As the Tribal judge for the community, I see so many cases where people’s lives have been interrupted by fentanyl and how they struggle to recover… and how many children are placed out of home due to their parents suffering from addiction.

I’m not only a judge, but I’m also a mother, and I’m also a mother of a recovering addict… I have visited my child in jail and in prison, and I have gone through all of the terrible things that parents go through when their child is an addict… I have empathy for all those people that are suffering with addiction and struggling to get better, and I say don’t give up. Reconnect with your culture. Reconnect with your traditions and whatever spiritual life that you want to lead, but enter into a place where you can feel and feed that spiritual part of yourself because I think that really helps you in your recovery process… I wish you all the best as you struggle.