, she presented at the American Indian Institute (Aii), Native Women     and Men's Wellness Conference in conjunction with the University of     Oklahoma in Albuquerque, New Mexico and at the American Association of     Diabetes Educator's (AADE) in Las Vegas, Nevada entitled " Ancestral     Diets for Modern-Day Native Americans: Reclaiming Health and Healing     Diabetes. Dr. Frank was of the featured speakers with Chef Whitewater at     the Quecham Tribe's first Health and Wellness Conference in Yuma, Arizona.     The two chef's traveled to Guam as part of the Guam's humanities council's     project I Tano yan O Tasi, Land and Sea - Ecological Literacy on the U.S.     Pacific of Guam  and cooked for one of their featured events entitled     Eat Your Heritage 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner as part of the councils aim     to promote a healthier lifestyle by eating local foods which the chefs     cooked with other local Chamorro chefs. They traveled to the Ukraine in 2013 and to the United Kingdom in 2015 as     culinary ambassadors with the U.S. Embassy. As culinary diplomats they help     educate on the ancestral Native American cuisine foods and promote the     foods of the Americas. She has been the subject of many articles on foods, chefs, and authors of     the Southwest and continues to be active in all aspects of her     career. Her research and documentation in written, photographic, and     food form includes the agricultural, culinary, mythological, and     socioeconomic uses of foods & plants amongst various indigenous peoples     all over the Americas.  She continues to be actively involved in her     photographic career working with a diverse group of clients as well as     pursuing her academic knowledge and teaching about foods of the     Americas.

 

Dr. Kevin McCauley is a non-practicing physician who has worked in the field of addiction treatment for nearly two decades. Kevin first became interested in the treatment of substance use disorders while serving as a Naval Flight Surgeon for Marine Corps heavy-lift helicopter and fighter/attack squadrons. Due to the Navy’s policy toward treating such disorders as a safety (rather than moral) issue, he witnessed pilots self-report their addiction since they knew they would be treated medically and, once safe to do so, returned to flying status under careful monitoring. “These were charismatic and otherwise highly-capable, self-disciplined pilots who did come forward and ask for help – and they all got better and went back to flying! That just destroyed the prejudice I had picked up in medical school that addicts never ask for help and once an addict, always an addict.”

Unfortunately, the Navy did not have a similar policy for other kinds of addiction, and when he found himself addicted to opioid pain medications following a surgical procedure he was imprisoned by the Marine Corps in solitary confinement, court-martialed, and transferred to the U.S Army’s maximum-security prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Once released, the Navy paid for Kevin’s treatment, for which he will always be grateful.

Kevin now has over ten years of continuous sobriety and has worked in a non-clinical capacity at several treatment centers giving lectures on the neuroscience of addiction and recovery management concepts. His career path has taken him from Orange County, California to Salt Lake City, Utah where he currently serves as Director of Program Services at New Roads Behavioral Health in Sandy and Provo. He has given over two thousand lectures on addiction and recovery throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and Australia. His main interest is the debate over whether or not addiction can rightfully be considered a “disease.” Kevin also continues to assist pilots with substance use disorders through his collaboration with the Air Line Pilots Association’s HIMS Program.

In 2014, Kevin married his ninth-grade sweetheart, Kristine. They currently live with her son Ethan in Hawaii, where Kris teaches second grade at the Honolulu Waldorf School. Kevin hopes eventually to resume his medical training and return to the practice of medicine.

 

 

Dr. Phil Diaz is a much sought after speaker who brings 30 years’ clinical experience to life in his presentations. His cognates include Clinical Neuropsychology, School Psychology, Human Development, counseling, and measurement. He is DDA’s Field Services Psychologist and Clinical Team Lead for Region 1. His trainings receive high marks from audiences with topics like: “Anatomy of a Meltdown;” “Behavioral Ecology;” “Functional Assessment;” “Positive Behavior Support;” “Data Analysis;” and “Behavioral Phenotypes of Specific Genetic Disorders.”  Dr. Diaz is also a much sought consultant for issues of private and governmental mental health service providers when designing services for populations with special needs.

