By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
Sorrow and hope intersected Wednesday, Aug. 5, as dozens stepped up to join the annual 2.5-mile Swinomish March Against Addiction.
Despite summer heat and layers of wildfire haze, the “This Has to Stop” initiative drew a large turnout to John K. Bob Ballpark, the traditional start and finish point for the march.
The procession, which stretched across Swinomish Village streets, included marchers bearing photographs of family members who lost their lives to addiction. Their woe was balanced by faith that steps can literally and figuratively be taken to crush addiction.
“I look forward to this day every year,” said event spokesman Eugene “Huge” Edwards, whose 19-year-old son, Tyler, succumbed to addiction in 2013.
“We want to make this day special for everyone,” said Edwards, who launched the “This Has to Stop” campaign in 2015 so that awareness of his son’s passing could help save others.
Free hot dogs, lemonade, kettle corn, and bouncy houses helped lighten spirits even as participants and sponsors — leadership and staff from the Didgwalic Wellness Center foremost among them — addressed the heavy toll addiction takes on families and communities.
“It makes our hearts tender when we think of our loved ones who’ve passed on,” Swinomish Senator Brian Porter said before the marchers set off. “When we lose someone to addiction, it affects all of us. It takes a lot out of us.”
Edwards, a Didgwalic staffer, praised the local treatment center for its “whole-person” care for substance use disorders.
“Didgwalic,” he stressed, “is a family that works together. When you wake up on Monday morning, you know you’re going into work to help someone.”
Edwards said that the March Against Addiction “shows our people that we care. It shows that we care for one another.
“We all need each other,” added Edwards. “Nobody walks alone on this earth. We need each other to guide us through.”
The marchers were motivated by Swinomish prayer warriors and with a blessing song performed by the Swinomish Canoe Family.
Inspire Church Pastor Doug York offered a passionate invocation.
“Lord, I thank you that you never give up on us. We pray that on this walk today that you hear us and give these families a little extra strength. We pray for our community. We pray for tribal communities all over the country. We pray for indigenous people all over the world,” York said.
With afternoon temperatures soaring, the marchers were supported by volunteers providing bottled water throughout the route. Swinomish Police handled traffic control, assuring marcher safety as the they advanced down Reservation Road, Pioneer Parkway, residential side streets, and Snee-Oosh Road.
The day’s speakers stressed that the high-profile “This Has to Stop” project is designed to cast light on a topic difficult to talk about, but one that can’t be ignored.
“We do this march for awareness,” said Porter. “We do this march to remember. And we do this march for prevention.”
