36th Annual New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow Hosted by Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest

The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest hosted its 36th annual New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow, drawing thousands to Hillsboro. Marcellina Picard knows what it’s like to have an addiction. But she also knows how to overcome it. Picard, 44 and a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said she used to be addicted to alcohol and that she started drinking due to intergenerational trauma. Today, she’s been sober since 2011. “I want to give my kids a better future,” she said. Picard was one of an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people who were expected to attend the 36th organized by the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, an Oregon nonprofit that provides education, physical and mental health services and substance use treatment aimed at Native communities. The festivities, which began at 1 p.m. and were scheduled to go through midnight, were held at the Wingspan Event & Conference Center in Hillsboro. Attendees will ring in New Year’s Day after what they call a sobriety countdown — where some of the attendees will gather in a circle and honor people who have been sober for as long as 55 years and as little as a few hours. The event, which began in 1987, largely celebrates people who are in early recovery from addiction, said SandeBea Allman, chief community engagement and development officer for NARA. Typically, Allman said, on New Year’s Eve people might be tempted to drink, but the powwow provides a setting where people don’t need to have alcohol to enjoy themselves. That’s what late-elder Philip Archambault had hoped for when he started the powwow. “That was an important piece for him as he envisioned it to provide a celebration that was more traditional,” she said, “and still fun and still something exciting for the whole family.” This was Picard’s first year attending the event. She attended the festivities with three of her children and her uncle. “My uncle is very big on his sobriety,” she said. “He is putting his sobriety before anything else.” The free event was open to everyone. The annual celebration usually takes place at the Oregon Convention Center, Allman said, but the venue is going through renovations and organizers found a different location this year. Saeeda Lillieroos said her best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve was to be surrounded by people with “positive vibes.” Lillieroos, who moved to Portland from Pakistan two years ago, said she doesn’t like to drink, but she still likes to have a good time. “I like parties where there is no beer,” she said. Lillieroos, who attended the event for the first time last year, said the sobriety powwow is the perfect event to begin a new year. “God gave me this event,” she said. “This is the perfect event for me. You feel that you are not alone.” Crystal Estrada, a member of the Yakama Nation of Indians, said this was her first time attending the sobriety powwow. She attended with her children and her boyfriend. Estrada said she has not had alcohol in 10 years. “It feels good to be around youth and sober people,” she said. As for her children, she said, they were also enjoying the event. “Being at the powwow is medicine for them,” she said. “It’s healing. Trying to show them there’s another way to live.” — Yesenia Amaro | | 503-221-4395 | @YeseniaAmaro