Dana Comes at Night’s struggles with substance abuse as a teenager on the Flathead Indian Reservation were challenging due to limited addiction treatment resources. She often found it difficult to connect with counselors. Now, substantial progress has been made in substance use treatment within the community. Comes at Night, who has been sober for nearly a decade, participated in launching the Never Alone Recovery Support Services (NARSS) and Recovery Village which offers housing and long-term support.
In August 2022, Comes at Night was appointed to lead the newly established Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes’ healing court. After a year of preparation, the court held its first session in June 2023, aimed at helping Native people who struggle to receive adequate support. The healing court is part of the tribes’ strategy to take over more felony cases from counties, focusing on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. The tribes have already handled 150 low-level felony drug cases in the past year.
The interest in managing more cases is partly due to Lake County’s ongoing dispute with the state over law enforcement compensation, as explained by Jordan Thompson, CSKT deputy executive officer. The tribes seek to ensure their own jurisdiction over these cases while planning to enhance their court system’s capacity. Currently, the tribal court can impose sentences of up to one year; however, the tribe plans to increase this to three years with more funding.
Shane Morigeau, CSKT deputy executive officer and state senator, emphasized that the focus is on wellness courts that provide needed mental health and addiction treatment. With three graduates from the tribal healing court, the program is expanding with 12 participants and additional applicants. Comes at Night, the court director, explains that participants can choose their own addiction counselors or use tribal health services, which aim to provide culturally informed care.
The CSKT Tribal Health Division faces challenges in offering inpatient care, often referring patients to a successful center in Washington. Tribal Health seeks to establish a regional treatment center and an intensive outpatient facility. Desiree Fox, the division director, is working on hiring staff capable of delivering culturally sensitive services.
As the healing court expands, Comes at Night envisions growth with more case managers and specialty courts. Fox stresses the importance of prevention and alternatives to incarceration. Implementing the tribal council’s rehabilitation goals demands time and funding, with future plans contingent on federal support.
Thompson, another deputy executive officer, noted the increased workload from felony cases, leading to plans for additional positions in the court system, law enforcement, and tribal health. CSKT continues to focus on building a system that emphasizes long-term support over incarceration, aiming for community-wide benefits.
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