Page 3 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - January 2025

3

RESILIENCY
From page 1
Amazing artwork was created, families
and friends laughed and cried a little. The
topic of suicide was very much in hearts and
minds as Chehalis Tribal and community
members worked on projects.
The group welcomed guest Damian
Castellane, a Puyallup Tribal member who
spoke at length with youth during the event.
Damian played Ruckus Largo in the LeBron
James-produced Netflix movie “Rez Ball.”
The inspirational film is about a Native
basketball team that faces challenges after
the team’s captain dies by suicide. This is not
an easy topic to discuss, write about or make
a movie about community response, but it is
an important one. Damien grew up around
Squaxin Island Tribe and Skokomish Tribes.
He is from the Satiacum family in Puyallup.
Panera lunch was delivered thanks to
Christina Hicks. Dinner was provided by the
Native Connections program with fish cooked
by Buck-Buck Ortivez and crew. After dinner,
attendees watched “Rez Ball” together.
You might wonder why the community
engagement activities were scheduled with
a movie viewing about Native basketball.
Prevention and awareness of suicide provided
the motivation.
This thought occurred to me as the movie
was being cued up for the group: “Working
through our cultural practices and learning
how to cope with powerful feelings of
anger, grief, loss, hatred, love, infatuation
and longing to belong are the key tools to
enabling resiliency for myself, my family, my
Tribe and community.”

Puyallup tribal member Damian Castellane,
who was featured in the movie “Rez Ball,” spoke
with youth during Behavioral Health’s Suicide
Prevention and Awareness event on Jan. 18.
Participants worked together to build community
resiliency through cultural activities.