ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT NAIGSO
Why is the NAIGSO service structure
needed?
Lasting sobriety comes through one's own culture and
must not be in conflict with it. The service structure flow adapts to the
Indian culture and traditional way of life:
| a) | It provides service in concert with their traditional manner of gathering(s). |
| b) | It enhances Native American sovereignty. |
| c) | It promotes self-determination. |
| d) | It provides traditional/cultural means of representation from the AA group and /individual level to the world services level and return. |
No. Establishing a NAIGSO is actually required by AA for sovereign people to obtain representation at the world services level.
Why is the NAIGSO service structure attractive to the Native American?
The Native American Indian General Service Office (NAIGSO) recognizes the need for each Nation, tribe, and band to honor their spiritual customs and traditions and to base recovery on those living principles. The form of these spiritual customs and traditions cannot be separated from the social aspects of daily living and thus it cannot be separated from the structure and form of AA.
What services will the NAIGSO provide?
NAIGSO is a strong step in bringing Native American Indian A.A. groups and peoples to work closely and confidently with General Services Office and World Services in A.A. Its service will include but not limited to:
| a) | Acting as a helping hand to General Services Office, New York City, NY, and World Service, New York, NY as an information source and referral service. |
| b) | Being a focal point for Native American AA activities. |
| c) | Establishing and maintaining a Native American AA Directory for groups and individuals. |
| d) | Cooperating with treatment and correctional facilities to convey means and methods of bridging the gap for a Native American coming out to an AA group or an AA contact person. |
As group memberships are citizens of both nations it is very conceivable that GSO (New York), NAIGSO, or both could serve the one Group. Lasting sobriety comes through oneís own culture and must not be in conflict with it, whether one nation (U.S. or Reservation), or a combination of them both (U.S. and Reservation).
Shouldn't Native American ways and the AA steps and traditions be kept separate?
NAIGSO recognizes the need for each Nation, tribe, and band to honor their spiritual customs and traditions and to base recovery on those living principles. The form of these spiritual customs and traditions cannot be separated from the social aspects of daily living and thus it cannot be separated from the structure and form of AA. This applies to individuals in recovery, to the AA group, and to NAIGSO as a whole.
What are the requirements for a nation, or zone, to participate in World Service Meeting of AA?
The requirements are as follows:
| a) | Have an operating General Service Board and/or literature distribution center. |
| b) | Application is made to the General Service Office in New York, who will forward the application and background details to the World Service Meeting Policy/Admissions/ Finance Committee. |
| c) | Membership of the applying nation, or zone, is advised if the application were approved by 2/3 votes of committee members. |
| d) | New members are seated the next meeting following such approval. |
| e) | Zones consisting of more than two nations may send only two delegates to represent all countries in that zone and who should report back to the membership in all those nations. |
Groups and individuals are to register with the NAIGSO. Share your experience with us, keep us informed, tell other Native Americans about their NAIGSO, and remember - " we are self-supporting through our own contributions." This means that we need to be committed to self-support. For healthy growth it is extremely important that everyone participate - especially during our infancy. What we suggest each member on his or her sobriety birthday contribute to NAIGSO one dollar per year. It is suggested that groups contribute routinely ñ no matter what the amount.