WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED TO BE
HERE.
I WILL DO A PROPER INTRODUCTION
OF DR. NORA VOLKOW LATER IN THIS
EVENT BUT RIGHT NOW SHE'S GOING
TO KICK US OFF TO INTRODUCE
DR. BERTAGNOLLI.
>> THANK YOU A LOT, GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND WELCOME
AND THANKS FOR COMING.
I WANT TO THANK KATHY FOR
ORGANIZING EVERYTHING AND MAKING
THIS INITIATIVE POSSIBLE, SO
KATHY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN -- [ APPLAUSE ]
-- YES, SHE DESERVES IT.
AND I WANT TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE
DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI THAT
LITERALLY DOES NOT NEED AN
INTRODUCTION, ACTUALLY SHE SAID
NORA DON'T SAY ALL OF THAT
NONSENSE.
SO, OKAY, BUT I WANT TO TELL
YOU, I MEAN I WANT TO DESCRIBE
DR. BERTAGNOLLI, SHE'S A FORCE
OF NATURE, A FORCE OF NATURE
THAT IS TARGETED TO ADDRESSING
ISSUES THAT WE IN THE HEALTH
FIELD NEED TO TAKE CARE OF, YES,
WE DISCOVER, WE DO FOUNDATIONAL
SCIENCE, WE ADVANCE THE
KNOWLEDGE, BUT SHE SAYS, AND
SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, IF WE
DON'T TAKE THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO
THE CLINIC AND THEN INTO THE
COMMUNITY, SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS
LOST AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE SO
THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
SO RATHER THAN ME SPEAKING ABOUT
HER, I WANT YOU TO ALL LISTEN TO
HER BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN AN
EXTRAORDINARY LEADER, SHE'S THE
17th NIH DIRECTOR AND THE
FIRST WOMAN SURGEON TO LEAD THIS
EFFORT.
SO MONICA, IT'S A PLEASURE TO
HAVE YOU HERE AND THANKS FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I CAN'T
TELL YOU HOW THRILLED I AM TO BE
HERE.
LET ME JUST START WITH A
PERSONAL NOTE.
I AM VERY -- I'M A VERY
FORTUNATE PERSON FOR SO MANY
REASONS.
ONE OF THEM IS THAT I GREW UP IN
CENTRAL WYOMING RIGHT NEXT TO
THE BEAUTIFUL WIND RIVER
RESERVATION AND MY MOTHER'S VERY
BEST FRIEND IS EASTERN SHISHONI,
AND MY MOTHER HAS PASS AWAY AND
MY EASTERN SHINSHONI MOTHER IS
STILL VERY MUCH WITH ME AND I AM
SO LUCK EXPE I KNOW DR. VOLKOW
GOT TO MEET HER WHEN SHE WAS
VISITING US, SO EVEN THOUGH I
CERTAINLY SHARE NO GENETICS WITH
OUR NATIVE POPULATION, I
CERTAINLY HAVE A DEEP, HAVE
EARLY CHILDHOOD, DEEP LOVE OF
THE CULTURE, CULTURES AND
APPRECIATE JUST THE BEAUTY AND
VALUE OF THESE AMAZING
COMMUNITIES.
SO IT IS JUST SUCH A GREAT HONOR
ANYTIME I GET TO SHARE AND HAVE
YOU GIVE US THE GIFT OF YOUR
PRESENCE AND YOUR CULTURE.
SO THANK YOU.
LET ME GO BACK TO MY NOTES NOW
AND DO THIS EFFICIENTLY.
THANK YOU TO DR. VOLKOW AND
DR. KARINA WALTERS AND THE
OFFICE OF THE DRUG ABUSE FOR
HOSTING THIS EVENT AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
TRIBAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE
TODAY INCLUDING DR. ANTHONY
HILLAIRE, MR. SHARINE ALEXANDER,
MR. JAMES, MR. DARYL HILLAI RE,
AND DR. WARNER AND DR. STACEY
[INDISCERNIBLE].
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY.
I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO
TAKE IN SOME OF THE AMAZING ART
TO DISPLAY OUTSIDE THIS ROOM AND
IN THE CLINICAL TRUSTEES HERE.
THE ART WORK IS BY YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO RESPONDED TO A CALL TO
DEPICT IN THE VERSION OF ART
WORK RESILIENCE TO SUBSTANCE
MISUSE FROM THE NIDA CHALLENGE.
STRENGTHEN MY NATION, THAT WAS
HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
WEBSITE, WE R NATIVE.
WE HAVE A SINGLE GOAL AT NIH TO
IMPROVE THE HELT OF EVERYONE.
THE RESEARCH WE DO IS IN SERVICE
OF THAT MISSION AND TO DELIVER
ON THAT MISSION, WE PARTNER WITH
PEOPLE.
WE PARTNER WITH THE VERY BEST
SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS
ACROSS THE WORLD, WE ALSO
PARTNER DEEPLY WITH THE PEOPLE
WE SERVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ALSO
CORE TO EVERYTHING WE DO IS THAT
PEOPLE ARE SO DIFFERENT
EVERYWHERE.
ONE SIZE NEVER FITS ALL EMPLOY
SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS HAD THIS
NATION OF OURS AND ACROSS THE
WORLD HAVE THEIR OWN CULTURES,
THEIR OWN TRADITIONS, THEIR OWN
ENVIRONMENTS, AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS PROFOUNDLY AFFECT THEIR
HEALTH.
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BE
DEVOTED TO IMPROVING HEALTH FOR
EVERYONE, 1 OF THE THINGS WE
KNOW IS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY MUST
EMBRACE AND LEARN FROM ALL OF
THE CULTURES WE SEE, THE BIG
ORDER, IT'S A LOT TO DO, BRINGS
VARIETY BUT IT BRINGS SUCH JOY
TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT
WAY.
NOW AS NIH DIRECTOR I'VE SAID
MANY TIMES IT'S VITAL IMPORTANT
TO CONNECT THE LABORATORY AND
THE CLINIC AND NEVER EVER STOP
JUST TO THE DOOR OF THE DOCTOR'S
OFFICE, BUT AS I ALREADY
DESCRIBED GO DEEPLY INTO
COMMUNITIES.
SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES ON
MANY FRONTS.
TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OPIOID
OVERDOSES IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES
BUT I DON'T WANT TO PRETEND
THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE
ALL ARE DEALING WITH, 1 OF THE
OTHER THINGS I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW IS THAT NIH IS A BIG
ORGANIZATION AND WE ALSO NEVER
WANT TO VIEW THE COMMUNITIES AS
1 SINGLE THING, WE WANT TO BE
THERE FOR EVERYTHING THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO HEALTH AND I
THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE
SPIRIT OF THAT FRANKLY IN THE
WORK THAT NIDA AND OTHER TRIBAL
HEALTH RESEARCH OFFICE DO SO
WELL.
WE'VE DEVELOPED BROAD PORTFOLIO
OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
NIH INSTITUTES AND CENTERS TO
ADDRESS HEALTH NEEDS OF NATIVE
AMERICANS.
THE TRIBAL HEALTH OFFICE IS
DEVELOPING AN NIH INDIGENOUS
DATA SOVEREIGNTY POLICY THAT
WILL WORK TO UPHOLD TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY REGARDING DATA
OWNERSHIP, TUE ARDSHIP, ACCESS
AND REUSE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN
DEALING WITH OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES IN RELATING AND
PARTNERING WITH OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES, WE ARE PARTNERING
WITH SOVEREIGN NATIONS AND JUST
LIKE WE EXPECT OUR OWN PERSONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY, WE EXPECT
COUNTABILITY, US WORKING FOR THE
U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ALSO
INCLUDE A DIRECT VERY
ACCOUNTABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE ALSO INCREASED INVESTMENT
IN AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE CANCER RESEARCH, LED BY
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON
MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH
ISOTOPE PARITIES, AMONG THE
OTHERS A EFFORT FOR A PROGRAM
SUPPORTS TRIBES IN NATIVE
AMERICAN SERVING ORGANIZATIONS
TO HELP THEM CONDUCT AND LEAD
RESEARCH THAT IS BASED ON THEIR
OWN LOCAL PRIORITIES TO ADDRESS
SUBSTANCE USE OVERDOSE AND PAIN.
VERY IMPORTANT, THAT WE INCREASE
THE ABILITY OF NATIVE AMERICAN
RESEARCHERS, TO CONDUCT RESEARCH
WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AS
WELL AS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
REST OF US, THE PROGRAM WAS
DEVELOPED IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO
PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED AND TRIBAL
CONSULTATIONS HELD IN 2018 AND
20 TWRA, TO SEEK NEEDS ON
ADDRESSING OPIOID CRISIS,
ADDITION AND CHRONIC PAIN IN
NATIVE COMMUNITIES, AND A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FUNDING
THROUGH THE HELPING TO END ARK
DITION LONG-TERM OR HEAL
INITIATIVE LED BY 3 NIH
INSTITUTES ISSUES THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGIC
DISORDERS AND STROKE, AND THE
NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING
TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES, NCATS
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
ACROSS THE REST OF NIH.
MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY ARE OF
COURSE FAMILIAR WITH THE LONG
STANDING NATIVE AMERICAN HELT
CENTER FOR HEALTH, WHICH IS
SUPPORTED HEALTH RELATED EFFORTS
FROM TRIBES, TRIBAL
ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIBAL COLLEGE
UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING THE
NORTHWEST INDIAN COLLEGE CENTER
FOR HEALTH.
TODAY'S DOCUMENTARY BUILDS UPON
THE NATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROJECT LED BY DR. STACEY
RASMUS, AND SHANKAR REASON
ALEXANDER AT THE NORTHWEST
INDIAN COLLEGE CENTER FOR HEALTH
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 3 COAST
TRIBES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
AN INSPIRING AFTERNOON AND
THAIRK YOU VERY MUCH, I HAVE TO
GIVE MY REGRETTINGS BECAUSE I
HAVE TO LEAVE AT 2:00 P.M., I
HAVE ANOTHER OBLIGATION I BEING
NOT REARRANGE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VIEWING THE
DOCUMENTARY IN FULL, ON MY OWN
AS SOON AS I CAN AND AGAIN,
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, AND I HOPE WE HAVE MANY,
MANY MORE YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL
PARTNERSHIP MAKING SURE THAT
EVERYONE HAS LONG AND HEALTHY
LIVES.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
DR. KARINA WALTERS UP TO PROVIDE
A BLESSING FOR OUR EVENT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M GETTING OVER LARYNGITIS SO
BEAR WITH ME A BIT.
[SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
THE PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,
THE TERRITORY WE'RE IN AND ALSO
EXTEND OUR GREETINGS TO ALL OF
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO RESIDE
IN THIS LAND, CURRENTLY AND ALSO
GREETINGS TO OUR RELATIVES FROM
THE [INDISCERNIBLE]INATION WHO
ARE HERE TODAY, IT'S AN HONOR TO
BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY AND JUST
ASK FOR BLESSING FROM THE
CREATOR, THAT WE OPEN OUR HEARTS
AND MINDS TODAY, THAT WE RECEIVE
THE MESSAGES AND STORIES AND
FILLS US WITH HOPE AND LOVE AND
TO BE REMINDED OF THAT GREAT
ANCESTRAL LOVE THAT WE ALL CARRY
AND WE KEEP IN MIND THOSE WHO
ARE STILL CONTINUING TO SUFFER
BACK HOME WITH DIFFERENT KINDS
OF ISSUES, TRAUMA AND ADDICTIONS
AND THAT THEY'RE SURROUNDED WITH
THAT ANCESTRAL LOVE SO THAT IT
CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR
JOURNEY TO LOVE AND WELLNESS AND
KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS TOO AS
WE KNOW THEY ARE ON THEIR
JOURNEY.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY PRAYERS FOR
THOSE THAT AREN'T ABLE TO BE
HERE TODAY BUT I KNOW THEY'RE
HERE WITH THE RELATIVES, TOO.
I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF
AN INDIGENOUS MASH UP, 2 SONGS
TO START US OFF IN A GOOD WAY.
ONE I JUST LEARNED SO I'M JUST
-- BEAR WITH ME ON THAN 1.
