My name is Dr. Stacey Oberly, and I am enrolled in Southern Ute. I have a doctorate in linguistics from the University of Arizona. I recently finished out the last few months of my first three-year term serving as a Southern Ute Tribal Council member.  

My relationship with substance use began before I was born, maybe even before my mom was born. My grandparents on both sides, maternal and paternal, had issues with alcohol use. As did both my parents. So, I grew up in an environment where drinking was always present.  

Because I grew up in that environment, I started drinking at eight years old. From 14 to 22, my entire life centered around drinking. At 22, I decided I needed to stop because I was tired of getting blacked out. I wanted to break the cycle of heavy drinking because it had just continued across generations in my family.  

Although I have been in recovery for 31 years, and I’m very proud of it, I still feel a sense of stigma to admit that I am a recovering alcoholic. But I can overcome that stigma if I’m open and honest about what I’ve been through and how I have lived. When we do that, we can help others avoid our mistakes.  

There are parts of our culture that can also help us overcome addiction and stay in recovery. Growing up, our family attended the sweat ceremony at the Lake Red Ute House. To sweat, you can’t have used substances for a few days. So, looking forward to the sweat ceremony provides another reason to avoid substance use. My grandfather was a Sun Dance Chief when he got sober.  

When you’re a Sun Dancer, you don’t use alcohol. You’re supposed to live above that stuff. You’re a servant to the community, and you put yourself second to the community. Knowing how to pray, how to smudge, how to be a supporter of the Sun Dance ceremony, and how to have a close connection with The Creator can provide guidance and create a sense of connection to the community and heritage that can keep people from using substances.  

Lastly, some programs are oriented toward Native American culture. The White Bison program is a culturally based healing program for Native American people. It’s based on traditional beliefs through the Red Road of how we connect with The Creator. 

As a community, we want to create a comprehensive program called The Healing Village. It’s designed to see what we can do to help our tribal members struggling with addiction. Because right now, if someone is struggling with addiction and goes to treatment, they have to go to treatment off the reservation. When they come back, there’s no support like sober living or anything like that. So, it’s easier to fall back into addiction. We want to develop a wraparound program where if they go to rehab, they can come back to a support system here.  

We have a lot to offer those struggling with substance use, and we’re hoping to offer more. But before anyone takes that first step, I would say this: If you’re still struggling with substance use, reach deep down inside your heart and soul and forgive yourself; give yourself permission to love yourself through your addiction. 

Recovery from addiction is always possible. Find support and resources at LTLSouthernUte.org.