Victor I. Howery Memorial Award

The “Victor I. Howery Memorial Award” is given for significant contributions to the field of rural mental health. This year’s recipient is Paul Mackie. Dr. Paul Mackie is currently Professor and BSSW Program Director in the Department of Social Work at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Paul has been a member of NARMH for over 18 years having served as President, Treasurer, and currently the membership committee chair. He earned his Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1999. His MSW education focused on socio-economic (macro) practices and interventions. Dr. Mackie earned his Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Denver in 2005. He teaches Introduction to Social Welfare, Introduction to Social Work, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Chemical Dependency and Social Work, and macro social work practice classes. His practice experience includes working in child protection in East St. Louis, Illinois, providing micro and macro family-based social services on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, evaluating practice effectiveness within the Denver Indian Family Resource Center, and performing hospital social work in St. Louis, Missouri. His current scholarship and research focuses on developing an understanding about social work students' attitudes toward practicing in rural areas and is developing a model aimed at predicting who are more likely to become rural social workers. He has been published in the Journal of Rural Mental Health and has several scholarly works in progress.

 

Going to Bat Awards

The “Going to Bat Award” is given to an individual for advocacy in the area of rural mental health above and beyond the call of duty. It is given to an individual who has consistently advocated (supported, promoted, stood up for, championed, defended, made room for, protected, etc.) for rural mental health beyond what are their normal job responsibilities. This year NARMH is giving the  awards to Doug and Amy Modig. Doug and Amy Modig are an Alaska Native Elder couple who helped start the Rural Cap Providers Conference and have traveled all over the state and nation, helping to address substance abuse, mental health, and root causes of these issues amongst our Alaskan communities. Doug Modig is a Tsimshian Elder, originally from Ketchikan, with family origin from Metlakatla. He has been a leader in the Alaska Native Sobriety movement since its beginning and has done culturally informed behavioral health training and community development throughout the state. Amy Modig is Deg Xit'an Athabascan, originally from Shageluk, raised in Tasnacross. After many years of direct service, Amy retired from RuralCap. She and Doug have their own business working directly with tribes on community development and healing. Doug and Amy are invited to many different events to bless them, provide keynotes and sit with communities and peoples in their time of need, providing wisdom and guidance.

 

Peter G. Beeson Rural Arts Award

The National Association for Rural Mental Health established the Rural Arts Award in 2007 to honor the life-long contributions of Peter G. (Pete) Beeson to both rural mental health and the rural arts. Pete is recognized within the association for his masterful writing about rural life and his beautiful photography both of which have graced the pages of many NARMH publications. The award will be presented to Apayuq Moore. Apayuq says, I am a lifelong Bristol Bay resident, having lived in Twin Hills, Dillingham, Aleknagik and Igiugig. Much of my childhood memories are of life and family in Twin Hills, where my maternal family lived/s. It deeply impacted my ability to love people, our Yup'ik language, and the self-motivation we have to live Our Way of Life. The art and projects that I have worked on are inspired by our people and a deep reflection of who we are and want to be, in relation to Our Way of Life. I dove deep to understand and remember the incredible life and relationships I've experienced. and now live to be that to my children and grandchildren. My work has advanced over the years, from what I want to save, to who I want to be, and now expresses what I've loved most, and maybe more of what we still want and hope for our future. My accomplishments as an adult gained momentum through my voice, Indigenous experiences and art. Expressing passion to empower our Native People is my first priority. My business has grown through word of mouth and project success rates. I believe the popularity of my art is because I am honest, direct, transparent, and truly want good for our people. Sometimes my transparency comes off as confrontational (capitalism is built on the backs of silent people and I will not be silenced), but I speak out of love, desire to be efficient, impactful and to demonstrate anyone can do my job when we operate with respect and intent to make life better for future generations. So long as I continue to do good, regardless of the inadequacies in the world and myself, the health of our people and way of life will continue to move forward. This is how I move through the world, and I hope my children will be testaments to the spirit of the Yup'ik Way of Life and Living.

 

Ann Schumacher Rural Clinic Practice Award

The Ann Schumacher Award is presented annually to an experienced practitioner who has demonstrated excellence, innovation, professional development and who has worked with domestic violence. This year’s award winner is Antonia Unaqsiq Commack. Antonia is the Resource Coordinator for Data for Indigenous Justice which is an Alaska Native-led non-profit which homes a database for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and relatives. This organization is led by Alaska Native women with great intention, care, and love for their community. Antonia is Inupiaq from the Native Village of Shungnak. She currently lives in Wasilla with her 3-year-old son, Eddie. Antonia went to school for medical assisting and is returning to school this year to finish her bachelor’s degree. Her passion for MMIP advocacy came after she lost two of her best friends to domestic violence. She has since advocated on behalf of many families across the state where she has made lifelong relationships with others experiencing the same loss. She is very excited for this opportunity to work with the Data for Indigenous Justice where she can continue to learn from others about this very important cause.