
Addicted On The Rez
Friday, June 18, 2010
Drug abuse and crimes are rising on Indian reservations near Washington's Canadian border. Dealers exploit the gaps in jurisdiction between tribal, state and federal authorities. But the tribes are fighting the tide of drug addiction claiming their youth. In the process, they're trying to undo trauma that traces back to first contact. More »


Photo: John Jefferson painted this prison pillowcase while in Lompoc Federal Penitentiary. Each feather is a member of his family. Photo by Kristen Millares Young.
"Addicted on the Rez" was reported and produced by Kristen Millares Young and edited by Jim Gates. Funding was provided by the KUOW Program Venture Fund. Contributors include Paul and Laurie Ahern and Puget Sound Energy.
Links
- Lummi Youth Academy
- Lummi Indian Business Council
- Lummi Vital Statistics
- Pathways for Native Students 2010: A Report on Washington State Colleges and Universities (PDF)
- 'Department of Justice Announcements of Indian Country Prosecutions,' US Attorney Office, Western District of Washington
- Criminal Exploitation of Washington State Tribal Lands 2009 (PDF)
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Jessica Edwards, Tracey James and John Jefferson for telling your stories to help raise awareness about the community's struggle with drug addiction. Thank you to Lummi Youth Academy Program Director Darrell Hillaire, Lummi Policy Analyst Jewell James and Makah spiritual leader Joe McGimpsey for your insights and wisdom. Thanks to all the other young people, families and counselors who shared your experiences.
Thanks to KUOW Senior Editor Jim Gates for his fine–tuned ear and to Web Producer Carmen Santos for putting together this multimedia package. Thanks to Eustacio Humphrey, a talented photographer and photo editor who accompanied me on several journeys.
Thank you to my fellow co–founders of InvestigateWest, a nonprofit journalism center based in Seattle. Check us out at http://www.invw.org.