- Details
- By Levi Rickert
Native Vote. At Saturday’s Walk For Our Lives fentanyl awareness event in Española, Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), a candidate for governor of New Mexico, joined families affected by the fentanyl epidemic and pledged to take action on the crisis. She promised to direct resources toward addiction recovery programs, family support services, and to equip law enforcement with the tools needed to combat the spread of illegal drugs across the state. The event was led by Española native Alicia Pauline Vigil-Ryan, whose son died from fentanyl poisoning in 2022.
“The rise of fentanyl in our communities is heartbreaking. It ruins lives and families. Thank you to Alicia for your strength in leading us all today. As governor, I’ll invest in addiction services, making sure families have support, and in law enforcement so they have the tools to keep our community safe and provide the help the community needs,” Haaland said.
A recent report from the New Mexico Department of Health reveals a significant spike in overdose deaths in Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, and Taos Counties, with fentanyl responsible for the majority of those fatalities.
Haaland has spoken openly about her own past struggles with addiction, giving her a personal understanding of how deeply substance abuse impacts individuals and families—and the difficulty of accessing help. While serving in Congress, she secured $9.4 million in funding for New Mexico communities to address the opioid epidemic and expand addiction services. As Secretary of the Interior, she partnered with Indian Health Services (IHS) to bolster mental health support in high schools serving Native youth, aiming to prevent early pathways to addiction.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Oral History Project Announces 14th Stop in Portland, Oregon: NABS Continues to Gather Crucial Stories Across Indian Country
Native News Weekly (September 21, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
