In their own image: Native Americans share stories of recovery

The Mash-ka-wisen treatment center held its 40th annual Celebration of Sobriety Powwow Saturday in Sawyer. Hundreds of people came from the state's 11 Indian reservations and from across the Midwest to celebrate sobriety with a weekend of dance.

The center — referred to as Mash — opened on the Fond du Lac reservation in 1978, becoming the first addiction treatment center on a reservation in the United States. It now operates a 48-bed program in Sawyer and a 20-bed halfway house in Duluth, with plans to build another halfway house.

Many clients credit the culturally focused treatment with helping them in recovery.

"I went to a treatment when I was 19 and it didn't work. I relapsed. Then I came to Mash and I think it saved my life," said Sigwan Rendon, a member of the White Earth Nation from Minneapolis.

As MPR News photojournalists, we attended the powwow and helped people take self-portraits and share their stories of recovery.

Press the play button in each caption to hear stories in their own voices.

Gallery

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Lee Abramowski, of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa — Lee Abramowski of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has been in recovery for 18 months. He spent 87 days at the Mash-ka-wisen treatment center last year. "I'd just had enough," he said, "I did dope for 20 years." He said the key to his sobriety has been changing everything about his life: "you have to change everything, and if you don't, you're going to fall back in."
Facilitated by Evan Frost | MPR News

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Sigwan Rendon of the White Earth Nation fought methamphetamine addiction and homelessness. She's been sober for 55 days. Born in Minneapolis, she belongs to the White Earth Nation. She's been in treatment three times, twice at Mash-ka-wisen which she credits with saving her life. She wants others struggling to know that "It's okay to forgive yourself. It's okay to move on."
Facilitated by Evan Frost | MPR News

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Paul Falling of the White Earth Nation came to Mash-ka-wisen for his second time in spring of 2015. He's been sober since he was incarcerated on April 8, 2015, just after his step-daughter died in a car crash. While he was jailed, his son was slain in north Minneapolis. He now works as a technician at Mash-ka-wisen. "I missed having a kid to take care of, but working here has really helped me ... I tell them, helping you helps me."
Facilitated by Evan Frost | MPR News

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In their own image: Native Americans share stories of recovery

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