We received immediate responses from three of the tribes. We began by offering a presentation about the Red Cross and the Tribal Outreach Program. A date was then scheduled for those who were interested in continuing with the program by taking Red Cross disaster and first aid courses. All courses are free of charge and will be taught at the reservation. Affiliation with the Red Cross brings opportunities for travel and career building.
Tribal members are the best first responders at a disaster involving tribal lands.
Disaster preparedness strengthens communities and encourages self-sufficiency. Courses were scheduled as soon as was practical. Almost immediately, instructors realized that the course curriculum would have to be modified to reflect cultural distinctions and the fact that many of the participants had not been in a classroom setting for ten or even twenty years. Mendocino County is the home of several branches of the Pomo tribe. In Round Valley, a confederacy of seven tribes has formed an uneasy union.