The Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board is premiering a new animated series called “Skyhawk Reborn” to address opioid misuse and abuse in Indian Country.
The series will debut Oct. 8 on Facebook. A print format will come out later this year that will include versions in Lakota, Dakota and English.
Staci Eagle Elk is the Health Board’s Tribal Opioid Response program manager. She said the board wanted to try something new and creative to reach youth about opioid abuse.
“We don't know what's out there on the street,” Eagle Elk said, “and we just want everybody to be aware. What is an opioid, and what does that do, and how does that affect our bodies and affect our families? The whole Oyate (the people or entire nation). We need to think about that and the importance of everybody's role in the Oyate. I always say everybody has a role. And when one person isn't there, it breaks the link."
"Skyhawk Reborn" is a result of the Great Plains Tribal Opioid Response Program, which is funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The program focuses on reducing the impact of opioids and provides a comprehensive response plan to the opioid epidemic in tribal communities.
The program provides culturally appropriate and evidence-based treatment, as well as FDA-approved medicated-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.