OLYMPIA – This week, tribal leaders, health care professionals, substance use disorder advocates, lawmakers, and community members came together at the third annual Washington State Tribal Opioid and Fentanyl Summit. Participants included Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-Anacortes), the House appointee to the Washington Tribal Opioid and Fentanyl Response Task Force and one of three serving Native American members of the Washington Legislature.
The Summit, hosted by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, originated in 2023 to bring together tribal nations and state officials to share information and solutions to the ongoing opioid and fentanyl crisis, which disproportionately impacts tribal and native communities in Washington state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, American Indian and Alaskan Native people die by opioid overdose at the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group.
Following the first summit and during the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature made investments through the state operating budget for the Washington State Health Care Authority and the American Indian Health Commission to establish the Washington Tribal Opioid and Fentanyl Response Task Force to work on a statewide response to the ongoing crisis. Following the establishment of the task force, the House appointed Lekanoff to serve as a member.
“The epidemic of opioids and fentanyl has been tightening its grip on Washington communities, and tribes have been at the forefront of our efforts to heal and offer hope,” said Lekanoff. “No one can heal alone, and it’s critical we continue to hold events like this Summit to allow tribal, state, and local governments to work together to forge a path towards recovery. Only by standing and addressing this issue together can we instill hope, raise awareness, and foster community as we continue our journey to Heal One Washington.”
Learn more about the specific programming of the 2025 Summit: https://aihc-wa.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2025/05/WTOF-Summit-Program.pdf.