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About Us

 

Friends of Thunderbird is a local, grassroots organization that has come together to support Seattle Indian Health Board’s new residential program on Vashon. We’re independent island volunteers united by our belief that the Thunderbird Treatment Center is a positive and much-needed response to the opioid crisis gripping our region.
 

Our advisory board is made up of the following islanders: Joseph Bogaard, Leslie Brown, Patrick Christie, dune aka Cathy deSmet, Debra Gussin, Liz Illg, Shelley Means, Billy Plauche, Janie Starr, Yve Susskind, and Kathryn True.

Island Support

Over 275 islanders have joined together as Friends of Thunderbird:

SIGNERS

Thomas Abraham

Sally Adam

Heather Baldwin

Patricia Banuelos

Stephanie Barbee

John Bean

Rosalie (Kit) Bean

Sarah Bean

Zoe Bennington

Steven Bergman

Jean Berolzheimer

Duncan Bethel

Wendy Blair

Alice Bloch

Joseph Bogaard

Iris Bordman

Chris Boscia

Mela Bredouw

Mary Margaret Briggs

Kyle Britz

Fran Brooks

Julie Brown

Leslie Brown

Sheila Brown

Marcia Bruya

Melissa Brynn

Margot Burke

Jess Cagle

Amanda Carr

Jenny Cassel

Patrick Christie

Ted Clabaugh

Allison Clemons

Abby Collins

John Cornelison

James Cottrell

Pamela Courtney

Michelle Crawford

Jen Creighton

Elizabeth Cromwell

Celia Cugudda

James Culbertson

John Culbreth

Haley Dams

Patti Daughtry

Victoria Davies

Sarah Day

Bailey de Iongh

Tom Dean

Lynn DeBar

Barbara Dennard

Cathy deSmet

Andra DeVoght

Nancy Dierks

Jim Diers

Beth Dillon

Paul Dixon

Toni Doane

Emma Dorland

Amy Drayer

Sarah Driggs

Tammy Dunakin

Erin Durrett

Beka Economopoulos

Rick Edwards

Nancy Eister

Leah Eister-Hargrave

Adam Ende

Abby Enson

Leslie Enzian

Lizzy Eshback

Jim Evans

Kelly Ferguson

Karen Fevold

Jeff Few

Katy Fiala

Wendy Finkleman

​Michael Fisher

Lynda Fitzpatrick

Matthew Fontaine

Linda Fox

Kirsten Gagnaire

Julea Gardener

Lindsey Gay

Jane Gill

Janna Gingras

Maria Glanz

Jennifer Gogarten

Stephanie Gogarten

Duncan Goulding

Celeste Gray

Hannah Green

Chris Greenlee

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Patty Gregorich

Debra Gussin

​​Melodie Hart

Lisa Hasselman

Bruce Haulman

Pam Haulman

Jennifer Hawke

Merna Ann Hecht

Spring Hecht

Brian Hill

Annette Hilton

Kari Hilwig

Shana Hirsch

Justin Hirsch

Angela Hodge

Kassana Holden

Lin Holley

Rayna Holtz

Roxanne Hood Lyons

Thomas Hughes

Erin Hummel

David Hunter

Patrick Hurley

Liz Illg

Dana Illo

Flynne Jack

Heidi Jackson

Marty Jacobs

Stewart Jay

Jason Johnson

Jill Johnson

Tim Johnson

Catherine Johnson

Jason Jones

Kevin Jones

M&S Jurowski

Susie Kalhorn

Kim Kambak

Michael Kappelman

Nancy Kappelman

Jen Keller

Ellen Kim

Deborah King

Martin Koenig

Katie Konrad

Alex Koriath

John Koriath

Yvonne Kuperberg

Sri Lakshmi

Tom Land

Leah Lawrence

Paddy Lazar

Theresa Leahey

Mardi Ledbetter

Olive Lefferson

Ann Lewis

Themba Lewis

Jennifer Lindsay

Tamara L'Mehr

Kay Longhi

Marya Lou