IT'S FROM MY TRIBE,OOSE CALLED
THE -- IT'S FROM THE
[INDISCERNIBLE] AND THE
[INDISCERNIBLE] DANCE, WHAT IT
SOUNDS LIKE, IT'S ABOUT TICKS,
BUT THE TICKS REPRESENTED THE
ENEMY AND WE ACTUALLY -- WHEN WE
DESOTO AWAY FROM OUR PEOPLE, WE
HELD A TICK DANCE AND WE STOMPED
OUT THE GROUND AND WE STOMPED
OUT THE TICKS AND THE IDEA IS
THAT WE WERE GETTING RID OF THE
PARASITES THAT WERE TRYING TO
TAKE US AND THE ENEMY THAT KEPT
TRYING TO TAKE US.
AND THAT SONG KEPT COMING TO ME
TODAY AND I FELT LIKE IT'S A
TOPIC AND WE'RE FIGHTING AN
ENEMY THAT CAN TAKE US AND WE
HAVE THE POWER AND STRENGTH TO
DEAL WITH THAT FROM OUR OWN
INDIGENOUS WAYS AND THE OTHER 1
IS A CREATOR, ASKING THE KRETTOR
TO BE HERE AND OPENING UP OUR
HEARTS AND MINDS SO THAT WE HAVE
A GOOD TIME TODAY.
[SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
>> KARINA THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
OPENING UP IN SUCH A POWERFUL
EMOTIONAL WAY, NOW IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO ALL OF
YOU SHERMAN ANTHONY HILLAIRE,
AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH
US, HE WAS JUST REELECTED TO
SERVE HIS SECOND TERM FROM THE
LUNMA, COUNCIL.
HIS FOLLOWING THE FOOT STEPS OF
HIS DAD, DARYL HILLAIRE, IN
SERVING HISINATION AND HIS
PEOPLE.
HE HAS AN AMAZING WIFE, 4 KIDS
AND A BROTHER [INDISCERNIBLE].
TODAY WE HAVE DARYL, HIS FATHER,
AND HIS SISTER [INDISCERNIBLE]
HERE WITH US.
WELCOME.
HE HAS BEEN A PASSIONATE
ADROCATE FOR HIS COMMUNITY IN
THE MIDST OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS.
THIS HAS INCLUED FOR EXAMPLE,
PROVIDING CONGRESSIONAL
TESTIMONY ON THE IMPACT OF
FENTANYL ADVOCATING FOR POLICY
CHANGES AND RESOURCES TO HIS AND
ALL TRIBAL NATIONS.
I WAS HONORED TO BE INVITED TO
[INDISCERNIBLE] NATION OVER A
YEAR AGO AND SO FIRST HAND THE
OUTSTANDING WORK THAT CHAIRMAN
HILLAIRE,
FOR THE TRIBAL NATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
EXCELLENT WORK.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> [SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE
] THAT'S GOOD MORNING AND GOOD
DAY.
MY DEAR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES,
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE,
FOR ARK LOWING US TO BE HERE, MY
FAMILY, AND TEAM FROM THE LUMI
NATION THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL OUR STORY
AND TO COME TOGETHER IN A GOOD
WAY WE HAVE WITNESSED CHILDREN
IMREEFING THEIR PARENTS AND
PARENTS GRIEVING THEIR CHILDREN
TO FATAL DRUG OVERDOSE.
AND WE WITNESS DAUGHTERS AT
THEIR PARENTS FUNERAL SAYING
THAT THEY JUST WANT THEIR DAD
BACK.
WE'VE WITNESSED PREDATORY DRUG
DEALERS RUN RAMPANT ON OUR
RESERVATION PLIENDED BY THIS
COMMUNITY OF DRUGS AND WALKING A
PATH THAT HAS NO REAL MORAL CODE
OF HUMAN DECENCY, WE WITNESSED A
DAUGHTER, COULDN'T BE MORE THAN
6 YEARS OLD, LOOKING AROUND AT
PEOPLE CRYING AT HER FATHER'S
FUNERAL AND STANDING UP AND
GIVING EVERYBODY HUGS.
WE'VE WITNESSED OUR MOTHER ANDS
GRANDMOTHERS TURN THEIR DARKEST
MOMENTS IN THEIR LIFE TURN INTO
HOPE TO OTHER PARENTS WHO ARE
GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THEIR
CHILDREN.
WE'VE WITNESSED THE HISTORICAL
TRAUMAS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO
US.
WE'RE STILL SEEING THAT TODAY.
AND THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST TIME
DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, IT'S
BEEN ONGOING.
OUR PARENTS, OUR GRAND PARENTS,
AND SO ON HAVE BEEN BATTLING
AGAINST THESE HISTORICAL
TRAUMAS, BALGTING AGAINST THESE
COMPLEXITIES OF TRAUMA OF DRUS
AND ADDICTION SINCE SETTLERS
FIRST CAME HERE AND WE'RE MERELY
WHAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY AND THOSE
OF US THAT ARE HERE WERE MERELY
JUST WALKING IN THE FOOT STEPS
OF OUR ELDERS AND OUR ANCESTORS
THAT HAVE PAVED THE WAY, THEIR
LEGACY OF RESILIENCE AND
ESPECIALLY THEIR LEGACY OF LOVE.
OUR GREATEST HOPE COMES FROM
BRAVE ACTION AND WHAT I MEAN BY
THAT IS BRAVERY TO FIRST LOOK
INTO OURSELVES AND TO LOOK INTO
OUR FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY TO
LOOK INTO THE FACE OF HISTORICAL
TRAUMA, TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF
HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND TELL IT
THAT IT'S NO LONGER WELCOME
HERE, NO LONGER WELCOME IN OUR
HOME, NO LONGER WELCOME WITH OUR
FAMILIES.
AND WITH THAT, WITH THIS ACTIVE
OF GREAT BRAVELY COMES GREAT
RESPONSIBILITY, RESPONSIBILITY
AS FAMILIES, RESPONSIBILITY FOR
EXAMPLE, THE LUMMI NATION,
SELF-GOVERN, SELF-DETERMINED
TRIBE, AND ALSO THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS AGREED UPON FOR US
IN THE POINT ELLIOTT TREATY OF
1855 AND THIS IS FURTHER MORE
IMPORTANT BECAUSE SINCE THEN,
THAT DAY THE TREATY WAS SIGNED,
THAT DAY AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE
SOME PROMISES WERE BROKEN AND WE
SEE THERE HAVE BEEN IDEALS OF
TERMINATION AND ARK SIMALATION
THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED UPON US.
WE DO NOT WANT YOUR SYMPATHY, WE
WANT YOUR EMPATHY.
AND NEVERTHELESS, GIVEN THE
HISTORY THAT'S HAPPENED HERE,
THIS PLACE THAT WE ALL CALL
HOME, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
AT LUMMI NATION WE DECLARED A
FENTANYL CRISIS, AND IMMEDIATE
RESPONSE TO FATAL DRUG OVERDOSES
THAT WERE HAPPENING AND FROM
THAT, WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON
FINISHING THE WORK OF OUR FORMER
LEADERS, MY DAD 1 OF THEM AND A
FEW OTHERS TO BUILD A SECURE
WITHDRAWAL MANAGE AM AND
STABILIZATION FACILITY ALSO
KNOWN AS DETOX AND I WOULD LIKE
TO GIVE A QUICK THANK YOU TO OUR
DELEGATES TRUSTEES WASHINGTON
STATE, ALSO HHS AND IHS FOR THE
GOOD WORK IN GETTING THAT DONE.
TODAY, I HAVE A MESSAGE SAYING
THAT WE'RE CLEARING THE LAND FOR
OUR MUCH NEEDED DETOX HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK EMPLOY WE
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
PROMOTE PREVENTION AND BRING
BACK THE LUMMI YOUTH ARK --
ACADEMY AND ALSO STRENGTHEN SOME
OF OUR SERVICES AROUND TREATMENT
AND RECOVERY WITH CULTURE BEING
AT THE VERY CENTER OF EVERYTHING
THAT WE DO.
WE'RE WORKING ON ADDRESSING
JURISDICTIONS TO REALLY TRY AND
GET THESE PREDATORY DRUG DEALERS
OFF OUR RESERVATIONS.
WHEN ON OUR RESERVATIONS, WE
HAVE A MAIN ROAD WHICH IS A
COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY AND ALSO A
RESERVATION THAT IS MIXED OF
BOTH TRUST LAND AND STATE LAND
OWNED BY BOTH TRIBAL MEMBER ANDS
NONTRIBAL MEMBERS SO HOW DO WE
TAKE BACK OUR JURISDICTION TO
PRO TECT THE NEXT GENERATION
FROM THESE VERY DEADLY DRUGS.
WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO DEMAND
OUR STATE AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO DECLARE A CRISIS,
A NATIONAL CRISIS THROUGH
FENTANYL AND DRUG ABUSE THAT IS
HAPPENING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
WE ALL, ALL OF US, EVERYBODY
THAT'S HERE, EVERYBODY THAT IS A
PART OF MOTHER EARTH HAVE A
PURPOSE HERE IN THIS WORLD IN
OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND WITH OUR
FAMILIES AND/OR IN OUR
RESPECTIVE POSITIONS IN ROLES WE
PLAY IN COMMUNITIES AND
GOVERNMENTS AND THAT IS WHY
TODAY'S SO IMPORTANT.
COMING TOGETHER WITH 1 HEART AND
1 MIND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND 1
ANOTHER, OUR ELDERS, OUR
ANCESTORS INSTILLED IN US THE
ENDURANCE AND LOVE TO KEEP
TELLING OUR STORY IN HOPES OF
CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE.
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I LOVE
DEARLY THESE MEMBERS OF THE
LUMMI NATION, AND OUR STACEY,
OUR TEAM FROM LUMMI.
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I REALLY
BELIEVE IN EACH AND EVERY 1 OF
THEM, I REALLY LOOK UP TO THEM
AND THE ACTION OF BEING HONEST
WITH OURSELVES AND TO OUR FAMILY
IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS HOW WE BRING HOPE TO
WORLD, HOW WE BRING HOPE TO THE
NEXT GENERATION, TO BE ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW WE WANT CHANGE, WE WANT
TO WORK TOGETHER, WE WANT TO DO
BETTER AND BE BETTER BUT IT
STARTS WITH US AND IT STARTS
WITH OUR FAMILY AND FROM THERE
AND TELLING OUR STORY, WE HOPE
TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
US WHEN IT S TO WORKING WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WORKING WITH
OUR PARTNERS THAT WE CAN CREATE
A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL PEOPLE SO
WE CAN PROVIDE HOPE TO THOSE
GRIEVING CHILDREN, THE IMREEFING
PARENTS, THE GRANDMOTHER WHO IS
JUST WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR
GRANDCHILDREN, IT STARTS HERE
AND IT STARTS WITH US.
ON BEHALF OF THE LUMMI NATION,
WE LOVE YOU ALL AND ALSO WE WANT
TO THANK NIH AND NIDA FOR THE
GREAT WORK, THE GREAT
PARTNERSHIP, I ACTUALLY MET
DR. ETZ 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO, MY
FIRST EVER HEALTH CONFERENCE IN
INDIAN COUNTRY AND SINCE THEN
WE'VE HAD A GREAT, GREAT WORKING
RELATIONSHIP AND THIS IS -- IT'S
A GOOD DAY, IT'S A DAY THAT CAN
BE HEAVY BUT ALSO A DAY WHERE WE
CAN FIND GREAT HEALING IN 1
ANOTHER SO THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE TODAY, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL OUR
STORY.
[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALWAYS DEEPLY INSPIRED WHEN
CHAIRMAN HILLAIRE SPEAKS,
HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP MISS
ALEXANDER TO PROVIDE REMARKS TO
KICKOFF THE DOCUMENTARY AND THEN
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
SCREENING.
>> [SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE
]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON FRIENDS AND
RELATIVES, MY NAME IS
[INDISCERNIBLE], I GO BY
MRS. ALEXANDER AND I WORK AS THE
RESEARCH DIRECTOR FOR OUR
AMAZING CENTER FOR HEALTH
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT AND I'VE
BEEN THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW AND BEEN A PART OF THIS
PROJECT WELL OVER A DECADE, SO,
WHEN I SAY, I LOVE MY JOB, I
MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART AND
SOUL AND SPIRIT SO, IT'S JUST
SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH
YOU ALL TODAY AND I WOULD LOLLED
TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR
DOCUMENTARY AND WE INVITE YOU TO
WITNESS THE STRENGTH OF OUR
SALISH PEOPLE, WE HAVE BEEN
LIVING THESE FOR GENERATIONS
NOW, AND IT'S ONLY RECENTLY
WE'VE BEEN RESEARCHING TO TELL
THE STORY TO VALIDATE AND PROVE
MAINLY TO OURSELVES THE REMIND
OUR PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE CO
SALISH, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
OVERCOME AND TO THRIVE AND TO BE
WELL AND SO, WE OFFER THROUGH
THIS DOCUMENTARY THOSE STORIES
OF STRENGTH, THAT SHARE OUR
HEALING.
