BLYN — The Peninsula’s worst troubles — affecting all of society but concentrated, in many cases, in Native American communities — were laid before U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on Monday afternoon.
In an hour-long meeting with Pacific Northwest tribal leaders at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center, Murray, a Democrat from Shoreline, heard the same message from several representatives.
“Our No. 1 priority is the fight against methamphetamine,” said Fawn Sharp, chairwoman of the Quinault tribe.
Health and children’s services on the reservation are “severely underfunded,” and Sharp said she hopes the senator can rally fresh support in Congress.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Vice Chairwoman Liz Mueller said Washington’s Native American population has inordinately high rates of infant mortality, suicide and highway deaths — and a large share of the blame can be traced to methamphetamine abuse.
“We hope you think of all of the people in our communities that it affects,” added Ray Peters, general manager of the Squaxin Island tribe.
“When people get out of [drug] treatment they need to have transitional treatment and transitional housing.”
Treatment facility urged
Linda Holt of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board called for a regional juvenile methamphetamine treatment facility.
Holt, representing 43 tribes at Monday’s meeting with Murray, also suggested allowing veterans to use tribal health clinics, and “have the VA [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] reimburse us for that care. Our thinking is that it’s all government money.”
Other tribal leaders echoed her call for Peninsula-based services for members returning from Iraq and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Land and water issues spread across the long tables, too, as leaders of the Quileute, Hoh, Makah, Lower Elwha Klallam, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Skokomish and Suquamish tribes also addressed Murray.
“We need help with the waters” from the Hood Canal to the Pacific Ocean, said Tom Longshore of the Skokomish Tribal Council.
“Ninety percent of our people survive on the water,” where fishing and crabbing are hurt by oxygen imbalances and pollution.
In these communities, “either you’re a fisherman or you starve to death,” added Makah Tribal Chairman Ben Johnson.
