Swinomish ‘March Against Addiction’

Last Wednesday the attendance record was broken at the sixth annual March Against Addiction at the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Due to the pandemic, everyone had to be in a vehicle to participate. A staging area was set up on the SITC’s ball field. Participants drove up to a check in booth where they were given a T-shirt with the motto “This Has To Stop” on it. This year’s design was by Ricardo Lopez. A NARCAN booth was onsite as well, distributing revival kits.

Some participants taped posters or photographs of those who died from an overdose. Some wrote on their vehicle windows the March theme “This has to stop,” and other messages included “Heal the hurt” and “In Memory of ... .”

The Swinomish Police Department led the procession, followed by the Swinomish Canoe Family towing a canoe full of tribal members singing honor and healing songs throughout the nearly hour long event. Vehicles full of family and friends, tribal wellness staff and Fire District 13 emergency vehicles followed in single file, winding through many of the neighborhoods. People came outside of their homes, waving and displaying signs of support as well.

Dawn Lee, chief operating officer of the didg?álic Wellness Center recounted in an email, “We handed out 609 shirts and counted 150 + cars in the parade. We also handed out 74 Narcan kits. Each year the recovery community is growing thanks to all of you and your community support.”