BUT YOU KNOW WE ALSO WANT TO
SHARE OUR TRUTHS, WE ALSO WANT
TO SHARE OUR STORIES WITH THE
WORLD WITH ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY
AND YOU KNOW TO SHARE WHAT WORKS
FOR US, YOU KNOW, THE HEALING
AND STRENGTHS, THOSE ARE
UNIVERSAL, SO WE ALL HAVE THEM,
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN STORIES OF
STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES TO HEAL
OURSELVES AND TO HEAL OURSELVES
COMMUNITIES.
YOU KNOW OUR NATIVE COMMUNITIES
JUST AS CHAIRMAN HILLAIRE WAS
SHARING, WE SUFFERED INJUSTICES,
AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE
DISPARITIES BECAUSE OF THOSE
INJUSTICES, BUT WE RECOGNIZE AND
SHARE TODAY THE HARMS OF LIVING
IN THIS TIME WHEN THERE ARE
DANGERS TO OUR CHILDREN LIKE
WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED, DRUGS
LIKE OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL DO NOT
DISCRIMINATE AND THEY AFFECT US
ALL.
THEY THREATEN ALL OF OUR PEOPLE,
ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW,
IN NATIVE COMMUNITY CERTAINLY
HAS BEEN HIT HARD AND HAVE
SUFFERED, BUT IT'S THROUGH THIS
DOCUMENTARY THAT WE GET TO SHARE
OUR COMMUNITIES MESSAGE OF
STRENGTH AND HOPE.
WE ALL COME FROM A HISTORY OF
HEALING, YOU KNOW AND NATIVE
TRANSFORMATION IS OUR STORY BUT
AGAIN, EVERY COMMUNITY HAS A
STORY OF STRENGTH.
WE ALL DO.
YOU KNOW AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL OUR
STORY, YOU KNOW THIS STORY IS
NOT OURS ALONE, WE ARE UNITED IN
THIS FIGHT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE BE UNITED AND TOGETHER, AND
NOTHING BRINGS US TOGETHER LIKE
THE LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN.
WE ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE THOSE
WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US FOR SO
LONG IN THIS WORK, TO THE
[INDISCERNIBLE], TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND THE
TRIBAL RESEARCH HEALTH OFFICE,
WE HONOR YOUR PRESENCE WITH US
AND LIFT UP YOUR GOOD WORK.
WITHIN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES
OF HEALTH, WE GIVE A VERY
SPECIAL THANKS TO DR. KATHY ETZ,
DR. JACLYN SMITH WHO HAS BEEN
ARK MAZING IN HELPING US
COORDINATE TODAY, THROUGH NIDA
AND OF COURSE WE'RE SO EXCITED
TO BE PART OF THE NEW NCREW
TEAM, THAT WE'RE THRILLED TO BE
PART OF THIS PROGRAM, TO
CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK, WE ALSO
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE NARCH
PROGRAM AND DR. SHEILA
[INDISCERNIBLE] AND DR. CRYSTAL
RICHARDS OF THE NARCH PROGRAM,
IT ESTABLISHED THE CENTER FOR
HEALTH RESEARCH IN NORTHWESTERN
COLLEGE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE
GROWING THAT CAPACITY OF
INDIGENOUS RESEARCHERS
ESPECIALLY IN INDIGENOUS HEALTH
RESEARCH.
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE NARCH
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PROJECT.
AND ALSO, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR PARTNERS AT NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON INDIAN HEALTH BOARD
ON THIS NEW ADVENTURE THAT WE
GET TO TRAVEL THROUGH TOGETHER
SO BARBARA JUAREZ, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU AND WE WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE CHILDREN OF THE
SETTING SUN.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE WHEN WE
APPROACH CHILDREN OF THE SETTING
SUN ABOUT HOW TO TELL THIS
STORY, THERE WAS LITERALLY LIKE
3 IN THEIR STAFF, I THINK IT WAS
VERY EARLY ON, IN THE BEGINNING
AND NOW, THERE'S THIS AMAZINGA
AMAZING INDIGENOUS LED
PRODUCTION TEAM OF OVER 40
STAFF, I BELIEVE NOW.
SO JUST REALLY COMMENDABLE WORK
FOR TELLING OUR STORIES.
SO I JUST AGAIN WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
AND LASTLY OF COURSE, WE WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE SAMSHA, I KNOW
MAGGIE IS HERE WITH US TODAY AND
THEIR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT FOR
PREVENTION WORK, YOU KNOW WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE NATIVE
CONNECTIONS, TO PUT INTO PLACE
OUR RESEARCH FINDINGS AND TO
SERVICES, TRYING TO GET FURTHER
UP STREAM TO HELP SUPPORT OUR
YOUTH AND DIVERT THEM FROM THE
ARMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
YOU KNOW AND FINALLY,
[INDISCERNIBLE] TO THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE ALSO SHOWED ME MY
HEALING.
I'VE SHARED BEFORE LIKE THIS
PROJECT HAS SAVED MY LIFE MORE
THAN ONCE AND I MEAN THAT. AND I
JUST WANT TO END BY SAYING
[INDISCERNIBLE] TO THE BRAVE
PEOPLE IN DOCUMENTARY, BELLA,
EAGLE JOE, HOLLY, JANDY, YOU
KNOW FOR THEM SHARING THEIR
STORIES, THEIR STRENGTHS THEIR
HEALING, AND SHARING THAT WITH
YOU ALL TODAY.
[INDISCERNIBLE], THANK YOU.
ENJOY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THESE ARE STORIES OF CO
SALISH STRENGTH.
IN THESE STORIES THERE IS JOY
AND THERE IS HOPE BUT WELL IS
ALSO PAIN.
THE PAIN IS OUR SHARED PAIN.
YOU MAY EXPERIENCE THIS PAIN AS
YOU WITNESS THESE STORIES,
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND
EACH OTHER DURING THIS VIEWING.
LIFT EACH OTHER UP, KNOW YOU ARE
LOVED.
♪
>> SINCE TIME IN MEMORIAL WE
INHABITED ALL OF THIS LAND,
THESE WATERS, THIS WAS OUR HOME
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN
THE NEW COMERS GOT HERE THEY
SAID THERE WAS NOTHING.
IN OUR EYES, IN OUR BELIEF,
EVERYTHING WAS PROVIDED.
IN OUR LANGUAGE THERE WAS NO
WORD FOR FAMINE, NONE.
THIS GARDEN WAS PERFECT AND IT
TOOK CARE OF US.
>> U.S. DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS SKY
ROCKETED TO A RECENT 93,000%
LAST YEAR, A NEARLY 3% INCREASE.
>> I CAN STILL SEE IT, I CAN
STILL SEE IT FROM THE CORNER OF
MY EYE, I CAN STILL SEE THEM, I
CAN FEEL THEIR FOOTPRINTS.
>> THE DEADLY FENTANYL INVASION
IS HITTING 1 COMMUNITY REALLY
HARD.
>> WHAT STRUGGLES DID THEY FACE,
WHAT CATASTROPHIC DISRUPTION DID
THEY WITNESS AS THE NEW COMERS
COME IN?
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLEX
REASONS WHY THIS HAS HIT INDIAN
COUNTRY HARDER THAN OTHER
PLACES.
>> OUR WORLD AND OUR WAY OF LIFE
HAS COMPLETELY BEEN TRANSFORMED
IN 6 GENERATIONS AND IT'S A
CHALLENGE STILL TO ADAPT TO THIS
NEW WAY OF LIFE.
♪
>> THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY
POWERFUL ABOUT SHARING YOUR
STORY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW SUBSTANCE
ABUSE HAS REALLY IMPACTED OUR
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW IT'S BECAUSE
THEIR STORY GOT SHUT DOWN.
IT MAKES SENSE, YOU KNOW THAT
PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO NUMB AND
HIDE THAT STORY BECAUSE WE WERE
NEVER ABLE TO FREELYY TELL IT TO
BEGIN WITH.
AND WHEN YOU'RE FINALLY ABLE TO
START TELLING YOUR STORY,
SOMETHING TRANSFORMATIVE
HAPPENS.
THERE'S HEALING IN THERE,
THERE'S COURAGE IN THERE,
THERE'S VULNERABILITY WITHIN
TELLING YOUR STORY THAT OPENS
YOU UP TO NEW AVENUES.
♪
>> ONE, 2, 3 -- [INDISCERNIBLE].
>> I WAS ACTUALLY GOING PRETTY
CRAZY BEFORE I STARTED PLAYING
BASKETBALL.
IT JUST FEELS AWESOME TO BE
SURROUNDED BY POSITIVE PEOPLE IN
GENERAL AND LIFTING EACH OTHER
UP AND ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER.
I JUST LIKE BEING A PART OF
SOMETHING, IT KEEPS ME BUSY AND
HONESTLY IT JUST KEEPS ME OUT OF
TROUBLE.
JUST A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR
MYSELF AND ALSO FOR CONNOR.
TO GIVE HIM A GOOD LIFE.
BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE DRUG
ADDICTS, THE REAL QUESTION IS
HOW DO WE HELP OUR PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW IN AND HOW DO WE GET BACK
TO THOSE WAYS OF LIFE?
ALL DOWN HERE IS MY FAMILY.
THE COPS ALWAYS PATROL RED RIVER
BECAUSE THERE'S ALL THESE
COMPLAINTS ABOUT DRUG ACTIVITY.
MY GRANDPA BUILT ALL THESE
HOUSES UP HERE.
RIGHT HERE, I GREW UP IN THIS
HOUSE A LITTLE BIT WITH MY DAD,
THIS IS MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMAS
HOUSE, ARMOR AND IRENE JAMES,
THIS IS OUR JAMES FAMILY
CEMETERY AND THEN WE'RE COMING
UP HERE AS WELL, OUR HOUSE.
WE CAME BACK A FEW YEARS AGO.
AT FIRST IT WAS HARD, MY DAD AND
THEM ARE STILL DOING PILLS AND
STUFF IN THE HOUSE AND WE DIDN'T
GET TO COME OUT HERE LIKE YOU
SEE US DO NOW.
2018 WAS WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS
PREGNANT WITH CONNOR.
I STOPPED DOING PILLS IN THE
HOUSE AFTER THAT BECAUSE I GOT
TIRED OF IT, I JUST KIND OF
LIKE, HEY, CAN YOU STOP DOING
THAT IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, MY
SON'S HERE NOW AND I WOULD LIKE
FOR YOU TO NOT DO THAT AROUND MY
SON.
MY DAD, HE JUST GOES AND GOES,
SOMETIMES HE AT AS GONE ALL
NIGHT.
I GET WORRIED A LOT.
I REALLY WANT TO HELP THEM WITH
TAKING CARE OF HIS PRIORITIES
AND KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY COMES
FIRST BUT HONESTLY I JUST WANT
HIM TO BE HERE FOR HIS
GRANDCHILDREN AND GO TO THEIR
GAMES.
HE GOT TO GO TO A FEW OF MY
GAMES BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
I WANT HIM TO BE AT EVERY SINGLE
1.
>> ONE, 2, 3!
[INDISCERNIBLE].
>> MY DAD WASN'T REALLY AROUND
MUCH HONESTLY, FROM WHAT I
REMEMBER, HE WOULD POP IN AND
OUT, BUT I WOULD SIT BY THE DOOR
AND WAIT FOR HIM ALL DAY AND I
WAS LIKE WHEN HE GOING TO COME
MOM?
AND BREAK HER HEART BECAUSE SHE
WOULDN'T WANT TO TELL US WHAT HE
WAS ACTUALLY DOING.
HE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO GET
BETTER, AND HE DOES WANT TO DO
IT, IT'S JUST TAKING THE STEPS
TO DO IT.
HE SAID HE'S SEEN 1 OF HIS
BUDDIES UP AND JOGGING, YOU KNOW
GOING FOR RUNS AND STUFF, I WAS
LIKE, THAT COULD BE YOU.
>> I LOVE MY FAMILY.
I WAS ALWAYS GONE.
THERE'S TIMES I WISH I WAS HERE
MORE JUST TO BE SUPPORTIVE,
FATHER FIGURE.
THERE'S THIS UNKNOWN OUT HERE, I
DON'T WHEREIN IT COMES FROM, I
DON'T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM
BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT ME.