Daniel Luechtefeld

Kyla Ma

Zabette Macomber

Amy Maez 

Adria Magrath

Michael Magrath

Leah Mann

Betty Martin

Lindsey Mays

Janet McAlpin

Susan McCabe

Maggi McConnell

West McLean

Luke McQuillin

Shelley Means

Rachelle Mee-Chapmam

Maria Metler

Hannah Morosoff

Amy Morrison

Tim Morrison

Bill Moyer

Nancy Murphy

Kelly Murphy

Rich Murphy

Susie Murphy

Mark Musick

Donnie Myers

Dawn Nelson

Kim Nelson

Jane Neubauer

Claire Newman​

Cate O'Kane

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​Jeanie Okimoto

​​​Joe Okimoto

John Osborn, MD

Molly Peach Matter

Bianca Perla

Rob Peterson

Deb Phillimore

Susan Pitiger

Billy Plauche

Niamh Prince

Nicholas Provo

Debbie Quall

Lizz Randall

Maeva Raymond

Molly Reed

Rik Reed

Allison Reid

Cheryl Richmond

Susan Riemer

Jenna Riggs

Juniper Rogneby

Margaret Roncone

Mary Rose

Chris Rouse-Riley

Kattianna Rouse-Riley

Peter Rubin

Merrilee Runyan

Mark Rutherford

Barbara Thal SchroederB

Dan Schueler

Emily Scott

Doug Sharp

Tina Shattuck

Rain Sheehan

Corinne Sherry

Andrew Shuman

Bill Slaughter

Jeffrey Smith, Jr.

Sylvia Soholt

Michael Spranger

Brian Springfield

Sarah St.Germain

Jan Staehli

Eliyahu Stahl

Risa Stahl

Jenny Stamper

Janie Starr

Kirk Starr

Erik Steffens

Jil Stenn

Kelly Macomber Straight

Evan Stults

Marcy Summers

Yve Susskind

Layla Tanner

Roger Taylor

Julie Thielges

Kate Thomas

Kristin Thompson

Charlotte Tiencken

Heather Timken

Sue Trevathan

Kathryn True

Laurie Tucker

Holly Tuttle

Judy Twedt

Hans Van Dusen

Marijke van Heeswijk

Gerrit van Roekel

Tracy Vanslooten

Kim Von Henkle

Andrea Walker

Laura Jean Walls

Terry Warnock

Carl Wassilie

Leonardo Wassilie

Leondra Weiss

Mike Weller

Janet Welt

Meg White

Emily Wigley

Jennifer Williams

Jen Williams

Nan Wilson

Lore Wintergreen

Sabrina Wise

Jamie Wolf

Sarah Wright

Wendy Wyatt

Amiee Yelinek

Marie Zahradnik

Jennifer Zeisig

Carolyn Zike

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Show your support. Please click to Add Your Name to Our Signature Page

Testimonials

Read why some people have chosen to become a Friend of Thunderbird:

Jessica Anakar.HEIC

“Thanks to the type of traditional practices that will be offered at Thunderbird, I was able to heal from intergenerational trauma and addiction coping mechanisms and re-engage with community service on the island I love. Thunderbird will target the goals of Washington State for Public Health and Safety and I am grateful for the benefits it brings to our community.”

Jessica Anakar, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline staff, fifth-generation islander​

Colleen Carette.HEIC

“My unconditional support for this specific treatment center comes from both my personal experience getting sober via a treatment center and having worked with the recovery community for the past 30+ years. The Seattle Indian Health Board is known for its effectiveness and delivery of culturally appropriate healthcare to all who have the honor to utilize their services!”

