Over 200 Tribal Members Attend Community Event to Bring Awareness to Fentanyl Use

By Jennifer Cadotte

LCO PR Specialist

On March 25, 2025, FALCON and Nenaginawaad hosted a community event attended by over 200 members. The event provided a safe space for individuals to share their experiences with opioid addiction, whether personally affected or through loved ones, and marked the beginning of a collective healing process.

The Fentanyl Awareness for the Lac Courte Oreilles Nation (FALCON) initiative seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl-laced substances. With overdose deaths escalating at alarming rates, many are unknowingly consuming fentanyl through illegal drugs and counterfeit prescription pills. Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board (LCO TGB) Secretary/Treasurer Bill Trepanier expressed, “I wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid abuse. During my time working with the court, I witnessed too many of our people impacted by this crisis, and now I am in a position to make a difference.”

Founded in 2024 by Trepanier and Ben Tran, Founder and Creative Director of the award-winning consulting firm Tran Creative, FALCON's initial efforts focused on raising awareness. They began by conducting over 100 interviews at the Honor the Earth Homecoming Celebration Pow Wow, producing powerful messages about the dangers of opioids. The project is expanding. The Nenaginawaad Board has joined forces with FALCON. This board is focused on drug threat response and is working to update LCO’s 2025 Action Plan.

While progress has been made, more work is underway. Plans for additional events are in development, and FALCON, alongside the Nenaginawaad Board, extends its gratitude to all participants and service providers available at this event for standing in solidarity. We hope to see these events grow and invite others to join in future efforts. Further details will be shared as plans are finalized.

For more information about the FALCON initiative visit: www.falconlco.com