I NEVER INTENDED TO BE AN
ALCOHOLIC OR DRUG ADDICT.
SO WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
IT'S HANDED DOWN.
>> EVEN MANY OF OUR OWN PEOPLE
DON'T RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF
HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND THAT IT
WAS CAUSING THEM TO BEHAVE THE
WAY THEY WERE, TO JUST TRY TO
BURY THAT HURT.
I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER MY
GRANDMOTHER TELLING ME THAT
WHEN, YOU KNOW SHE WAS LIKE 8
YEARS OLD AND THEY CAME -- THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES CAME AND THEY
JUST PICKED UP THE CHILDREN THAT
WERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TOOK
THEM TO THIS PLACE, SHE LEARNED
LATER THAT IT WAS THE BOARDING
SCHOOL BUT THEY DID NOT EVEN
KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING,
THEIR FAMILY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE
THEY WERE AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW
WHEN THEY WERE EVER GOING TO SEE
THEIR PARENTS, AGAIN, YOU KNOW
THEY WERE JUST TAKEN AWAY LIKE
THAT.
>> MY GRAND PARENTS GOT FORCED
TO GO TO [INDISCERNIBLE] SCHOOL,
GRANDMA, REMEMBERS GETTING HER
MOUTH WASHED OUT WITH SOAP FOR
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE, SO I FEEL
LIKE MY GRANDMA'S BEEN
TRAUMATIZED LIKE THAT, BEING
TOLD NOT TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE,
STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW
DISCIPLINED AND I BET SHE
[INDISCERNIBLE].
I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF
TREATMENT A FEW TIMES.
I'VE GOTTEN TOOLS AND RECOVERED
AND LIVE A GOOD, HAPPY CLEAN AND
SOBER LIFE, IT'S JUST TO BE
PROUD [INDISCERNIBLE].
[SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU
WASN'T HERE AND IT WAS JUST YOU
AND I HEAR NOW?
BUT WHY ARE YOU HEAR WITH ME
RIGHT NOW?
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW IT OR
NOT BUT RIGHT NOW YOU ARE
MEDICINE FOR ME.
MY POPS.
ORCH YEAH, THAT'S MY RIDE.
I GOTTA GO FOR A MINUTE.
I'LL BE BACK THOUGH.
>> I SHOULD NOT HAVE LET MY DAD
LEAVE.
I GUESS ALL IT REALLY COMES DOWN
TO, YOU KNOW LIKE HIS DAD JUST
PASSED AWAY IN 2017 AND THEN,
YOU KNOW HAS 2 BROTHERS AND A
SISTER PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR AND
HE HASN'T REALLY DEALT WITH IT
EMPLOY SO, I FEEL LIKE HE NEEDS
TO GO GRIEVE WITH THAT IN THE
RIGHT WAY AND NOT KEEP ON DOING
PILLS AND STUFF.
LIKE I WANT TO HELP HIM.
I FEEL LIKE I PUSH TOO HARD
SOMETIMES, THOUGH, IT JUST MIGHT
MAKE THEM WANT TO DO IT.
>> AMERICA'S PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER
1 IN THE UNITED STATES IS DRUG
ABUSE.
>> PRESCRIPTION PAIN KILLERS AND
HEROINE ARE AT THE CENTER OF A
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
>> THE WAR ON DRUGS WILL BE HARD
WON, NEIGHBORHOOD BY
NEIGHBORHOOD, BLOCK BY BLOCK.
>> WE ARE ONCE AGAIN ENFORCING
THE LAW AND ARRESTING CRIMINALS
WHO PEDAL DANGEROUS DRUGS.
>> WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE, THE
FOCUS IS ON THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER
IT'S SELDOM SUFFICIENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED
WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS WHERE THE
FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM ITSELF
BECAME A PROBLEM.
SPHRKS AT FIRST TRIBAL NATIONS
JUST LAID THE LAW DOWN, YOU KNOW
THEY REALLY WENT FOR MORE
PUNITIVE ACTIONS BECAUSE THEY
REALLY JUST NEEDED TO STOP WHO
WAS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE CONVERSATION STARTED TO
CHANGE FROM BEING PUNITIVE TO
MORE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN SOMEBODY'S LIFE
WHEN THEY'RE ADDICTED TO DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL, THE CONVERSATION
WAS STARTING TO CHANGE TO SEE
THE PERSON MORE SO THAN THE
CRIMINAL PART OF BEING AN
ADDICT.
THERE WAS MORE OF A RESTORATIVE
AND HEALING EFFORT THAT WAS
STARTING TO SHIFT AND CHANGE.
PEOPLE WERE WANTING TO MEET OUR
PEOPLE WHERE THEY WERE AT.
>> WHAT IS THE ACTUAL GOAL OF A
COMMUNITY ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER?
I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY THE
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION AND I THINK
FOR A LONG TIME THE ANSWER HAS
BEEN A DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY BUT
THAT JUST HASN'T WORKED.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE COMING TO
REALIZE IS THAT HAVING A
DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY MIGHT NOT BE
THE RIGHT FRAMEWORK, WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT WELL, WHAT'S A
HEALTHY COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE
REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF
SUBSTANCES PEOPLE ARE TAKING.
>> IT'S BEEN TRULY A CHALLENGE
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES TO
RECOGNIZE THAT DRUG ADICK WAS A
DEC WHEN SOMEONE GETS DIAGNOSED
WITH CANCER MANY OF THEIR
RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AND THE
WHOLE COMMUNITY, THEY COME OUT
AND SURROUND THAT INDIVIDUAL AND
HELP SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR
CANCER TREATMENT.
OUR PEOPLE, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT ADDICTION WHETHER IT'S
ALCOHOL OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, IS
A DISEASE AND THE INDIVIDUALS,
THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE FOR
THEM, THE SAME AS THERE'S HELP
WHEN SOMEONE GETS DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER.
NTHERE'S DRUGS THAT ARE APPROVED
BY THE FDA TO TREAT OPIOID USE
DISORDER.
THE MOST RECENT DRUG THAT'S
AVAILABLE IS BUPRENORPHINE IT
GOES UNDER THE BRAND NAME OF
SUBLAXONE, THEY WORK THE SAME,
THEY BIND OPIOID RECEPTORS JUST
AS ANOTHER OPIOID WOULD AND
PREVENT THE CRAVINGS AND THE
IDEA IS THAT ONCE YOU TAKE THAT
MEDICINE, SOME OF THOSE NEGATIVE
BEHAVIORS YOU MIGHT ENGAGE IN TO
GO PURSUE OPIOIDS, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO THEM ANYMORE BECAUSE
YOU JUST DON'T FEEL THAT URGE TO
USE.
>> LUMMI COUNSELING SERVICES IS
A CERTIFIED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
PROGRAM.
IT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE
HEALING SPIRIT CLINIC WHICH IS
THE SUBAOXAME PROGRAM, IT WORKS
TOGETHER LIKE THIS FLOWING
STREAM.
INDIVIDUALS WHO EITHER COME IN
TO SEE THEIR COUNSELOR WILL NEED
TO DO A MEDICAL FOLLOW UP,
MAYBE, OR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
COME IN AND SCHEDULED TO PICK UP
THEIR MEDICATION WILL NEED TO DO
A ONE-ON-ONE.
THERE'S THOSE UNDERLYING THING
WHAT'SY HAVE TO WORK ON, NOT
JUST TAKING THE MEDICATION TO
HELP WITH CRAVINGS, YOU KNOW WE
TRULY GOTTA DIG DEEP AND PEEL
BACK THE LAYERS AND GET TO THE
CORE OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON
AND THOSE WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL
COUNSELING AND GROUP COUNSELING.
THERE'S ALL THESE NUANCES WITH
TREATMENT AND JUST
INDIVIDUALIZING CARE, IT DIDN'T
MATTER WHAT ROAD YOU TAKE, AS
LONG AS YOU MAKE IT TO RECOVERY
AND YOU'RE SAFE AND YOU'RE
ALIVE, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING.
>> LUMMI HEALING SPIRIT CLINIC
AND A TRIBALLY RUN AND OPERATED
PROGRAM SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
THE PHYSICAL, IT'S MORE ABOUT
THE WHOLE PERSON AND MAKING SURE
THEY'RE WELL WHICH INCLUDES THE
MENTAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL AND
CULTURAL HEALTH.
>> I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE COME TO
THE DOOR, WHAT'S THIS ROOM?
SO I EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT IT IS
AND THAT THEY'RE MORE WELCOME TO
COME IN.
MEDICAL HAS THE MEDICINE,
COUNSELORS ARE THERE TO HELP
WITH THE STRESSORS BUT THEN I
SEE ALSO THERAPY, I PUT THE
FROSTING ON THE CAKE, IT WAS
JUST, YOU COULD SEE THEM JUST
LIGHTING UP AND LOOK FORWARD TO
DOING THAT WORK, SOME WERE SAT
HERE 8 HOURS A DAY JUST READING
THEIR LANIARD OR MAKING SURE
THEY GOT THEIR SEDART--DARTH HAT
DONE, JUST CRAVING TO LEARN, YOU
COULD SEE THE CHANGE IN THEM.
>> BACK WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN
2011, I REMEMBER HEARING A LOT
OF NEGATIVE TALK ABOUT SABOXIN,
BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SABOXIN
PROGRAM, I WOULD HAVE A JOB, A
HOME, I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE BACK
TO SCHOOL, I WOULD BE IN PRISON
OR 6 FEET UNDER HONESTLY.
>> PEOPLE THINK IT'S LIKE, OH,
WELL YOU'RE SUBSTITUTING 1 DRUG
FOR ANOTHER DRUG, BUT WITH TIME,
I THINK THE COMMUNITY'S SEEN THE
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF PEOPLE ON
MEDICATION.
I REMEMBER BEING AT A GENERAL
COUNCIL MEETING AND SOMEONE
SAID, YOU KNOW I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYBODY GET THEIR CHILDREN BACK
WHILE BEING ON HEROIN.
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE GET THEIR
CHILDREN BACK BEING ON SABOXONE.
>> WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
STRUCTURE WITH MY MOM AND DAD.
THERE WAS JUST ALWAYS CHAOTIC.
THEY USED TO HAVE A LOT OF
PARTIES AND STUFF AND DRINK.
SO I GUESS I KIND OF KNEW WHEN I
MOVED IN WITH MY AUNT KATHY WHAT
THEY WERE DOING, THEY JUST OUT
PARTYING.
WHEN I WAS I THINK MAYBE 5 YEARS
OLD MY DAD JUST BROUGHT US TO MY
KATHY'S AND ASKED IF WE COULD
SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HER AND
THEN WE ENDED UP JUST STAYING
THERE.
>> I JUST DID IT.
I KNEW I HAD TO DO IT.
I WANTED THE BEST FOR THEM.
THEY WANTED TO BE WITH THEIR MOM
AND DAD, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WASN'T
THE BEST ENVIRONMENT SO, I TRIED
TO KEEP THEM ENGAGE AS THEY WERE
GROWING UP IN AS MANY THINGS
THAT WERE POSITIVE AND THAT
COULD HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR
OWN LEADERSHIP SKILLS BUT AFTER
JANDY GRADUATED IT JUST KIND OF
WENT OFF ON HER OWN WAY.
SORRY.
THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES ME SAD.
>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO REMEMBER
EVERYTHING.
THE MEMORIES OF MY ADDICTION ARE
JUST REALLY VAGUE BUT I DO
REMEMBER BEING BORN IN 2010 AND
HAVING HER FOR HER FIRST YEAR.
IT JUST KIND OF CAME NATURAL TO
ME HAVING A BABY BUT IT GOT
REALLY HARD WHEN I GOT INTO MY
ADICK.
I KNEW THAT SHE DESERVED TO BE
TAKEN CARE OF LIKE SHE'S
SUPPOSED TO SO I DECIDED TO
LEAVA ARINNA WITH MY MOM, IT WAS
A HARD CHOICE TO MAKE BUT I KNEW
IT WAS WHAT WAS BEST FOR HER.
>> I'M FLYING!
FLYING.
>> I'VE BEEN WANTING ARIANNA TO
COME HOME EVER SINCE I GOT
CLEAN.
THAT WAS ALWAYS MY GOAL IS GET
CLEAN, AND GET MY OWN PLACE AND
GET MY KID BACK.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE WHAT I
ENVISIONED FOR RECOVERY.
SO, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO
WORK ON.
