Decolonizing care: what happens when Native Indians are victims of modern medical practices?

By Mike Green,

Published July 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM PDT

My grandkids and I at the beach in Crescent City. One of their favorite places to spend time is at the beach. Since the kids got placed in foster care, two and a half hours away from their home, I go over every other weekend to visit them. I never thought that they would be taken from me because I raised them since they were babies. They have been in the foster system for the past eleven months, and it is taking a toll on us. When it is time for me to leave, there are a lot of tears and emotional meltdowns. I treasure every second with them. The Indian Child Welfare Act, which was meant to protect us, has resulted in the opposite fate. The Yurok Tribe, which has control of the children’s placement, said it would not consider me to be a caretaker for the children.

Judith Surber and Justin Maxon collaborated on a multimedia New York Times story about the destructive impact of prescription drugs, heroin and fentanyl on her family's life on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. Judith wrote the story and Justin produced the photography and motion captures in the Times' titled, "Addiction Ravaged My Family and My Tribe. I'm Fighting to Get Them Back."

Judith Surber and Justin Maxon join the Exchange to discuss their collaborative OPED in the New York Times and the Guggenheim Fellowship Justice received.

Justin Maxon is a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient. His upcoming project, "Decolonizing Care" builds on the collaborative work he produced with Judith for the New York Times opinion editorial (OPED).

Enjoying a day at the creek. One of the precious visits that I had this summer with the kids. No matter how cold the water is, the kids love it and have no problem jumping right in and swimming to their heart’s content. A beautiful day with my beautiful babies!

The Trinity River at the end of winter and the start of spring when it’s still high. It is undeniably beautiful, and I am thankful every day to come from this place. This spot along the river is right next to our house and is where my husband did subsistence fishing for our family before he passed away, and its the location where I brought my kids and grandchildren to swim since they were babies.