Morgan F.

Morgan F. is a young Alaska Native living with FASD. He is Tlingit and of the Eagle Moiety. He enjoys playing the Native American flute and sharing his experience of having FASD with others. Four years ago he founded One Heart Creations to raise awareness of FAS and FASD. Morgan recently spoke with NOFAS Program Manager, Brianna Montgomery.

Brianna Montgomery: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. We are so excited to learn more about you. The first question that I have is how does FASD affect your life?

Morgan F.: FASD affects every part of my life. Because I live with FASD, there are many challenges that I have to overcome every day from my own physical body to my own neurological deficits. Some days are better than others and you just have to adapt with every changing day.

BM: I agree. The second question that I have for you is what do you believe needs to be done to address FASD in the community and among experts in the field?

MF: Believe it or not, my grandmother and I were just talking about this [topic]; we need to find a balance between prevention and research. Education and prevention are key in improving upon the problem that we are facing, but we also need to find that balance between also having research. Right now we are kind of at an impasse because more money is going to research than education and prevention. One thing that we need to do, not only at the community level but at the expert level, is promote better understanding. At the community level most people do not know about FASD and because there is such a lack of knowledge we are facing an epidemic. At the expert level we need to promote that same understanding. You can look at something clinically through the eyes of a researcher and only see one aspect. It’s great that they can look in to the research, but understanding the whole picture is absolutely necessary.

BM: Very well stated; prevention, education and research are definitely all important to the cause. My next question is as an individual with FASD how important is it to you to educate others about the disorder?

MF: It is very important to me to educate others because as an individual with FASD I know first hand what it is to live with the disorder. Because of the struggles that I go through, it is difficult and I don’t enjoy it. I don’t want someone else to go through the same difficulties I am going through or go through even more difficult trials. That is the fuel to my fire. It is what keeps me going. The knowing and understanding my own brain damage and physical disabilities on top of wanting other people to understand what’s going on with me, with others and with themselves.

BM: What have you done to educate your peers?

MF: I share my story and give presentations across the United States. I believe that it is a very effective means of education on FAS and FASD. I can provide a unique look in to how FASD affects an individual. I have the gift of articulation. I have the ability to do a public presentation and talk to doctors and researchers on their level. I can also provide an understanding for younger group or less informed group.

BM: That’s wonderful that you share your experiences and tell others about your life. It is helpful to other people who are going through the same thing and is also helpful to prevention of FASD.

MF: When I do my programs I always point out that it was such as relief to understand what was going wrong with me. To know that I have organic brain damage and that there is a reason why things are going wrong and things are going right.

BM: How did you get involved with giving presentations?

MF: This all started at a little booth in Utah. We had one table, some flyers and drums that we had made to attract attention. I spent all day talking to people. From that day to now, we never could have imagined what it would become. It has been great to be able to do this.

BM: The next question that I have for you is what skills have you adapted to overcome the challenges of having FASD that other individuals that are living with the disorder may benefit from?

MF: A lot of the skills that I have implemented are not skills that I have adapted by myself. I have received a lot of support from my family and good friends. I think that is the most important skill that I have acquired, is learning to accept help and knowing that I need help. That comes from my understanding of my own unique FASD’s. I would not be able to get through my day to day life without that support.

BM: What other skills do you use?

MF: Before interviews and presentations, I play my Native American flute. I have to do so because due to my brain damage my thoughts are scattered and I cannot concentrate. I don’t have the attention span to answer the questions in a clear and understandable way.

BM: So the flute has a calming affect on you and helps you collect your thoughts?

MF: Yes, it does.

BM: Tell me a little bit more about playing the flute; how long have you been playing?

MF: I have been playing for about four years. The flute is an absolutely key part of my life. If it wasn’t for my family, but also for the flute, I would not be where I am today. It has been that important of a tool throughout my lifetime so far. It is something that cannot be explained in words.

BM: I understand. It’s more of something that you feel. Who taught you how to play the flute?

MF: I am actually self-taught.

BM: Wow. That is incredible!

MF: Thank you. For the most part I am self taught. I started playing on my own and developed my own unique playing style. After I had been playing for a period of time, I started meeting other flute players and picked up other techniques and adapted those in to my playing style.

BM: What made you want to start playing the flute?

MF: To understand I have to tell you the story of how I got my first flute. At the time we were living in Powers, Oregon and we made a trip on a regular basis to visit my great-grandparents in Santa Rosa. From Powers to Santa Rosa is about an eight hour trip and we would always take the Coastal Highway. About half way is Crescent City where the Trees of Mystery are located. The Trees of Mystery is a privately-owned Native artifact museum. We would always stop at this museum on our trips and at the time the museum was featuring Native American style flutes.

I was just out of Alaska at this time and I didn’t have experience with the Native American flute. I hadn’t heard it or seen the instrument itself. Even if I had heard it, I wouldn’t have known what it was. At the museum the music was piped throughout the building and my grandmother asked me if I wanted to try one of the instruments. The curator of the museum showed me the pentatonic scale and let me play the flute. I played it twice then composed my own music.

BM: That’s amazing! You just knew how to play right away?

MF: Yes, that is where my interest started. When I arrived in Santa Rosa I told my great-grandparents what I had experienced and what I felt. My great-grandparents agreed to purchase a flute for me for my birthday as long as I played. That certainly wasn’t a problem for me.

BM: That’s truly incredible that you instantly knew how to play. It’s amazing that something that you simply play can make you understand yourself better and feel something you have never felt. What other things, besides playing the flute, do you enjoy doing?

MF: My personal interests vary. It isn’t just music. I am an avid reader.

BM: What do you enjoy reading and who is your favorite author?

MF: I love to read history and suspense novels. My favorite authors are Robert Ludlum and Sherman Alexie. Besides reading, I also enjoy research and beading. I’m a photographer as well.

BM: I have seen some of your photos on your website. They are very good.

MF: Thank you. It is something that I enjoy very much.

BM: I have one more question for you: what is the most important thing that you want others to know about FASD?

MF: As everybody knows, FASD is 100% preventable and because FASD is 100% preventable we have to understand that there are only victims, never perpetrators. My mother and my family are as much victims to FASD as I am. We are all affected and because we are all affected we have to work together as a community to prevent FASD and help those affected.

BM: That’s a great message. I want to thank you so much for sharing your story with me.

MF: Thank you.