[ENGINES REVVING ]
A LOT OF TRUCKS.
YEAH, SO WE'RE HEADING TO A
PROPERTY WHERE I USED TO LIVE IN
A TENT.
I JUST NERVOUS, I GUESS, I MEAN
I LOOK AT IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE
BY IT, JUST KIND OF REMEMBERING
HOW FAR I'VE COME FROM THIS
PROPERTY.
THIS WAS 1 OF THE LOWEST POINTS
IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS LIVING
HERE SO WHEN WE FIRST CAME HERE,
WE STARTED BACK IN THESE TREES.
WE JUST KIND OF HAD A MAKE SHIFT
SHALTER MADE WITH A TARP AND
SOME PLIE BOARDS, JUST IT WAS
REALLY WET, IT WAS DURING THE
RAINY SEASON SO, WE WERE JUST
TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING TO GET
US OUT OF THE RAIN.
MY ADDICTION WAS JUST A VICIOUS
CYCLE.
YOU KNOW WAKING UP SICK,
WORRYING ABOUT WHAT HUSTLE WE
WERE GOING TO DO TO GET MY NEXT
FIX, THAT WAS EVERY DAY FOR 6, 7
YEARS.
>> THE AMERICAN INDIAN ALASKA
NATIVE HAS HAD LACK OF ACCESS
FOR BEHAVIORIAL HEALTH IN
GENERAL.
>> BOYS THE DOCTOR HAS COME TO
MAKE THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
NIN THE EARLY YEARS, TRIBES WERE
DIRECTLY UNDER THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE WAS PROVIDED FOR ALL
TRIBAL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS
ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE SERVICES
BASED ON THE NATIONAL TRENDS
HEALTH NEEDS OF THE TRIBES AND
EVEN INDIVIDUAL TRIBES ARE VERY
DIFFERENT.
>> WE'RE NOT COMING FROM
WASHINGTON TO TELL YOU EXACTLY
WHAT TO DID AND HOW TO DO IT,
WE'RE COMING FROM WASHINGTON TO
ASK YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND
TELL YOU WE WILL GIVE YOU THE
TOOLS AND THE SUPPORT TO GET
DONE WHAT YOU NEED WANT TO DO
FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THEIR
FUTURE.
>> AND IN 1994 THEN, THE TRIBES
BEGAN ENTERING INTO THE ERA OF
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THE TRIBES
THEN STARTED FOCUSING THE
SERVICES TO RESPOND TO WHAT THE
NEEDS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITIES
WERE.
>> OUR ABILITY TO CUSTOMIZE WHAT
PEOPLE NEED HAS GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN RECOVER EXPE
STAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
CREATING AND DEVELOPING PROGRAMS
THAT WERE FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS
OF OUR PEOPLE AND NOT HOW MAIN
STREAM SOCIETY LOOKS AT A
PERSON.
>> WE MOVED INTO THE
[INDISCERNIBLE] VILLAGE, IT'S A
VILLAGE THAT A TRIBE CONSTRUCTED
TO HELP THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY KIND OF GET BACK ON
THEIR FEET.
IT'S REALLY NICE TO FINALLY HAVE
OUR OWN PLACE TO CALL HOME.
SCHE'LEANG 'EN, WAS START INDEED
2017, WE NEEDED TO BUILD
SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE TO GET
WELL AND FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE KIDS
RIGHT NOW.
HOUSE SUGGEST CRUCIAL FOR ANY
INDIVIDUAL TO BE ABLE TO GET
THEIR TRUCTURE TOGETHER, YOU CAN
DO ALL THIS COUNSELING FOR THEM
BUT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE
TO GO, THEY COME BACK AND
THEY'RE A MESS ALL OVER AGAIN
EMPLOY HERE AT LEAST, THEY GOT A
STRUCTURE, SO THAT'S WHAT WE
GEARED TO WRAP AROUND WITH, THEY
KNOW THEY HAVE A HOUSE, THEN WE
CAN HELP THEM.
WE HAVE 32 FAMILIES IN THERE,
OVER A HUNDRED KIDS, MOST OF
THESE ARE TIED TO SOME SORT OF
OPIATE HAS HIT THEIR FAMILY IN
SOME WAY, YOU KNOW WHY DID THEY
LOSE THEIR CHILDREN?
>> BECAUSE OF JANDY'S STRUGGLES
ARINNA AS BEEN RAISED BY JANDY'S
SISTER.
WHEN SHE GOT HER OWN PLACE, SHE
WANTED ARIANETWORK NA MOVE
IMMEDIATELY INTO THEM BE BUT
ARIANNA HAS KNOWN THIS AS HER
HOME FOR A LONG TIME SO THAT'S
GOING TO BE A SHOCK TO HER TO BE
TAKEN AWAY FROM IT AND BE HAVING
TOLD THAT SHE HAS TO GO LIVE
WITH HER.
>> WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO GO PICK
UP ARIANNA, SHE'S GOING TO COME
OVER TO THE HOUSE AND HANG OUT
WITH ME FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
JUST PULLING INTO MY SISTER'S
HOUSE.
HI.
SHE HASN'T LIVED WITH ME
FULL-TIME, YOU KNOW SINCE SHE
WAS A TODDLER SO IT'S REALLY
HARD TO KIND OF KNOW WHAT THAT'S
GOING TO BE LIKE.
>> SO ARE YOU COMING OVER
TOMORROW?
>> I WILL COME BACK TOMORROW.
>> WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS IF
I TRY TO GET HER TO COME HOME
FULL-TIME IF SHE'S NOT GOING TO
WANT TO BE HERE ALL THE TIME,
SHE'S GOING TO WANT TO GO BACK
TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE BECAUSE
SHE'S SO USED TO IT OVER THERE.
SHE COMES OVER AND SOME
WEEKENDS, SHE WILL BE SAD, SHED
SAY, I WANT TO GO HOME, I MISS
MY AUNTIE.
YOU KNOW THAT'S KIND OF HARD.
♪
WHEN I WAS A KID AND WE WERE
LIVING WITH MY ANTIKATHY WHEN WE
GOT TO BE AROUND ARIANNA'S AGE
AND THEY WOULD BRING US BACK TO
COURT AND ASK US IF WE WANT TO
GO LIVE WITH OUR PARENTS BUT I
HAD TO BE A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE
AT MY AUNT KATHY'S THAN I WAS
LIVING WITH MY PARENTS.
>> I THINK GROWING UP IN HER
CIRCUMSTANCES, MADE HER REALIZE
MAYBE THAT, YOU KNOW IT'S NOT TO
THE BEST INTEREST RIGHT AWAY TO
TEAR HER AWAY FROM SOMETHING
THAT SHE'S LIVED AND KNOWN FOR
SO LONG.
SHE'S ALWAYS HAD THE BEST
INTEREST OF ARIANNA'S AND GIVEN
HER THE TIME TO TRANSITION.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> ARIANNA, IS OLD ENOUGH TO
MAKE HER OWN CHOICES AND I'M NOT
FORCING HER TO LIVE WITH ME
FULL-TIME IF SHE'S NOT READY TO
BUT I TILL WANT TO GET HER ROOM
SET UP SO THAT SHE KNOWS SHE HAS
IT HERE AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW
AFTER SEEING THAT ROOM AND
EVERYTHING, SHE WILL BE OKAY
WITH LIVING WITH ME FULL-TIME.
>> BABY, GET DOWN.
BABY, STOP.
[LAUGHTER]
TRYING TO MAKE MY BED.
[LAUGHTER]
N2 MONTHS AGO, 2 AND HALF MONTHS
AGO, ME AND MY DAUGHTER GOT IN A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALTERCATION
AND WE'RE BOTH YELLING AT EACH
OTHER AND ENDED UP PUSHING AND
SHOVING AND BACK THEN, I WASN'T
IN MY RIGHT MIND BECAUSE I WAS
USING, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW I WAS
ON THE PETTER 30S, ON METHAND
HEROINE, THINGS JUST GOT WORSE
AND YOU KNOW I HIT HER.
[SOBBING ]
I KNOW IT WAS JUST THE DRUGS I
WAS ON, NOT TAKING CARE OF
MYSELF MENTALLY OR
CERTAINLY--CERTAINLY MOTIONAL,
SPIRITUALLY, YOU KNOW I WENT TO
JAIL AND STUFF AND GOT CHARGED
WITH ASSAULT CHARGES AND I WENT
TO TREATMENT FOR 45 DAYS AND I
WAS TOO EMBARBAR ASSED TO ASK
FOR HELP FOR THE LAST 4 OR 5
YEARS AND TOO ASHAMED TO REACH
OUT.
BUT YOU KNOW TODAY, I CAN DO
THAT.
>> I REALLY LOVE MY DAD.
I CARE ABOUT HIM A LOT.
BUT IF HE'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE
ANY OF THOSE CHOICES THAT ME
MAKES, THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE A
PART OF HIS LIFE.
I JUST FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES IN
LIFE, YOU GOTTA CUT PEOPLE OUT
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY BEFORE
YOU CAN HELP THEM.
FROM CONVERSATION I'VE HAD WITH
MY SIBLINGS THAT HE WON'T BEING
BACK UP HERE FOR A WHILE AND I
THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR HIM
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THIS IS NOT A
HEALTHY PLACE.
>> WELL AS OF TODAY I LIVE IN
THE LUMMI MEN'S REENTRY HOME,
IT'S A JAIL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM.
I'VE MOVED IN THERE AFTER MY
TREATMENTS, IT'S A SAFE AND
CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
I CAN'T GO HOME OR CAN'T SEE MY
DAUGHTER OR MY GRANDSON, CAN'T
BE AROUND THEM BECAUSE I GOT A
RESTRAINING ORDER AND I GOT
COURT COMING UP.
THEY KNOW LITTLE ABOUT ACTIVE
ADDICTION, ALL THEY KNOW IS WHAT
WE TELL THEM.
THERE'S DEFENSE MECHANISMS THAT
I USE TO KEEP ME IN THAT MODE OF
ACTIVE ARK DICTION, LIKE NUMBING
MYSELF, SO I DON'T HAVE TO FEEL
THOSE FEELINGS, THE SELF-PITY,
THE SELF-HATE.
WALKING THE ROAD JANUARY 28th.
BETTER COMMUNICATION, PROCESS
FEELINGS, AND EMOTIONS,
CRAVINGS, LEARNING TO LIVE A NEW
LIFESTYLE, TRIGGERS.
IT'S TAKE MEAN A LIFETIME TO
LEARN THIS.
I MISS MY HOME, I REALLY MISS
BELLA, KEITH, AND CARTER.
THE ENVIRONMENT UPAROUND MY
HOUSE, YOU KNOW IS ACTIVE ARK
DICTION GOING ON THERE SO IT
WOULDN'T BE A GOOD IDEA.
YOU KNOW I PLAN ON STAYING THERE
FOR AT LEAST A YEAR, YOU KNOW
HAVE MORE STRENGTH TO WHERE I
CAN GO LIVE IN MY HOUSE.
>> MY DAD TAUGHT ME MOST OF
EVERYTHING ABOUT HUNTING.
I HAVE BEEN HUNTING WITH HIM
EVER SINCE I WAS JUST AS SMALL
AS MY SON, EVEN YOUNGER.
IT'S A LIFESTYLE.
I MEAN WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR
HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
>> I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR KEITH
BRINGING ME ON THESE TRIPS
BECAUSE KEITH IS JUST REALLY ALL
FOR IT, YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS
BEEN IN HIS LIFE, SO I WAS LIKE,
I WANT THAT FOR MY SON, I WANT
HIM TO TEACH THAT TO MY SON.
NWE COME UP HERE TO LET THINGS
GO AND GET AWAY FROM ALL THE
NOISE.
THE NATURE IS REALLY COMFORTING
AND JUST THE FACT THAT YEAH, OUR
ANCESTORS HUNTED THESE SAME
WOODS AND I FEEL LIKE IT JUST
TEACHES ME PATIENT JUST BEING IN
THE PEACE AND QUIET TIMES YOU
KNOW, NOT EVEN HEARING ANYTHING
BUT THE WATER AND THE BIRDS, AND
HEARING THE WIND IN THE TREES
AND YOU KNOW JUST SOMETIMES IT'S
EVEN DEAD QUIET, YOU CAN'T EVEN
HEAR ANYTHING.
I WISHED I COULD HAVE LIVED BACK
IN THE OLD DAYS.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S JUST AN OLD
PART OF ME THAT JUST MISSES ALL
OF IT.