Colleen Carette, PA-C, MEd mental health counselor, islander

Molly Matter.HEIC

“Recovery from addiction has impacted my life as a daughter of a heroin addict. Two years ago, I also lost my cousin, my same age, to an overdose. My dad is alive, and we are closer than we have ever been because of his recovery community. Thunderbird will benefit Vashon by expanding and strengthening our recovery community. My dad’s suffering and healing have greatly influenced how I live my life: without shame, without judgement, and with forgiveness. The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”

Molly Peach Matter, attorney at Amend Law, islander

Mike and Laura Fisher.HEIC

“Thunderbird’s program helped save my life.”

Mike Fisher, Seattle Thunderbird Treatment Center graduate and islander, pictured with his wife, Laura 

Joseph Bogaard.HEIC

“Everyone understands the heartbreak of addiction and substance abuse. It’s everywhere today, including right here on our island. I welcome this opportunity for our community to be part of the solution by developing a strong partnership with the center and supporting its success.”

Joseph Bogaard, former president of Water District 19, former Vashon Maury Island Land Trust board member, 25-year island resident

Leslie Brown.HEIC

“I can’t imagine a better place to find healing than on Vashon. The beauty, peacefulness, birdsong, forests – all are balm. So, too, is the kindness of this community. I welcome this center to Vashon and look forward to doing what I can to support its life-affirming mission.”
Leslie Brown, former editor of the Vashon Beachcomber, former Vashon Household board member, 17-year island resident

Sarah Day.HEIC

"I support the Thunderbird Treatment Center as a critical, effective, and life-saving program not only for our native population but also for residents of Vashon and the surrounding region."

Sarah Day, former public health nurse and school nurse for Vashon, current Vashon Health Care District commissioner, and island resident since 1994. 

SUPPORT

Additional Words of Support from Our Friends!
 

Our community's support for the Vashon Thunderbird Treatment Center is a small step towards addressing social inequities. Many people who use substances have experienced significant social disparities that increased their risk of being affected by addiction. Additionally, drug dependency is a medical disorder based on known biological processes. Just as we would support services for people with diabetes or high blood pressure, so should we support services for those impacted by the disease of addiction. Stigmatizing substance use disorders interferes with the healing of those affected and limits the allocation of resources for treatment services. Substance use is a reality in our society and we can't justify insulating our privileged community from addressing this problem and contributing to solutions. In my nearly 30 years of working in Public Health in King County, I have cared for countless patients who have benefited from Seattle Indian Health Board services (for general medical care and treatment services). When many addiction treatment centers closed down, the Thunderbird Treatment Center's doors remained open. I know the Seattle Indian Health Board services to be accessible, well-organized, high-quality, and greatly needed.

 

Vashon is such an ideal place for folks to recover. I am in full support of the SIHB and the new Thunderbird Treatment Center.

 

I’m looking forward to hearing about opportunities to show support for the treatment center through this group!

 

I am a long-time Islander who raised my old kiddo here, a former Vashon Senior Center employee, an enthusiastic volunteer and former board member of several non-profits on the island, and lastly, an adoptee who grew up in a very dysfunctional family of addicts/alcoholics. So I'm "uniquely" qualified to love and hope the best for them (12-step joke). Bottom line? This facility is needed, for Vashon and for the greater Seattle area. So, WELCOME to the island, Thunderbird Treatment Center! We're glad you're here!

 

The Thunderbird Treatment Center and the healing services that it offers exemplify the values that I see expressed so often on our island and gives us an opportunity to live them. Supporting Thunderbird is a chance to get one step closer to the idea of Beloved Community.

 

I am so pleased and proud to have you be a part of our community. As a mental health practitioner, I welcome your services. We can be a-stubborn-to-accept-change island, but folks will come around. Welcome!


Thank you for all of the hard work you put in so those of us who support the Seattle Indian Health Board and the Thunderbird Treatment Center have a voice!


I am excited that Seattle Indian Health Board will open an addiction rehabilitation center in my hometown using Traditional Indigenous knowledge! How cool is that?!

