Jeff Painter (Mokstleloos)
is a member of the Clatsop Tribe/Chinook Nation and Traditional ceremonial singer. He has spent his life apprenticing with Elders from the Lakota, Tsalagi, N. Arapaho, Karuk, Nu-cha-nulth, Kalapuya, and Sahaptin peoples. He currently works with Elders and spiritual leaders from the Dakota, Lakota, Tsalagi, Nu-cha-nulth, Takelma, Latgawa, Blackfeet, and Sahaptin/Wasco Nations.

In 1986, after the failure of a residential treatment program, 5 outpatient programs, 3 detox stays, and thousands of 12-step meetings, Jeff sought healing in his family’s traditions for his addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Through the guidance of traditional Elders from the Tsalagi and Lakota Nations, Jeff finally achieved what Western medicine could not — Recovery!

Jeff has gone on to work for seventeen years as a program director and curriculum designer for addictions prevention, intervention, and recovery programs. He has created 30 student assistance programs, more than 100 employee assistance programs, directed 8 model treatment programs, and worked with Native/First Nations people from coast to coast and Canada.

Jeff's trainings have been approved for Continuing Education by: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, National Assoc. of Social Workers, State Alcohol & Drug Credentialing bodies, Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Oregon, and others.

"Conventional healing, conventional treatment, and 12-step approaches continue to fall far short of being effective, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. This is especially true for my Native brothers and sisters...we have the highest relapse rates, we deal with denial of our spiritual rights and freedoms in and out of the recovery community, we are often denied access to our Elders and ceremonies, and are presented with the least effective recovery approaches. The National Institute of Drug Abuse and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment have confrmed these findings. Now is the time to go back to what has always worked...and still is working TODAY!"
..............................................~ Jeff Painter (1998)

Jeff's Curriculum Vitae

Kathy Painter
is Jeff's wife, our administrative assistant, and a Chinook
yaka tiki kumtux (apprentice).

Other Trainers
We have trained four other Native and non-Native trainers in our techniques, to date. We may recommend these or other alternate trainers with particular specialties if they will better meet your needs. We also partner with Native storytellers, performers, musicians, drum groups, dancers, etc. that may be used to enhance a program or co-present with us. This network can be especially helpful to meeting and conference planners needing to book multiple presenters and performers for a venue. We coordinate all of these through our own office. So, you have a central place to meet multiple needs.
Jeff is our primary trainer and, as the originator of this material, delivers most of the trainings and workshops.

Nations/Tribes represented by our Elders/Advisors

This website is designed and maintained to promote equitable and effective treatment for Native Americans and those with Native American cultural practices and beliefs.