>> HISTORICAL TRAUMA IS PART OF
OUR HISTORY AND SOME SAY, YOU
KNOW IT IS PASSED DOWN
GENERATION TO GENERATION, YOU
KNOW BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
REMEMBER THAT OUR STRENGTHS AND
RESILIENCYS, OURS, TOO.
OUR ANCESTORS PRAYERS, ALL THOSE
GENERATIONS ARE STILL PROTECTING
US EVEN TODAY AND I'M SO
THANKFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
BELIEVE THAT STILL BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE 1S, YOU KNOW THE 1S
THAT STILL BELIEVE IN OUR
ANCESTORS TEACHINGS AND THE
STRENGTHS AND HAVE THE COURAGE
TO LIVE AND TRY TO FIND THE
SOLUTIONS THAT CONTINUE TO DRIVE
AND MOTIVATE THE PRESENT DAY
PEOPLE TODAY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE
STILL WORTH SAVING, THAT WE ARE
STILL HERE.
>> MY CONNECTION TO THIS LAND
GOES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
ALL MY ANCESTORS IMRAIT
GRANDFATHERS, GREAT
GRANDMOTHERS, GIVE ME STRENGTH.
ANCESTORS ARE POWERFUL PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY
STRONG, MENTALLY STRONG,
PHYSICALLY STRONG OF COURSE
BECAUSE THERE'S NO DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL THEN.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOWED UP
AND CHANGED EVERYTHING.
CHANGED OUR LANGUAGE, CHANGED
OUR CULTURE, ALL THESE NEW
DISEASES CAME, INTERRUPTED OUR
LIFE, SO, KIND OF SPECIAL TO BE
ABLE TO COME OUT AND PRACTICE
THESE WAYS OF LIFE.
IT'S IN OUR BLOOD, YOU KNOW,
JUST COMING OUT HERE, BE ABLE TO
LET THINGS GO MENTALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY, TO
BELIEVE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO THE
WATER AND LET THE WATER TAKE
CARE OF IT.
>> DRUG ADDICTION IS A SPIRITUAL
MALADY, IT'S A SPIRITUAL PROBLEM
AND OVER GENERATIONS OUR SPIRIT
HAS BEEN BROKEN.
THOSE TRAUMAS THAT WERE FORCED
UPON OUR WAY OF LIFE FROM THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BY OUTLAWING
OUR LANGUAGE AND OUR SONGS, YOU
KNOW, THAT TOOK AWAY A PORTION
OF US THAT WAS IRREPLACEABLE AND
I THINK IF WE CAN AWAKEN OUR
SPIRIT WE CAN BE FIXED.
NCOME ON HOLLY EMPLOY WE WILL
WORK TOGETHER, OKAY IN
-- OKAY?
>> WHEN I WAS USE, I NEVER
WANTED TO QUIT.
I HAD NO INTENTIONS OF QUITTING.
I LOVED HEROINE.
IT WAS -- THERE WAS LIKE NO
THOUGHT PROCESS TO IT, LIKE I
CAN'T TRACK THAT AND BE LIKE WHY
WOULD I EVER CHOOSE TO DO
HEROINE?
I TOOK A COUPLE HITS AND THEN I
JUST KEPT SMOKING IT AND THEN
WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS I WAS LIKE
TRYING TO BUY MY OWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT MADE ME FEEL
A PART OF OR WHAT IT DID FOR ME,
I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A BAD LIFE,
LIKE I HAD A GREAT LIFE.
>> WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL,
I LEARNED HOW TO WORK ON A BOAT,
THEN I JUST STARTED GOING WITH
LIKE MY UNCLES OUT ON THE WATER
LIKE A DECK HAND.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY ALWAYS GAVE
ME A YOB CORPS ON THE WATER.
THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE, THEY
ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME, THEY NEVER
GAVE UP HOPE, THEY KEPT ME
INVOLVED IN A PART OF MY FAMILY
AND MY CULTURE, RIGHT?
>> A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE ON
THE RIVER, YOU REALIZE THEY WERE
HERE BEFORE US DOING THIS EXACT
SAME THING.
WE JUST TALK, YOU KNOW LIKE THEY
TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT WHAT IT
USED TO BE LIKE, I SHARE SOME OF
MY EXPERIENCES, HE WILL TELL ME
STORIES ABOUT MY DAD, THAT'S
REALLY COOL, TOO, I FEEL LIKE I
JUST GET TO KNOW MY DAD SOME
MORE, TOO.
MY GOOD WHAT I BELT I NAMED IT
AFTER MY DAUGHTER KATIE MAY,
RUSS NAMED HIS BOAT AFTER
HOLLY'S MOM AND THAT STUCK WITH
ME THAT HOLLE DIDN'T HAVE A BOAT
NAMED AFTER HER, WE GOT HER BACK
INTO BEING WITH THE FAMILY AND
INTO THE FISHING AND STUFF.
KATIE AND KATHY AND I TALKED IT
OVER AND WE ASK HOLLE IF WE CAN
MAIM IT AFTER -- NAME IT AFTER
HER.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE MAKE
IT WITHOUT FAMILY BECAUSE I'VE
HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT, LIKE NOT
JUST FINANCIALLY, ANYTHING
THAT'S HAPPENED BUT JUST, OPEN
ARMS AND LOVE AND A PLACE TO
LIVE AND EVEN IF I NEEDED
GROCERIES WHEN I STARTED BEING
SOBER, LIKE EVERYTHING IS JUST
HERE.
>> YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT THAT FAR
AWAY FROM EVERYTHING AS A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY
EMPLOY.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT YOU'VE GOT FAMILY THAT
WILL ALWAYS BACK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING.
>> RIGHT.
YEAH.
>> WHEN HOLLE WAS GOING THROUGH
HER ADDICTION, THE FEAR WAS
ALWAYS THERE EVERYDAY, SEEING
HER AND TRYING TO GETET MESSAGE
ACROSS FROM HER THAT THERE IS A
BETTER LIFE, YOU KNOW, THIS
ISN'T WHO YOU ARE AND IT'S NOT
OVER.
TODAY WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH
THE SAME MESSAGE.
YOU KNOW WE JUST TRY TO TEACH
THEM WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT, WHAT
OUR ELDERS TAUGHT US IS WHAT WE
HAVE TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT
GENERATIONS AND I THANK GOD THAT
WE HAD GREAT TEACHERS.
I GET SOME LIKE PIECE OUT ON THE
WATER, AND I'M OUT ON THE WATER,
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT'S
HAPPENING AT HOME BECAUSE
THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT
IT ANYWAYS.
>> BEING ON THE WATER, YOU KNOW
AWAY FROM ALL THE MADNESS, THE
CRAZINESS, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO
JUST GO AND THINK.
IT GIVES YOU TIME TO THINK OF
WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU COME FROM
THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF EVERYTHING
AROUND YOU, THE WATER ITSELF,
THE SUN, THE CHI, I MEAN IT'S
LIKE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE WATER,
YOU COULD HEAR EVERYTHING, YOU
KNOW?
>> IT'S YOUR ROOTS, IT'S WHERE
YOU COME FROM, IT'S PART OF WHO
YOUR PEOPLE ARE AND WHEN YOU'RE
USING, YOU'RE SO FAR AWAY FROM
THAT.
♪
AS I WAS GROWING UP THE
TRADITIONAL DANCES AND SINGING
AND DRUMMING AND STUFF, IT
WASN'T REALLY TAUGHT BUT WHEN I
MOVED BACK HOME TO SWINAMOSH, I
STARTED WORKING IN THE CULTURAL
DEPARTMENT AND WORKING ON
CULTURAL NIGHT AND I STARTED
HEARING THE SONGS AND IT JUST --
IT HELPS KEEP ME BALANCED.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE USING, THEY'RE
NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE
TRADITIONAL CULTURAL WAYS,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SMOKE
HOUSE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
CHURCH, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
FAMILY GATHERERRINGS, SO WHAT
YOU'RE NOT PARTICIPATING YOU'RE
JUST NOT PRESENT WITH YOURSELF.
I MEAN YOUR BODY IS THERE BUT
YOUR SPIRIT IS NOT, YOU'RE NOT
NOT ABLE TO BE HERE.
SO TO GAIN LIKE PART OF WHO YOU
ARE BACK, THAT'S PROGRESS.
>> FOR SO MANY YEARS OUR PEOPLE,
IT WAS ENGRAINED IN THEIR MIND
THAT IT WASN'T OKAY FOR THEM TO
PRACTICE TRADITIONS AND CULTURAL
WAYS IN PUBLIC BUT THERE'S
VARIOUS TRADITION ANDS CULTURES
THAT WE SEE AS PART OF OUR
FAMILY LIFESTYLE AND THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT HELPS US FEEL
BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES.
MANY OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE NOW
LEARNED THAT THERE IS CULTURAL
TRADITIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM IN
THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES AND IT
GIVES OUR PEOPLE THE STRENGTH
THAT THEY MIGHT NEED TO GET OVER
WHATEVER IS CAUSING THEM
PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE.
NHISTORY HAS SHUT US DOWN FOR A
REALLY LONG TIME AND THAT
HISTORY STILL AFFECTS
INDIVIDUALS TODAY BUT NOW
THERE'S THIS HUGE MOVEMENT WHERE
NATIVE NATIONS, THEY'RE FINALLY
TELLING THEIR STORY AND THERE'S
AN UPRISING OF HEALING AND OUR
VOICE IS BEING HEARD AND THERE'S
JUST SOMETHING REALLY PROFOUND
ABOUT IT, ABOUT JUST SHARING
YOUR STORY AND BEING HEARD.
THERE ARE MANY PATHWAYS TO
WELLNESS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
FOR OTHERS, YOU KNOW?
SOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FIND
THEIR OWN WELLNESS THROUGH
CANOE
POLING, OR THROUGH WELL HOUSES
OR SMOKE HOUSE OR WEAVING OR
BEATING OR TEESMING -- TEACHING
THE LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW THOSE ARE
ALL PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY AND
WELLNESS.
♪
THE NATIVE TRANSFORMATION
PROJECT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED
PARTICIPATORY PROJECT.
WHAT'S REALLY PROFOUND ABOUT
THIS PROJECT IS THAT WE GET TO
SIT AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER'S
STORIES.
WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK WITH 1
ANOTHER AND IDENTIFY SOURCES OF
STRENGTH OR PROTECTIVE FACTORS
THAT HELP PEOPLE LIVE A LIFE
THAT IS SAFE GUARDED AND
STRENGTHENED.
THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY
IDENTIFYING NOT WHAT'S WRONG
WITH US, BUT WHAT'S RIGHT WITH
US.
IN OUR NATIVE TRANSFORMATION
PROJECT, WE STARTED REALLY
LOOKING AT INTERVIEWING
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ACHIEVED
SOME SENSE OF WELLNESS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE THOSE
SOURCES OF STRENGTH THAT
INDIVIDUALS CAN LEAN UPON IN
THEIR JOURNEY TO RECOVERY.
>> WE'VE UTILIZE THE NATIVE
TRANSFORMATION PROJECT TO
PROVIDE PREVENTION SERVICES FOR
YOUTH WITH THESE PREVENTION
STRATEGIES, YOU KNOW WE'RE
TRYING TO GET FURTHER UPSTREAM
TO CATCH INDIVIDUALS BY EXPOSING
THEM TO PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND
SOURCES OF STRENGTH THAT KEEP
THEM WELL AND HEALTHY SO
TOGETHER WE CAN BE COAST SALISH
STRONG, THE HOPE IS THAT MORE
PEOPLE, MORE PROVIDERS, MOW
PROGRAMS, WILL UTILIZE THIS
MODEL TO KNOW THAT CULTURE IS
PREVENTION, YOU KNOW THAT
COMMUNITY IS PREVENTION, FAMILY
IS PREVENTION.
THE ANSWER IS ALREADY WITHIN
YOU.
IT'S ALREADY AROUND YOU.
IT'S ALREADY IN THIS ROOM.
>> GOT EVERYTHING DISMISSED AND
IF I FOLLOW THROUGH WITH
EVERYTHING WITHIN A YEAR HERE,
AND GET RESTRAINING ORDERS
DROPPED, I WILL CALL MY
DAUGHTER.
[PHONE RINGING ]
>> HELLO?
>> HEY BELLA.
>> HEY DAD.
>> I WAS LIKE WHO IS THIS.
>> THIS IS MY NUMBER.
>> JUST GOT DONE WITH COURT.
>> OH, OKAY.
