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Dear Community Partner,
Yesterday, Governor Josh Stein proclaimed October 12 as Indigenous Peoples' Day in North Carolina, a day to recognize and celebrate the history, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across our state.
North Carolina is home to nine state-recognized Tribal nations and four urban Indian organizations. These communities are an important part of our state's history, culture, and identity, and their leadership and contributions continue to enrich North Carolina.
For those of us working in mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities, this day is also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of listening to and learning from the communities we serve.
We are grateful for our relationships with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Lumbee Tribe, and other Tribal and Indigenous partners across North Carolina. Through partnerships that have included federal mental health and substance use block grants and State Opioid Response funding, we have had opportunities to support community priorities around prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Our work with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has included support for culturally grounded substance use services, while partnerships with the Lumbee, Coharie, and Waccamaw Siouan communities have helped strengthen connections to mental health and substance use supports. These relationships remind us how important it is to listen, learn, and respect the knowledge and traditions that communities bring to their own health and well-being.
We know that effective care is not one-size-fits-all. Family, community, culture, and traditions are important parts of people's lives and can be powerful sources of connection, belonging, and recovery. This is true across mental health and substance use services and in our work to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
On Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to express my appreciation to our Tribal and Indigenous partners for their leadership, knowledge, and collaboration. I am also grateful to our staff who work to build and sustain these important relationships.
I hope you'll take a moment to learn more about North Carolina's Tribal nations and celebrate the people, cultures, and traditions that contribute so much to our state.
Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day!
Read Governor Stein's Indigenous Peoples' Day Proclamation
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