 

Thunderbird will be an asset to our Island Community—something we have an opportunity to welcome and support, for the healing of ourselves and all our relations.


I am so glad to have this resource on our island, where people—for the most part—are caring, supportive, and demonstrative.


I am a strong believer of any recovery center that will help save the lives of many affected by the deadly illness of addiction.


I welcome with open arms and heart Thunderbird's arrival to Vashon. Their alternative Indigenous-based approach to healing is a great match for our community. With so much to learn, so many ways to grow, and such a desperate need to address the despair and suffering caused by our community's extensive and often hidden substance abuse problems - and the systems that enable it. - Vashon is the true beneficiary of Thunderbird's arrival. Vashon aspires to be and should be a place of healing. The great skills and resources that Thunderbird will bring offer us the chance to be a better, more resilient and connected community. I embrace these new neighbors with deepest gratitude and respect

 

Welcome to Vashon. You are offering much needed services in a culturally important way.  We can all benefit from your presence.  

 

I will be proud to see Vashon host Thunderbird and help them meet such an important need in our region.

 

Thunderbird Treatment Center will not only save lives but also restore hope and dignity to those affected by addiction. It is a vital step toward building a healthier, safer, and more resilient community.

 

I send my heartfelt support for SIHB's Thunderbird Treatment Center. I grew up on Vashon and returned to the island as an adult when I was in a deeply broken place recovering from trauma. I attribute my healing largely to being in the island's gentle landscape and connecting with nature. I believe Vashon is an ideal place for those seeking healing from addiction. I believe Thunderbird Treatment Center, with its holistic approach to healing, will enrich our island community and serve an important need--where healing happens, everyone benefits.

 

I wholeheartedly support this significant and important treatment center, and I'm proud To be part of a community that supports it.

 

The treatment center is right down the road from my house and I have been looking forward to its opening. All that I have heard about the Thunderbird organization has been positive. It sounds like it will be a compassionate environment to successfully rehabilitate from addiction. If the chance opens to volunteer massage or yoga classes I will gladly offer them!

 

Thunderbird Treatment Center will be a welcome addition to our Island. It will provide an in-house treatment center in a tranquil, isolated setting for Islanders and others who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction. Such a setting provides a fitting backdrop from busy, noisy urban and suburban areas where the lure of alcohol and drugs is prevalent.  The Seattle Indian Health Board has saved many lives and helped cure many addicts in Seattle. They will continue to do so on our Island not only for Islanders, those from Seattle and its neighborhoods but for indigenous people from the entire Pacific Northwest. I applaud their work.

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Thunderbird Treatment Center will be a great use of the VCC building and a positive force in our community.

The Thunderbird Treatment Center will provide vital services informed by indigenous perspectives long absent from mainstream treatments.

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I am impressed with the tremendous effort you are putting forth to be a good neighbor on the island and I am looking forward to all the ways our community will be enriched by and learn from the healing approaches you are taking in your work. My hope is that our community can return this goodwill and enrichment and that it will flow both ways with equal strength as this process of getting to know one another matures.

 

I can’t think of a better way for our community to show and give support to the indigenous than to provide a place where they and others can recover from the ravages of our culture.

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To oppose an addiction treatment center on the grounds it will spread addiction is like opposing a hospital on the grounds it will cause broken legs—the problem is here, how can we benefit from ignoring it? The country we live in has inflicted profound harm on and theft from its indigenous people, causing disproportionate impacts on many health outcomes, substance use included. How can we begin to heal these great wounds? Will we choose care and respect for those in crisis, hearing and centering their voices, or will we choose fear? Everyone in this country has seen what a politics of fear does, how it breaks bonds and spirals intensifying ever downward, solving nothing, helping no one. Will we break the cycle? Can we work to repair our relations? I hope and believe that we can—that we stand to gain much more than we could ever stand to lose by welcoming Thunderbird to this magical island, that we will make a decision we can be proud of.

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