EVERYTHING WAS DROPPED AND WELL
I'VE DONE DEFERRED PROSECUTION
BUT YOU KNOW POLICY WITH ALL
THAT BUT THE RESTRAINING ORDER
HAS BEEN DROPPED.
>> I CALL SIDE SHE WAS LIKE WHAT
DO YOU WANT TO DO, I WAS LIKE
I'M OKAY, WITH EVERYTHING GOING
ON, I THINK IT'S OKAY FOR HIM TO
COME HOME.
>> HEY.
I LOVE YOU BELLA AND YOU KNOW I
SAID SORRY SO MANY TIMES BEFORE,
BUT YOU KNOW IT DIDN'T MEAN
NOTHING UNTIL I CHANGE MY
BEHAVIOR AROUND.
SO I WENT AND DID WHAT I HAD TO
DO FOR MYSELF AND HERE I AM
TODAY.
HERE I AM TODAY.
LIVING THE DREAM, THEY SAY.
BEEP BEEP.
JUST THANKFUL THAT I'M STILL
HERE TO EXPERIENCE THIS MOMENT
RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW.
IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
MY GRANDSON.
>> A LOT OF HEALING IS USUALLY
INWARD AT FIRST BUT WHEN YOU GET
TO A CERTAIN STAGE OF HEALING,
YOUR INTEREST EXPAND.
I'M OKAY NOW SO I WANT TO TAKE
CARE OF MY PEOPLE AND THAT'S
WONDERFUL, THAT'S THE ROOT THAT
TRIBAL PEOPLE HAVE THAT WE ALL
TRY TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
>> WELL, WE SENT OUT THE
APPLICATIONS FOR THE
[INDISCERNIBLE], SUICIDE
PREVENTION TRAINING --
>> I THINK I DECIDED I WANTED TO
BE A COUNSELOR WHEN I WENT BACK
TO SCHOOL.
I'M IN MY SECOND YEAR IN THE
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY STUDIES
DEGREE.
JUST FINISHING UP MY LAST 3
CLASSES THEN I WILL WORK ON
GETTING A JOB OUT HERE AT THE
LUMMI CARE OFFICE AND APPLYING
FOR MY TRAINEE CERTIFICATE.
NNEXT UP WE HAVE OUR SEVENTH
GENERATION ALLIANCE PLEDGE, WE
TRYING TO GET STUDENTS TO BE
MORE AWARE AND CONSCIOUS OF THE
CHOICES THEY'RE MAKING.
>> JANDY'S PATHWAY TO RECOVERY
WAS QUITE AMAZING BECAUSE JANDY
HAS ALSO TAKEN ON THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP OTHERS IN
THEIR PATHWAY TO RECOVERY.
THAT'S CORE TO WHO WE ARE AS
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IS THAT, YOU
KNOW WE CARE ABOUT 1 ANOTHER.
EVERYONE FALLS DOWN BUT IT'S
GETTING UP AND MOVING FORWARD IS
THAT WILL REALLY HELP YOU IN THE
LONG RUN, NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF,
BUT THE WELL BEING OF OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
>> THESE ARE ORDERS IN PART OF A
NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY.
>> I WHOLE HEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN
BEING AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE
WATCH 1 ANOTHER OUT HERE.
OUR COMMUNITY IS SO SMALL AND
CLOSE KNIT THAT WHEN YOU SEE
PEOPLE SUCCEEDING THAT INSPIRES
OTHER PEOPLE TO SUCCEED.
OH LOOK, LOOK!
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> BEING FROM SWINOMESH, AND
PEOPLE SEEING ME IN MY YOUTH AND
SEEING ME IN THIS ACTIVE ROLE,
THEY'RE LIKE DAMN, HOW DID YOU
DO THAT?
THAT WAS A CHAPTER IN MY LIFE I
WAS REALLY ADDICTED TO AN
ADDICTIVE DRUG, IT BROUGHT ME TO
THE WORST PERSON THAT I CAN BE,
BUT, YOU KNOW I CAME OUT OF IT.
>> I LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE COME
ALIVE AGAIN.
YOU KNOW IT'S AMAZING WORKING
WITH SOMEBODY WHEN THEY DON'T
HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK YOU IN
THE EYE BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE,
YOU KNOW THEY JUST -- THERE'S NO
WORTH LEFT IN THEIR BODY,
THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR THEM,
AND AS YOU SEE PEOPLE GAIN THAT
HOPE AND THE COURAGE TO GO ON
AND BUILD THEIR LIFE BACK UP AND
YOU SEE THEM START TO LITERALLY
RISE FROM THE ASHES, RIGHT?
AND THE LIGHT COMES BACK, THE
SMILE COMES BACK AND THE KIDS
ARE SMILING AND LAUGHING, IT'S
AN AMAZING JOURNEY TO BE A PART
OF.
>> MY HOPES FOR MY FAMILY
SOMEDAY IS FOR ALL OF US TO BE
DOING SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE AND
FOR US TO DEAL WITH OUR EMOTIONS
AND OUR FEELINGS AND ALL THE
THING THATION WE ARE DEALING
WITH IN OUR DAILY LIFE IN A
HEALTHY WAY EMPLOY CHECKING IN
WITH EACH OTHER AS WELL AND JUST
SHOWING UP TO THE IMPORTANT
STUFF, YOU KNOW?
COMPARED TO LAST YEAR FROM THIS
YEAR, ALL OF OUR BIRTHDAYS AND
STUFF THIS YEAR, I THINK WE'VE
ALL BEEN THERE.
THAT'S A BIG CHANGE AND WE THINK
THAT'S AWESOME.
MY PARENTS, THEY WERE BOTH
REALLY HURT AND THEY'RE STILL
DALING WITH THEIR TOUGH AND IT'S
REALLY HARD TO TRY AND
UNDERSTAND THEM SOMETIMES, THAT
I HAVE MADE CHOICES GROWING UP
TO WHERE THEY JUST WENT AND DID
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
BUT I'M LIKE TRYING REALLY HARD
TO NOT ABANDON THEM BECAUSE I
KNOW HOW IT FEELS.
♪
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD DEAL TODAY.
GOOD FEELINGS TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING GOOD.
ALL YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD LIFE, YOU
GUYS TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND
EACH OTHER AND ALWAYS STICK
TOGETHER, LOVE 1 ANOTHER AND
FORGIVE 1 ANOTHER, KEEP LOOKING
TO GOD THROUGH SPIRITUALITY, YOU
GUYS BE OKAY.
♪
AMERICA OKAY, SO TRULY NO WORDS
TO FOLLOW THAT INCREDIBLE
LOAMACYY POWERFUL FILM, SO MANY
THINGS STRIKE ME AT FIRST JUST
EXTREME GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU
FOR SHARING THOSE
TREMENDOUSATORYS, AND ALSO
TEACHING US THAT ADICK IS NOT
ABOUT 1 STATIC MOMENT IN TIME
BUT RATHER THAT WE ARE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER AND THAT WE -- IT
IS A YOWRNY OF LOVE AND THERE IS
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CHAPTER,
ANOTHER TIME, AND THIS FILM
BEAUTIFULLY PORTRAYED THAT.
WE HAVE A PANEL LECTURE, OR
DISCUSSION, I'M SORRY THAT WILL
FOLLOW THE FILM, AND WE'RE
RUNNING A LITTLE SHORT ON TIME
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP
DR. NORA VOLKOW AND DR. KARINA
WALTERS WHO WILL CHAIR OUR PANEL
AND ALSO OUR PANELISTS TO PLEASE
COME JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE CHAIRMAN
ANTHONY HILLAIRE, SHARINE
ALEXANDER AND BELLA JAMES
FEATURED IN THE FILM, WE'RE
HONORED TO HAVE THE PRODUCER OF
THE FILM, MR. DARREL HILLAIRA,
WHO IS THE FATHER OF TONY AND
ANTHONY AND IS THAT -- BARBARA,
SORRY.
YES, BARBARA JUAREZ, AND ALSO
JOINING US ON THE PANEL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO I HAVE VERY LONG
INTRODUCTIONS PREPARED FOR
DR. NORA VOLKOW AND ANOTHER 1
FOR DR. KARINA WALTERS BUT IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME I WILL
FORGO THAT AND JUST TELL YOU
THAT BOTH DOCTOR VOLKOW AND
DR. WALTERS ARE TREMENDOUS
LEADERS IN THIS SPACE, KARINA
JOINED NIH JUST OVER A YEAR AGO
AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER
DIRECTING OUR TRIBAL HEALTH
RESEARCH OFFICE, NORA HAS BEEN A
FANTASTIC LEADER IN WHAT MANY OF
YOU DON'T KNOW IS I OFTEN GET TO
STAND PUBIC LICKLY AND BE
THANKED IF ARE OUR NATIVE
AMERICAN WORK BUT WE COULD NOT
DO THAT WITHOUT NORA'S STAUNCH
PASSION AND COMMITMENT AND HER
JUST ABSOLUTE PLEEF THAT WE CAN
DO BETTER AND WE MUST DO BETTER
AND I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR
HER LEADERSHIP AND HER
COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION IN
THIS AREA.
SO I WILL STOP TALKING SO YOU
CAN HEAR FROM THE PRIME STARS
AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY OF
TELLING A STORY.
HOW POWERFUL, THIS STORY HAS
BEEN TOLD, I WANT TO BE THANKFUL
BUT THEA THE SAME TIME,
[INDISCERNIBLE].
AND SOMETIMES EXPERIENCES THAT
ARE ENRICHING HURT.
BUT I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE
NEED THAT HURT IN ORDER TO DRIVE
THE ACTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY
TO CHANGE THINGS.
SO TIME THANK YOU FOR GIVING US
INSIGHT.
NOW BEFORE WE START THE PANEL
DISCUSSIONS I WOULD LIKE EACH OF
YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO.
I'M [SPEAKING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE
] I AM ISBELLA JAMES, I
[INDISCERNIBLE] APPLE MUSIC AND
SPOTIFY, [INDISCERNIBLE] CHECK
IT OUT AND LIKE IT AND ENJOY THE
VOICES OF HEARING THE PEOPLE IN
OUR WORK.
SO YES THAT'S WHO I AM AND THANK
YOU FOR HAVING US HERE AND THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU BELLA, SO I ALREADY
DID A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
EARLIER, AGAIN MY NAME IS
SHARINE ALEXANDER, 1 THING I
WANT TO SHARE ABOUT ME IS THAT I
ACTUALLY BECAME PART OF THE
NATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS PROJECTS
BECAUSE I WAS [INDISCERNIBLE] BY
2 OF MY AUTHORS AND MENTORS FOR
COMMUNITIES TO COME AND TAKE
PART ON THIS COMMUNITY BOARD.
I WAS TOLD TO COME AND SHARE
MIATORY AND THAT WAS HOW I WAS
INTRODUCED TO THE NATIVE
TRANSFORMATION PROJECT AND FELL
IN LOVE WITH WHAT I WAS LEARNING
AND THE PROCESS OF COURSE BEING
ABLE TO SIT AMONG SUCH WONDERFUL
ELDERS AND LEADERS AND THOSE WHO
WERE JUST AS PASSIONATE ABOUT
FINDING HEALING AND RECOVERY IN
OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW
BECAUSE IN MY EXPERIENCE GROWING
UP, YOU KNOW, LIKE ADDICTION,
ALCOHOLISM, YOU KNOW ABUSE, IT
WAS [INDISCERNIBLE], IN MY
EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I SHARE I
GREW UP IN A DIFFERENT SIDE OF
[INDISCERNIBLE] AND IT WASN'T
UNTIL I WAS IN MY EARLY 20S WHEN
I GOT TO SEE THE STRENGTH OF
BEING A TRIBAL MEMBER
SOPHISTICATED SO WHO WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT BY JUST FOLLOWING WHAT I
WAS ASKED TO DO THAT I WOULD BE
HERE ALL THESE YEARS LATER O
WORKING AND BEING A PART OF THIS
AMAZING PROJECT.
THANKS.
