Fond du Lac treatment center opens

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa unveiled its new $8 million addiction recovery center in Cloquet earlier this month to a throng of well-wishers, adding a new era of residential treatment to the reservation.

Tagwii Recovery Center celebrated its grand opening Friday, Aug. 5, with a ceremony highlighted by a drum circle, speakers, tours and a luncheon.

"This building has been a huge dream for many years," said Jenn DuPuis, associate director of Fond du Lac Human Services.

"Hopes and prayers that go out are being answered little by little when (people) come here," tribal elder Ricky Defore added.

Richard Colsen, coordinator of the Band's substance use disorder department, beamed throughout the ceremony and told guests it "means the world" they came. The new center was first approved by the Tribal Council nine years ago.

Located on Marigold Lane, it replaces a nearby Tagwii facility being recast into a youth wellness center. That building will house an adolescent treatment program and the department's substance use prevention and intervention team, which routinely conducts events aimed at educating and providing resources to the community.

"With the new Tagwii Recovery Center, we've moved all adult outpatient treatment over here, and expanded the program to include residential treatment for up to 10 men and 10 women, with up to 35 overall in the outpatient program," Colsen said.

Evocative of an eagle, the facility spreads into residential wings built around a central office body.

"We're definitely very proud of this and Fond du Lac is extremely proud for this to come online and be able to provide these services," Colsen said.

Colsen cited a spate of overdoses in Carlton County in recent weeks as an example of why the program is needed now more than ever.

"Drug and alcohol abuse is plaguing all of our communities," Colsen said. "There's a big need for residential programs in the area and has been for a long time. There continues to be bed shortages and delays in getting people into residential opportunities."

The new Tagwii center joins Fond du Lac treatment facilities in Duluth and Minneapolis. To be eligible for treatment, a person must be either an enrolled member of the Band or other federally recognized tribe, a first- or second-generation descendent, or living in an American Indian household.

"We're a large treatment provider," Colsen said. "We serve a large base."

Sometimes it can take two to six weeks for a residential treatment bed to become available locally, he said.

The new Tagwii center has been offering outpatient treatment for five months already, and will begin residential treatment as soon as newly created staff positions are filled. The center is looking to hire cooks, nursing staff, and entry-level technicians who help run the day-to-day programming.

"Once the residential program starts, we'll be providing 24-hour nursing and meals 365 days a year," Colsen said.

Fond du Lac Tribal Council member Roger Smith, of Brookston, called it a "beautiful" facility, and said he was personally enjoying his 27th consecutive year of sobriety. He added that he looked forward to a day when a facility like Tagwii was no longer necessary.

"I'm very hopeful we will get there someday," Smith said to the crowd of roughly 75 at the grand opening. "The cost of addiction affects every one of us one way or another."

Built by Ray Riihiluoma Construction of Cloquet and designed by Duluth-based architects ARI, the facility features a commons area warmed by a gas fire and central hearth.

"It's definitely been a long time coming," said Rachel Lequire, a technician within the Tagwii program. "It's something the community needs."