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Native tribes fight heroin abuse

Posted at 8:42 PM, Oct 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-16 00:54:27-04

Native tribes banded together in the fight against heroin Sunday.

The Center for Disease Control says heroin abuse is one of the fastest growing problems for native tribes, many here in Wisconsin.

"Children are losing parents, parents are losing children, basically we're losing families,” said Teyakotawlyehsu Valentino, walking with the tribe in the fight against drugs.

"Each one of us has a fire within us, and, you know, we need to bring that awareness and bring that fire back up,” said her mother, Debra.

Native Americans make up the second largest group of heroin deaths, prompting the march through Oneida neighborhoods and raising awareness of the problem.

"We're tired of our people dying, we're tired of losing individuals, and we're tired of losing people to this black spirit,” Valentino said.

They say lighting the flame will banish the evil, it’s expected to stay lit for at least 30 days.