Barrasso Introduces the Interior Improvement Act

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), welcomed Wyoming's own, Sunny Goggles to the Committee. Ms. Goggles is the Director of the White Buffalo Recovery Center for the Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Ms. Goggles is a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. She also serves on the Tribal Committee for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. She testified at an oversight hearing titled: "Examining the True Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Native Communities."

"I want to welcome Ms. Sunny Goggles to the hearing. Ms. Goggles serves her community in many roles," said Chairman Barrasso.

In his opening statement, Senator Barrasso pointed to Ms. Goggles work on the reservation and gave his condolences for the recent shooting in Riverton, WY. "Tribal leaders from both tribes -- the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone on the Wind River Indian Reservation -- have remarked favorably on her leadership, on her strength, and on her capability," said Barrasso. "Those character traits were put to the test when a recent terrible, tragic crime affected those very close to her and to the entire community. Our hearts and thoughts go out to you, to your family, and to the community. I thank you for serving your community and for being with us here today."

In sharing the contrasting beauty and struggles of her reservation, Ms. Goggles testified on the high toll that substance abuse has cost her community. "My community is rich in culture and tradition. We are blessed as our youth shine with promise and potential. And we are struggling. We suffer high rates of alcohol and drug abuse as well as unemployment and poverty," said Ms. Goggles. "Our beautiful community has been classified as "notorious,' "deadly,' and "renowned for brutal crime' in the media. We directly see and feel the costs of alcohol and drug abuse on our community."

Ms. Goggles further testified about the financial cost of drug and alcohol abuse. "Medical costs related to alcohol and drug abuse deplete already limited resources in our community. On Wind River those high cost patients that abuse alcohol and tobacco outnumber patients who do not use, 116 to 5. High cost patients are those who incur more than $100,000 of expenses in a year," said Ms. Goggles.

She also focused on the very high human cost of substance abuse in native communities. "On Wind River 76% of unnatural deaths such as accidents, suicide and homicide are alcohol and drug related. Alcohol and drug use increase the odds of death 16.9 times and equal 42.3 years of life lost in our community," said Ms. Goggles. "The loss of life contributes to more trauma on our families and community. The loss of a tribal member is also a cost of our language and culture, our traditions and our future. It's disheartening to think of all the costs to our way of life, especially because it is preventable."

In response to questioning about what more could be done, Ms. Goggles stressed that efforts must include family approaches which prevent and treat drug and alcohol abuse.

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