Rep. Maxine Dexter Highlights Chronic Underfunding of Tribal Communities

Tribal Funding and Trust Obligations

• 📌 Representative Maxine Dexter emphasizes that the chronic underfunding of tribal communities is a broken promise, despite trust and treaty obligations.
• 🤝 Dexter stresses the need for true partnership, stating that tribal partners have been asked to testify four times while their funding continues to be cut.
• 💡 The current system of tribal partners competitively applying for grant funding is questioned, as it's suggested they may lack the resources to do so effectively.

Full Funding for Law Enforcement

• ⚖️ Dexter asks tribal representatives to describe how full funding for law enforcement would be utilized, highlighting the importance of culturally appropriate and competent services on tribal nations.
• 🗣️ A representative from the Lummi Nation explains that their perception of treaty and trust responsibility does not involve competing for grants against other tribal nations.
• 🏛️ The need for expanded self-governance across federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, is articulated as crucial for addressing tribal needs.
• 🚓 Full funding would enable the Lummi Nation to prosecute federally within their own judicial system and maintain a full capacity of enforcement officers, preventing them from becoming training grounds for other jurisdictions.
• 🐶 The importance of drug checkpoints and a K9 unit to slow drug traffic on reservations is highlighted, with a K9 unit proving tremendously helpful.
• 🤝 Limited support from BIA and FBI agents in the region is noted, requiring constant effort to secure their presence for much-needed drug interdictions.

Addiction, Recovery, and Healthcare

• 💊 Dexter highlights the importance of investing time and funding in treatment for addiction and recovery, emphasizing culturally competent approaches.
• ✨ The Lummi Nation is described as making a full-court press to address the fentanyl crisis and get drugs off the street, seeing an overwhelming number of individuals seeking help.
• 🏥 The nation is prioritizing services like a secure withdrawal management and stabilization facility (detox) and has opened a state-of-the-art tribal healthcare facility.
• 💖 These healing and health services are deeply integrated with culture, way of life, teachings, and values, which are central to each individual's journey to wellness.
• 📈 Dexter acknowledges going over time to elevate the importance of building a sustained and impactful healthcare system that meets treaty obligations with reliable funding.