>> [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
MY TRADITIONAL NAME IS
[INDISCERNIBLE] I AM BARBARA
FLORES AND I FROM THE GREAT
LUMMI NATION AND GREAT TO BE
HERE WITH ALL OF YOU AS WELL AND
SO GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF ALL F
THIS WONDERFUL WORK EMPLOY
DOESN'T MEAN IT'S EASY BUT IT'S
REALLY WONDERFUL WORK AND I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SPECIAL
ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO 1 OF MY
MENTORS DR. FREEMAN, SOME OF YOU
MAY HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH,
HE'S DIRECTOR OF [INDISCERNIBLE]
SERVICE AND WHEN SOMEBODY SEES
SOMETHING IN YOU, A LITTLE SPARK
LIKE SHARINE IS TALKING ABOUT,
SHE SAW SOMETHING IN ME IN 1975
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH
SCHOOL AND SAID THIS IS YOUR
PATH SO SOME OF THIS WERE CHOSEN
AND SOME OF US CHOSE THIS WORK
IN TERMS OF MAKING THINGS
BETTER.
BUT I'M TOTALLY GRATEFUL TO BE
WITH YOU ALL.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE] PROUD FATHER
OF [INDISCERNIBLE].
NINE GRANDCHILDREN.
[INDISCERNIBLE] FOR THEM,
THESATORYS OF OUR PEOPLE TO THEM
CARRY ON, [INDISCERNIBLE] FUTURE
I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU, I
HEARD THE CHUCKLE OF THE LITTLE
BOY DANCING IN THE VIDEO, HE'S 7
GENERATIONS FROM THE ANCESTORS
SINCE THE TREATY SIGNING, YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS TO
KNOW WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS
RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO HONOR THAT,
[INDISCERNIBLE] DOING GOOD WORK
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER
THROUGH THAT FOUNDATION.
THANK YOU.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE] MY DEAR
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES I AM TONY
HILLAIRE, CHAIRMAN OF THE LUMMI
NATION, GRATEFUL TO BE HERE AND
BE A PART OF AND FOLLOW THIS
TEAM HERE.
[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I'M MINDFUL OF THE TIME
BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE 13
MINUTES, RIGHT?
AND KATHY GAVE ME, A YOU WHOLE
LIST OF QUESTIONS SO ACTUALLY
WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO, I'M
NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THEM 1 BY 1
BUT I THINK THAT THE FIRST
QUESTION THAT BASICALLY GOES TO
ALL OF YOU, I THINK THAT 1 OF
THE ASPECTS THAT IS LIKE A LATE
MOTIF IN THE FULL NARRATIVE, SO
FOR YOUR STRENGTH SO FOR ANYONE
WHO WANTS TO ANSWER IT, WHY IS
IT SO IMPORTANT TO ACTUALLY
APPROACH THESE EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING PROBLEM OF ADDICTION
TO STRENGTH?
TO ANY 1 OF YOU?
>> FOR ME IT'S RELATIONSHIPS.
THE WOMEN THAT ARE DEPICTED IN
THE FILM ARE -- I SEE THEM BUT I
ALSO SEE THEIR GRAND PARENTS AND
IN SOME INSTANCES THEIR GREAT
GRAND PARENTS.
THAT RELATIONSHIP IS INSTANTLY
FOR OUR WORK IN THAT I'M DOING
IF FOR THEM.
I'M BRINGING THAT FOR WHAT THEY
DID FOR US, I'M BRINGING IT
FORWARD TO THEM THAT I'M SO
GRATEFUL THAT I COULD TAKE CARE
OF YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR
GRANDCHILDREN, AND YOUR GREAT
GRANDCHILDREN.
THAT'S THE FUEL INSIDE OF OUR
PRODUCTION COMPANY, EVERYWHERE
WE GO IN INDIAN COUNTRY, WE GO
TO TALK TO THE OLD PEOPLE AND
GET THAT RELATIONSHIP STARTED
THERE, BECAUSE OUR HISTORY, WE
HAVE A SHARED HISTORY, WE HAVE
SHARED FEELINGS, WE HAVE SHARED
SONG, THE SONG THAT WAS TODAY IT
BROUGHT ME RIGHT TO THEIR HOME
LAND.
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> [LAUGHTER]
>> ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT
ON COMING FROM STRENGTH?
>> I THINK THAT -- I THINK FOR
ME PERSONALLY, FOR THIS WORK TO
BE DRIVEN BY STRENGTH, I THINK
ABOUT ---I THINK IN GENERAL
BEING IN THIS DOCUMENTARY, I
WASN'T INTENDED TO BE A STAR ON
IT BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE
STRENGTH OF WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY
FAMILY AND THEIR STORIES AND
THEIR JOURNEYS AND THE OPIATE
CRISIS AND HOW I'VE SEEN THAT
GROWING UP IN MY LIFE AND HAVING
THE STRENGTH TO PULL MYSELF
THROUGH THAT TYPE OF LIFE AND
IMROAING UP IN THAT I WAY, I
JUST KNEW THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE
A PART OF IT BUT ALSO HAVING THE
STRENGTH OF MY ANCESTORS, BUT
ALSO THE PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE
WITH ME, AND BELIEVING THE
STRENGTH THAT WE HAD JUST LIKE
DARREL SAID TO BE ABLE TO HOLD
US UP AND YOU KNOW BEING ABLE TO
SHOW THAT AND TO SHOW THAT TO
YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE THAT STRENGTH.
SO I THINK FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH
MY FAMILY WEREN'T ABLE TO STEP
UP IN THE WAYS TO HELP PROVIDE
ME, MENTOR ME TO WHERE I AM
TODAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY
COMMUNITY DID THAT FOR ME AND
PROVIDED THE STRENGTH THAT I
NEEDED TO LIFT MYSELF UP TO GET
OUT OF THESE [INDISCERNIBLE] SO
I CAN PROVIDE A HEALTHY LIFE FOR
MY FAMILY.
>> AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, IF
YOU LOOK AT THE FILM, AND
EVERYTHING THAT BELLA RESPECT
RESENTS, YOU CAN SEE THE
STRENGTH IN HER, AND THERE'S
NOTHING THAT REALLY PREPARES US
FOR THESE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF
THE WORLD, THE ADVERSITIES THAT
WE FACE BUT AT THE SAME TIME
WE'VE BEEN PREPARED OUR ENTIRE
LIVES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
INTRINSIC IN US AND OUR
RESILIENCE AND IN THE FIGHTING
THE GOD FIGHT THAT IS PASSED
DOWN FROM GENERATIONS AND IF WE
CAN, PLEASE, I REALLY JUST WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT STRENGTH.
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE
[INDISCERNIBLE].
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> JUST ADD SOME PERSPECTIVE ON
IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOCUSED ON
FOCUS ON STRENGTH BASED, THE
STRENGTH OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY
AND HOW WE GROW AND FOSTER
RESILIENCE, BECAUSE IT'S EASY
FOR PAIN AND TRAGEDY TO CATCH
OUR ATTENTION AND YOU KNOW IN A
SOCIETY WHERE WE'RE CONSTANTLY
JUST FOCUSED ON SICK CARE, AND
YOU KNOW THE SYSTEMS THAT WE ARE
PLACED UPON US YOU KNOW, IT'S
REALLY EASY TO TRY AND JUST
TREAT, YOU KNOW SOME OF THE
SYMPTOMS VERSUS REALLY TRYING TO
GET THE CORE OF LIKE THE
PROBLEMS AND WE THINK ABOUT
PREVENTION, WE HAVE A SAYING, A
RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL COMMUNES
AND WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF
WHAT AFFECTS THAT TIDE AND HOW
DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND
NUTTURE THE TIDES SO THAT YOU
KNOW WE'RE NOT HAVING PEOPLE WHO
ARE DROWNING OR FLAILING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOCUS
ON THE GOOD FOR US AND TO FIND
WAYS TO ADVOCATE THIS SYSTEM AND
STRUCTURES THAT WE UTILIZE IN
OUR SOCIETIES CAN ACTUALLY
SUPPORT THAT.
>> I HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION,
THIS 1'S FOR BELLA.
SO RESEARCHERS AND FILMMAKERS
ARE BOTH DIFFERENT -- THEY TELL
STORIES AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO
BE A PART OF BOTH THE RESEARCH
AND THE FILM, CAN YOU SHARE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT SHAPED
YOUR RESEARCH VIEWS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT BECOMES SO
NATURAL TO US, YOU KNOW SENSE
WE'VE BEEN BORN WE'VE BEEN
RAISED IN SUCH A WAY WHERE WE
COME FROM OUR ELDERS AND IT'S
JUST ORAL STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION.
I DON'T KNOW, I JUST -- DIDN'T
REALLY LIKE INTEND TO LIKE -- I
DON'T KNOW AS I EXPERIENCE IT, I
DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AS MUCH AS
RESEARCH, I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT
ALL THE PERSONAL THINGS THAT
I'VE BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE AND
HOW IT'S AFFECTED ME AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR ME TO TELL
MY STORY AS A CHILD AND BEING A
CHILD AND WATCHING YOUR PARENTS
THROUGH AN ADDICTION.
AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THAT TO BE TOLD
AND I DON'T KNOW, IT'S LIKE I
SAID, IT WASN'T INTENDED TO BE A
DOCUMENTARY, I JUST LIKE, IT WAS
JUST 1 OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID
THOUGH AND IT'S JUST LIKE, IT
TAUGHT ME AND A LOT OF THINGS
AND IT TAUGHT ME A LOT OF
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS
THAT WERE GOING ON IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND KNOWING THAT THE
OPIOID CRISIS WAS 1 OF THE
BIGGEST THINGS IN MY COMMUNITY
AND SEEING THAT FIRST HAND AND
BEING ABLE TO WITNESS THE FEEL
OF THAT, I THINK ABOUT IT AND
THINK ABOUT ALL THE
TRANSFORMATIONAL -- I'M SORRY --
I HAVE MY RETAINERS IN, I HAVE A
LIAISONSP BUT I DON'T.
SORRY.
SO, DON'T THINK IT'S JUST MY
STORY BUT SEEING ALL THE OTHER
TRANSFORMATIONAL STORIES IN THIS
DOCUMENTARY, THE CULTURE HAS
BEEN THE ROOT OF OUR WAY OF LIFE
AND TO SEE ALL OF US BEING
ROOTED BACK INTO THOSE WAYS OF
LIFE AND BEING ABLE TO HEAL FROM
THOSE THINGS AND HAVING FAMILY
BE THROUGH OUR FEELINGS AND
CULTURE BEING THE ROOT OF OUR
HEALINGS, YOU KNOW I GREW UP IN
A WAY WHERE I DIDN'T FEEL LEAK I
BELONGED BECAUSE I HAD BEEN SO
LOST FOR INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA, HISTORICAL TRAUMA, A
PART OF YOUR IDENTITY FEELS LOST
BECAUSE YOUR ROOTS AND YOUR
ANCESTORS, YOU ALL OF THAT CAN
BE LOST SO I FELT, I WAS LOST
FOR A REALLY LONG TIME SO SEEING
THESE STORIES OF BEING ABLE TO
GO BACK TO OUR ROOTS AND OUR
CULTURE, IT TRANSFORMS US IN
SOME WAY AND YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN
DOING THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS,
YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN PUTTING
MYSELF BACK INTO -- NOT EVEN
MYSELF, JUST GOING AND
EXPERIENCING MY CULTURE AND
PUTTING MYSELF INTO THOSE ROOTS
SO THAT MY FAMILY CAN COME BACK
WITH [INDISCERNIBLE] AND LIKE WE
JUST TALKED ABOUT STRENGTH.
>> AND UNFORTUNATELY TIME IS
RELENTLESS SO THERE'S NO MORE
TIME FOR QUESTIONS BUT CHAIRMAN
ANTHONY HAS OFFERED TO SAY
GOODBYE TO US WITH A PRAYER, TO
LEAVE US WITH A PRAYER.
[INDISCERNIBLE].
[SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
>> THANK YOU .
I WISH WE HAD ANOTHER 45 MINUTES
WE COULD SPEND TOGETHER I WOULD
BE REMISS IF I DID NOT VERY
QUICKLY THANK THE PEOPLE WHO
MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE, THE
NCREW TEAM, JACLYN AND CARLY AND
JULIE AND USHA, AND NIDA AND
FINALLY WE INVITE PEOPLE TO
GATHER INFORMALLY OUTSIDE OF THE
ROOM, YOU WILL SEE ART ON
DISPLAY THERE, THAT IS FROM A
NIDA ART COMPETITION IN WHICH WE
INVITED YOUTH TO CREATE ART FOR
OPIOID ABUSE AND ENCOURAGE YOU
TO LOOK AT IT AND READ THEIR
CAPPINGS AND TAKE PART OF THEIR
STORY AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE
INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT
OF YOUR FILM THAT YOU GAVE TO
ALL OF US AND FOR THE GIFT OF
YOUR HONORING US WITH YOUR
PRESENCE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE ]