Eagle Creek uses Native culture for treating patients

Eddie Nickens, Eagle Creek Native American activity director, shows murals reflecting his Life Skill program, which helps patients handle things that they will deal with outside of Eagle Creek. (Photo by Tesina Jackson)

By Tesina Jackson
Staff Writer

KANSAS, Okla. – The Eagle Creek Treatment Program located in this small Delaware County town provides treatment to Native American and non-Native American males ages 12 to 17 by incorporating Native culture.

The program’s approach combines modern treatment methods with traditional Native culture for attention deficit and hyperactivity, depression, developmental problems, harmful to self/others, impulsivity, learning difficulties, oppositional defiance, truancy, victim of abuse and other maladaptive behaviors and trauma.

“Coming to this environment we use traditional behavioral methods, and we use Native healing as well. That is the blend, and you don’t see that in a lot of programs,” said Mike Metevelis, director of business development at the Tulsa-based Shadow Mountain Behavioral Health System, which runs Eagle Creek.

The center sits on 40 wooded acres along the Illinois River. The property includes log homes, lodges, waterfalls, streams, horses, a recreational area and a stocked fishing pond.

“When they showed us the possible locations, I loved it out here. I thought it was exactly the type of environment that kids should be in. I mean in the woods, close to the water and all the wildlife that’s out here,” said Eddie Nickens, Eagle Creek’s Native American activity director. 

Nickens, who claims Cherokee lineage, has been working with the program since its start in June 2007.

“There wasn’t any type of behavioral specialist program set up for Native American kids, and with us being a privately owned company, we were able to put Eagle Creek together,” Nickens said.

Treatment at Eagle Creek uses different experiences, including powwows, sweat lodge, talking circles, beading, leather crafts, nature hikes, story telling, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Nickens said these experiences help patients build a positive identity while addressing behavioral and emotional needs.

“We’re teaching them a way of life, and I’m kind of jealous of them because I didn’t have that growing up. Nickens said. “But they’re able to experience a part of their bloodline, their ancestors that existed, and that’s what I thrive on more than anything, and it’s just good therapy for them. They seem to find a balance a short time after they’re here.”

Though many of the treatments are based upon Native traditions, staff members have an awareness of and respect for each individual’s cultural needs.

“Our programs take behavioral management back to the basics, and dealing with respect and respecting others is based on that cultural identity that we want them to see. And through doing that we can work behavior,” Dave Shamas, the program’s milieu manager, said.

Eagle Creek has 20 beds available for patients and is a short-term program so most residents stay, on average, anywhere from three to six months.

The staff includes board-certified psychiatrists, licensed nurses, licensed mental health professionals, a psychologist, mental health technicians, a cultural activities director and nutritionist.

“People will see that we’re not going to throw up our hands on these boys,” Nickens said. “We’re rooted; we’re here to stay.”