 

 

Wiley D. Harwell is the executive director of the Oklahoma Association for Problem and Compulsive Gambling. Wiley has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southern Methodist University, a Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University. Wiley is a licensed professional counselor, a certified employee assistance professional, advanced certification in hypnotherapy, and is a national certified gambling counselor-II.

Wiley has served as the director of employee assistance programs for twenty years and has provided counseling to employees and family members for over fifty companies. During that time he has provided training programs to these companies and currently leads trainings for tribal casinos and well as continuing education for mental health professionals on problem gambling.

OAPCG is the official affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling. As the affiliate, Wiley administers the Oklahoma Helpline, leads training for certification to become a certified gambling counselor, works with tribes to promote responsible gambling, promotes awareness for problem gambling to the public and government officials, and works in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse as an advocate for all aspects of problem gambling issues. In July 2012, Wiley was elected to serve a three year term as a board member of the National Council on Problem Gambling and currently is serving as the president of the NCPG board of directors.

Wiley resides in Norman, is married and has four children, four grandsons and enjoys time on an acreage east of town.

 

 

 

Jane Middelton-Moz, Director of the Middelton-Moz Institute, is an internationally known speaker and author with over thirty-five years of experience in consultation, training and community intervention. Ms. Middelton-Moz has served on the Board of NACOA (National Association of Children of Alcoholics) and the Advisory Board of NANACOA (National Association of Native American Children of Alcoholics) and has been awarded the distinction and title of "Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Canada." She has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and has held numerous direct service, management and executive positions in large non-profit corporations and community agencies.

Skilled at meeting the particular needs of an organization, Ms. Middelton-Moz is a dynamic keynote presenter and is known for her highly successful "hands on, participant driven " workshops. She is recognized for her work in the areas of adult children of alcoholics, multi-generational grief and trauma in individuals, families and communities, ethnic and cultural awareness, anger, cultural self-hate, differential diagnosis, values in the workplace and in families, empowering employees and creating positive work place environments.

Ms. Middelton-Moz has appeared on national television shows including Oprah, Maury Povich, and Montel Williams, on the Discovery Channel and has had her own PBS special. She has also been quoted in US News and World Report and The Washington Post business sections on issues related to the high cost of negativity, bullying, mobbing and unhealthy anger in the workplace.

She is the author of Children of Trauma: Rediscovering Your Discarded Self, Shame and Guilt: Masters of Disguise, Boiling Point: Dealing with the Anger in Our Lives, Boiling Point: The Workbook, Welcoming our Children to a New Millennium: A Daybook of Hopes and Wishes for the Future, Values from the Front Porch: Remembering the Wisdom of Our Grandmothers and co-author of: After the Tears: Reclaiming the Personal Losses of Childhood, Bullies: From the Playground to the Boardroom — Strategies for Survival, The Ultimate Guide to Transforming Anger: Dynamic Tools for Healthy Relationships.

 

 

 

Adrianne Chalepah is an American Indian (Kiowa/Apache) entertainer from Anadarko, Oklahoma. Growing up she experienced much hardship facing poverty, alcoholism, and abuse; however, she’s believes this prepared her for a career in stand up comedy and motivational speaking, which began while attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where she made her stage debut and studied filmmaking. In 2009 she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts; and in 2010 her comedy career took off when she teamed up with the popular comedy troupe 49 Laughs Comedy. Since then, Chalepah’s performances have gained recognition, landing her features in magazines and on television. In 2012 she was honored to open up for the First Lady Michelle Obama at a campaign event. Passionate about indigenous/female empowerment, she formed the world's only all-female, all-Native American comedy group, Ladies of Native Comedy. Adrianne is currently a mother of three, wife, and businesswoman.

 

 

Carol LaRue is author of the book, The Art of Self-Health, Creating Total Well-Being from theInside Out. She is a licensed occupational therapist, speaker, and integrative wellness coach. Her wellness training includes brown belt certified Nia technique movement instructor, certified Pilates mat exercise instructor, certified instructor of Transformation Meditation, Level 2 teacher of The Art of Feminine PresenceTM and training in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. She is owner of LifeCentrics and creator of "The Art of Self-Health", an integrative model for wellness. Her traditional and non-traditional health care experience includes individual and group movement coaching and therapy, out-patient rehabilitation clinic start up and management, and senior corporate health care management. Her training and application in mind/body health spans over 25 years and includes experience in providing various forms of mindful exercise and movement, stress management education, customized individual and organizational wellness coaching and consultation, and facilitating group retreats and workshops for well-being.

