Yurok Tribe Happy With Governor’s Proposed Investment in Tribally Operated Wellness Center

 tribally operated Regional Wellness Center YurokPress release from the Yurok Tribe:

The Yurok Tribe applauds California Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to invest $15 million in a much-needed, tribally operated Regional Wellness Center.

 

“I would like to sincerely thank Governor Newsom for including this transformative project in the revised California Blueprint budget. If funded, this innovative facility will positively impact every single family in our region,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “We have been working on this project for a really long time because we know it will strengthen our shared communities from many generations to come. It’s that important. The Regional Wellness Center will serve as the most powerful tool in our arsenal to combat the disease of addiction.”

 

“We have aggressively pursued funding for the Regional Wellness Center for nearly a decade because the need is so immense,” said Yurok Chief Justice Abby Abinanti. “It is so exciting to think we could soon be in a better position heal some of the most vulnerable members of our community. I hope and pray this dream finally comes true.”

 

Located in the northwestern corner of California, the Yurok Tribe is the largest federally recognized Tribe in state and neighbors the second and third most populous sovereign tribal nations. Due to historical trauma, poverty and systemic inequities as well as many other complex factors, mental health issues, including substance abuse, are disproportionately prevalent in this rural part of the state. Based on the success of the Yurok Tribal Court’s Wellness Court and Joint Family Wellness Court, the Regional Wellness Center will significantly reduce rates of addiction and elevate the communities of California’s north coast.

 

The state-of-the-art Regional Wellness Center will offer culturally relevant and conventional drug, alcohol and mental health services. With an option to stay for up to a year, based court referrals, residents will have access to a wide variety of supportive services, which revolve around the restoration of mental, physical and spiritual health. Services will include: methamphetamine treatment, medically assisted treatment for opioid addiction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, meditation and guided breathing and relaxation techniques. The Center will provide on-campus and off-campus cultural activities and events to keep residents connected to their community. Individual, family and group therapy will be available too.

There are no similar facilities in the region, which extends from Southern Oregon to Southern Humboldt County. Currently, the Yurok Tribal Court has to send a majority of its clients to San Francisco for drug treatment, which is hundreds of miles away from their families and support groups. The long distance also prevents them from participating in the Tribe’s culture and place-based religion. The Tribe’s traditional value system focuses on maintaining balance on an individual and global scale. The Tribal Court’s Wellness Court and Joint Family Wellness Court have helped numerous Tribal citizens achieve sobriety and return to being contributing members of the community. The Regional Wellness Center will enable the Court to exponentially increase the number of people it can serve.

“In addition to putting their lives at risk and causing tremendous heartache within their families, those in the throes of addiction are vulnerable to human trafficking and worse. Human traffickers know they can easily take advantage of addicts’ dependence on drugs and manipulate them in horrible ways. I know of many Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women People cases that involve victims who were struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues,” said Judge Abinanti. “These new facilities will aid in our efforts to the combat the MMIWP crisis too.”

On the West Coast, the opioid epidemic first took root in the remote Northern California region. In Humboldt County, the rate of overdose deaths is more than twice the national average and overdose mortality rates have jumped 40 percent in the last two years. In 2018, the Yurok Tribe filed a federal lawsuit against 20 of the largest opioid manufactures and distributors in the US in an attempt to hold them accountable for their role in the widespread abuse of prescription painkillers.

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mlr the giant squirrel in Eureka
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mlr the giant squirrel in Eureka
1 year ago

In Klamath or Eureka?

Alf
Guest
Alf
1 year ago

How about the same 15 million for each of several other north coast towns. If you believe this wellness center will actually help, there are heroes (veterans, first responders, etc) who deserve help just as much as the Yuroks if not more. Of course, that would be true “equity,” but that’s not what this is really about.

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
1 year ago
Reply to  Alf

Unfortunately, ‘principles of equality’ has been long abandoned in the USA.

And Justice For...
Guest
And Justice For...
1 year ago
Reply to  Alf

Why is it every time someone of color gets something, some ignorant [edit] starts hollering about how unfair the world is and how American has abandoned equality. [edit] — with all of your privilege you’re still ignorant, still a failure, angrily scanning the horizon for someone to blame instead of gazing deeply into that mirror and taking ownership of your mediocrity.

How about celebrating the arrival of some much needed health care in a rural area of our country?

Xebeche
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Xebeche
1 year ago

Thank you for not being ignorant. It is a rare quality.

Alf
Guest
Alf
1 year ago

It has nothing to do with being people of color. It has everything to do with tribes wanting their own nation, their own laws, etc. That is, right up to the point where they want something. Then they suddenly desire financial support from our government. It’s commonplace behavior that should not be allowed. They seem to have people working full time to dream up new ways they can claim discrimination or things they can suddenly claim are offensive to demand more money.

More Education Needed
Guest
More Education Needed
1 year ago
Reply to  Alf

If people read their history and understand the treaties, people may understand more and know many tribes have been Indian Nations for centuries. The federal government is the only one that has “plenary powers” over tribes. They are suppose to be treated as Nation to Nation, but Tribes are treated as equal to states which are quasi sovereign.
Tribes have every right to take care of their people, just like the states do. Tribes have every right to make their own laws according to customs and traditions and with California being a PL 280 state they also do things collaboratively with many programs. I would encourage you to read more to gain an understanding and recognize that many tribes have been without the same rights as other states. Demand more money, no. They should demand what they are entitled to under the law.

Just Saying
Guest
Just Saying
1 year ago

This is fantastic news. The more addiction treatment centers up here, the better. For all those thinking this won’t benefit non-tribal members, they are short-sighted. Everyone benefits when people heal, when families are together, when addiction-driven crime and domestic violence falls.. and on and on.

willow creeker
Member
1 year ago

The tribe is really pulling in the money lately. Not a huge fan of the new Mad River Brewery but they do some good things, absolutely. I heard they are in contract to buy the Willow Creek golf course.