*We continue sharing the information gained from the walk to leaders and health organizations.
*A discovery presentation was presented at the American Public Health Association Conference by team members of The Longest Walk 5.
*The Longest Walk 5, is archived for history in the National Museum of the American Indian blog with the support of Carol Collins and the Smithsonian staff publications.
*The preliminary report is based on a sampling of participants who answered questions from a paper survey. Additional observations were made, and testimonies were collected based on the personal experiences of the Longest Walk 5 participants and the organizer Dennis Banks. The evaluation was 100% volunteer-led by family, friends, college students, and Longest 5 Walk participants. Collectively the volunteers and participants joined forces to design, collect and analyze data. This is the first time in the history of the Longest Walk that a community-led evaluation has been conducted with evidence-based tools embedded, such as ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey).
*The Longest Walk 5 distributes a four-page anonymous survey that will be compiled into one report. The data collected is from personal, community, and cultural experiences regarding substance abuse and domestic violence. We continue to collect and receive data through our partner events. Jessica and the team are in the process of building the best team to prepare the presentation.
*Community Impact
Throughout this journey, the walk has heard inspirational stories of hope, love, and light in regard to the issues of drug abuse and domestic violence. The walk has also heard of the despair that plagues the nations. The walk has seen that children as young as 6 years old are affected by these issues of drug abuse and domestic violence. Families are stepping forward and voicing the despair that has come upon them because of drug abuse or domestic violence. In communities where victims never had a voice before, the walk has heard story after story, about how these victims have been abused and are now coming forward. Native communities are crying out and rejoicing that the Longest Walk 5 has become an outspoken voice for the issues that have been swept under the rug for too long. This walk has seen families, united on a stage and stronger than ever, share stories of recovery and love. The walk has also seen young women and men who are still engaged in the hardship of drug abuse and have not found their recovery. The Longest Walk 5 is the most important walk to ever happen, because the effects of drug abuse/alcohol abuse and domestic violence affect everyone and are happening at devastatingly high rates. Data collected from these surveys will help both the communities surveyed and the nation, to better understand the impact of drug abuse and domestic violence, as well as highlight some successful interventions or programs that may be replicated on a larger scale.
