Real Sovereignty Saves Lives Through Action

Good policy creates real change. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde proved this recently in a massive win for tribal self-determination. They took decisive action against the drug crisis destroying our communities. It works!

Tribes Lead The Way

This is what effective leadership looks like on the ground. The Oregon Health Authority recently awarded a $4 million grant to the tribe, but the real story is how the tribe utilized their sovereign right to design a solution that actually fits their people. Instead of waiting for federal bureaucrats in DC to solve the problem, the Grand Ronde leadership established Great Circle Recovery, the state’s first tribally operated opioid treatment program. They opened clinics in Salem and Portland to provide medication-assisted treatment, peer support, and counseling that aligns with our traditional values of honesty and integrity.

This is not a handout; it is a handshake between the state and a sovereign nation that respects our ability to heal our own. The state law supports this government-to-government relationship, ensuring funding is flexible enough to meet specific community needs rather than trapping tribes in red tape.

The results of this partnership speak louder than any political speech ever could. While many state-run programs struggle to keep patients engaged, the Great Circle Recovery clinic in Salem reported an astounding 70% retention rate among its clients! This success comes from a comprehensive approach that combines modern medicine like buprenorphine with the guidance of peer specialists who have actually walked the difficult path of recovery.

By focusing on the whole person and treating every individual with equal importance, the tribe has created a model of success that outperforms standard metrics. When state governments step back and support tribal authority with resources rather than mandates, lives are saved.

We need to see more of this across Indian Country. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde demonstrated that local control and adequate funding are the keys to solving the opioid epidemic. Let us support leaders who prioritize action over rhetoric. Sovereignty saves lives.