“Hundreds of people have come in this room under addiction and sat there and drummed or sat there and listened to songs and changed,” says Aldo Garcia, whose traditional name is Puxtunxt, gesturing around a room at Painted Horse Recovery where he leads Wellbriety meetings. Garcia is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, with Assiniboine Sioux, Siletz and Miwok descendancy. “That’s just what this represents today, it’s just nurturing to this community.”
For Garcia, practicing the Native American Washut faith and learning traditional songs have been a key part of his commitment to sobriety. Now, he helps to share these songs and raise his kids in the Washut faith, through the drumming group he co-founded, PDX WALPTAIKSHA.
Every Friday, community members gather in a room at Painted Horse Recovery, adorned with hand drums that hang on the walls, to practice drumming and singing traditional Washut songs. They hold services every Sunday, creating a space of healing and connection.
“There’s a heartbeat that comes with the song. There’s a story that comes with that song,” Garcia says. “There’s a living portion of that song that’s actually with you, that’s supporting you.”