The Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde on Monday officially opened a new treatment center in Salem for people struggling with opioid addiction.
Tribal drummers played as officials cut the ribbon in front of Great Circle Recovery, which is located near downtown Salem. It’s Oregon’s first tribally-run opioid clinic, but it’s open to anyone who needs its services.
Grande Ronde tribal chair Cheryle Kennedy said addiction is something that affects people from all walks of life.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re poor, rich, educated, Native, or any other ethnicity group, it doesn’t matter. It preys on all those that come near it,” she said.
While the clinic is open to anyone, Great Circle will offer some treatment options that are culturally-attuned to Native Americans. Those include the ceremonial burning of sage, called "smudging" in Native American culture, as well as art therapy that includes the making of dreamcatchers.