The Fathers of Tradition addresses the issue of helping those men who have not been a part of their children’s lives due to incarceration, alcoholism, drug abuse and other addictions that caused them to become estranged from their families. Fathers of Tradition is a culturally oriented educational program that helps develops fathering skills for Native American men. It is a cognitive, behavioral and spiritual program. The curriculum has life skills embedded in each session. It includes ceremonial activities like the sweat lodge, smudging, drumming and singing that may be included. The Teachings of the Elders provide the foundation for the curriculum. Some of the core elements of the curriculum include talking circles, mind mapping, mentoring, experiential learning, traditional story telling, cultural practices and service learning.

Opening Ceremony

Watch DVD module

Talking Circle

Mind Mapping