Yesterday I had the chance to visit the Salt River Indian Community located near Scottsdale, Arizona. Owned and operated by the Pima and Maricopa tribes, the clinic is a national model for tribal sovereignty.

Serving 11,000 tribal members, the clinic treats 400 patients a day from 300 tribes across the country and operates a 40-bed inpatient substance abuse facility, four sober houses, and 30 transitional tiny homes—all built by the tribes with no federal dollars.

Reliance on ultra-processed foods has given the Arizona Pima the world’s highest diabetes rates (60%) and shortest lifespans. Once among the longest-lived people in North America, the average Pima lifespan is just 52 years compared to 85 years among their Phoenix neighbors. By contrast, Mexican Pimas—who still rely on traditional foods—have a diabetes rate of only 7%. The clinic has declared war on diabetes and substance abuse. Last year, they saved many of the lives of 112 overdose victims by putting Narcan in every home in the community and in vending machines.

They also operate a kitchen and cooking school to teach diabetics and their families how to prepare traditional meals. In the picture below, I’m with Pima Health Director Joe Remitera, Tribal President Martin Harvier, and Council Member Mike Dallas in the teaching kitchen.

The clinic also offers dentistry, podiatry, emergency care, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and traditional medicine in a state-of-the-art facility. This visit inspired me and left me with enormous hope for Indian Country. https://truthsocial.com/@seckennedy/115124801452334479