BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Evelyn Jefferson walks deep into a forest dotted with the tents of unhoused Lummi Nation tribal members and calls out names.
“It took us eight days to bury him because we had to wait in line, because there were so many funerals in front of his,” said Jefferson, crisis outreach supervisor for Lummi Nation.
Against the backdrop, tribes such as the Lummi Nation, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) north of Seattle, say the proposed funding — while appreciated — would barely scratch the surface.
In September, Lummi Nation declared a state of emergency over fentanyl, adding drug-sniffing dogs and checkpoints, while revoking bail for drug-related charges.
But truly thwarting this crisis must go beyond just Lummi Nation working on its own, said Nickolaus Lewis, Lummi councilmember.
Persons:
— Evelyn Jefferson, ”, Jefferson, Anthony Hillaire, Hillaire, We’re, Sen, John Braun, we’re, Jesse Davis, Nickolaus Lewis, Lummi, Jay Inslee, Joe Biden, van, It’s, somebody’s, —, ” Jefferson
Organizations:
Lummi, Alaska Natives, Disease Control, Senate, Republican, Washington State Department of Health, Washington Gov
Locations:
BELLINGHAM, Wash, Lummi, Jefferson, Washington, U.S, Seattle, Alaska, Bellingham, Bellingham , Jefferson