Carol's passion is assisting groups and individuals in fully realizing and appreciating their innate self-health capabilities through education, personal empowerment, movement and authentic self-expression. In her navigation through several personal losses and health challenges, including the sudden death of her daughter and overcoming breast cancer, she "walks her talk" by creating balance, joy and meaning while teaching and helping others do the same in their unique lives. Carol brings an honest sense of grounding and "real life practicality" into all of her teaching and coaching.

 

 

 

STEVE SAFFRON

Biography

Steve Saffron has been a national trainer and motivational speaker since 1989. Steve's educational skills along with his keynotes and workshops have earned him the "Phoenix Choice" award for community service. Steve also received the "Leadership Inspiration" award from the Arizona Future Business Leaders of America. Recently, the Salt River Pima/Maricopa Indian Community honored him with the "Devoted and Distinguished Service" award for over twenty years of educational service with the Indian community.

Scottsdale Community College
Steve started working at Scottsdale Community College in 1975 when the college enrolled only 28 Native American students. As Director of the American Indian program he was instrumental in developing a staff of five people, and in 1980 raised $199 thousand dollars to create and launch the Tribal Management Program.

In 1985 as a full-time professor at SCC Steve created-and for ten years-taught the first Laughter, Humor, Play Class and the first Friendship Class in the nation for college credit.

Humor Expert & Faculty Emeritus
In 1996, the Maricopa Community College District honored Steve as "Humor Expert in Residence" for his innovative and creative teaching tools in the area of laughter, humor, and play. Steve was the Wellness Motivational Speaker for the Maricopa District, and for eight years he taught five different topics on personal and professional development. The District has ten colleges throughout the greater Phoenix area, and is the largest college district in the country with over 275,000 thousand students. During this time Steve also worked with Native Americans whereby he learned and developed some of his most innovative and creative teaching tools.

On November 2003, Dr. Arthur W. Decabooter, President of Scottsdale Community College, honored Steve with the "Faculty Emeritus" distinction for his professionalism and outstanding contributions to the college. At the ceremony, Dr. Rufus Glasper, District chancellor recognized Steve’s exemplary legacy with the following statement: “On behalf of the Governing Board and the entire Maricopa District, I wish to congratulate and honor you for your dedication and outstanding accomplishments in teaching and learning, during your long and distinguished career as a full-time faculty member with the Maricopa District.”

In January 2005, Steve retired from the Maricopa District and now works full-time as a professional speaker. Steve now does over 100 professional speaking engagements annually throughout the country, and around the world.

Steve's Mission: To use humor and friendship to help people lighten up and grow personally and professionally.

Life & Work Expericnce: High School counselor at Alchesay high school with 380 Apache students in White River, Arizona. Full-time professor and counselor at Scottsdale Community College.

Army Finance in Viet Nam, 1968 & 1969. Entrepreneur and President of Saffron Perspective, Inc, since 1989. Farmer & Fisherman-you can take the boy out of Ohio, but you can't take Ohio out of the boy. Raised three kids, and now have eight beautiful grandchildren. I refer to them as my eight university professors.

Education: Graduated Phoenix Union High School in 1961. Graduated in the first graduating class at Mesa Community College. Received Bachelors and Master's degrees from Arizona State University, and majored in Sociology and Counseling.

Advanced Areas of Study: Values Realization, Laughter, Humor and Play, Friendship, Wellness, Self-Esteem, Empowerment and Customer Service.

Honors: Distinguished and Devoted Service Award-Salt River Indian Community. Phoenix Choice Award. Leadership Inspiration Award-Business Leaders of America. Humor Expert in Residence with the Maricopa Community College District. Faculty Emeritus-Maricopa College District, and the Arizona School Counselors Award from the Arizona Counselors Academy. Soldier of the Month, 129th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam, October 1968.

 

Responsible Gaming counselors will be onsite each of the three (3) days.                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have questions about Tree of Healing @ Northern Quest Resort and Casino - Sept 27th - Sept 29th 2016? Contact Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Camas Path