FOUNDER: BRIDGETTE “Bridgy” McCOLLUM
About
Tusyi uwi*, I’m Bridgy, a citizen of the United States of America and the amazing Pit River Nation, enrolled in the Illmawi Band. There are only 300 Illmawi in the world and I am one of them. I am, indeed, an Illmawi girl. Welcome to my project
to end drug-related overdose among American Indian
and Alaska Natives (AIAN).
NONPROFIT
I founded END NATIVE OVERDOSE, Inc., in 2023, and serve as president. It is a nonprofit corporation registered in the State of Oklahoma. It has also been approved as 501(c) (3) nonprofit by the IRS (EIN 99-4332473).
DIRECTORS
Additional incorporators and officers were required by the State of Oklahoma as well as the IRS, so my father, Robert McCollum and brother, Sullivan McCollum, who are also Illmawi, serve as directors. Sullivan is a film student at the University of Oklahoma. He serves as the Director of Digital and Film Strategies for End Native Overdose.
I would love to grow the board, so if you’re interested in serving on it, please contact me. I receive no compensation for my work on END NATIVE OVERDOSE and neither do the other directors. I have invested $3,000 of my own money in this project to date. Most of it came from years of saving my small tribal revenue checks.
*Tusyi uwi is a greeting in my native language. It means, “It is good!”
As of fall 2025, I am a freshman at Texas Christian University in Forth Worthere where I have been named one of the Four Directions Scholars. I am also a member of Kappa Delta.
I am a graduate of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Class of 2025. Some of my activities included membership in National Honor Society; senator on Student Council; president of the Oklahoma Young Writers Workshop; president of the McGuinness Book Club; member of the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation Youth Advisory Board; a student member of the Indigenous Journalists Association, and a faithful member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. I served as an acolyte almost every Sunday during the pandemic.
Something else unique about me is that I am a competitive baton twirler. I’m the 2024 Senior Intermediate Winner of the Southwest Regional Baton Twirling Championships and the 2024 Oklahoma State 2- and 3-Baton Grand Champion. I also finished top 5 in the 2025 Senior Advanced Miss Majorette of the Southwest Baton Twirling Championship. I have represented Oklahoma four times in national baton twirling pageants (beginner and intermediate) at Notre Dame University, and have earned about 75 titles from novice to advanced over the last 10 years. Following graduation in May 2025, I plan to attend college and major in broadcast journalism and political science. I might also like to teach someday.
Pit River Stories
Another project near to my heart is Pit River Stories, a five-year project to gather stories and photographs from Pit River Indians and document cultural sites on the Illmawi’s tribal land. I am working on the website for this project, now, and meeting regularly with cultural representatives from my tribe and band. The website, pitriverstories.org, which will launch in September 2024.
I’ve been fortunate to visit my tribe twice and spend time on our mountain land, Sam Wolfin Spring, now held in trust for my tribe forever. It is named after my Great Great Great Grandfather Sam Wolfin.
My Great Aunt Cecilia, my late grandmother’s older sister, and my Great Uncle Joey. I was very blessed to spend time with them this summer (2024) at their cabin on our tribal land.
Our Mission
The mission of End Native Overdose is to end drug-related overdose among American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIAN). I was inspired to start this project when I learned about the high rate of adolescent overdose deaths of American Indian and Alaska Natives. I know many wonderful and well-funded efforts are out there fighting the fentanyl epidemic. I wanted to do my part and focus my efforts on AIAN. In addition to building a website full of resources, I have launched a pilot project in Oklahoma to distribute Narcan at powwows, music festivals, etc.
Make A Suicide Safety Plan
A suicide safety plan includes a list of sources of support and coping strategies to help you when and if you are having thoughts of suicide or feel suicidal. You can write your own safety plan or use a free phone app. But it's best to work with a therapist to make your plan.
Find Fentanyl Test Strips and Naloxone (Narcan)
Review our map of all 50 states and search for Fentanyl Test Strips and Naloxone (Narcan) near you. Together, we can End Native Overdose.
End Native Overdose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-4332473). Our mission is to end drug-related overdose deaths among American Indian and Alaskan Native adolescents through education and public awareness.
Copyright Infringement, Source Citing, Plagiarism
Every effort is made not to plagiarize news stories and original, primary research. I try to be very diligent about citing the original, primary sources of the information shared on this website. All my research is secondary. No copyright infringement is ever intended. If you are a journalist or researcher and believe I have improperly cited your work, please contact me immediately so I can correct it. Thank you, Bridgy
About Bridgette (Hey, that's me!)
Hello, I'm Bridgy, founder of End Native Overdose. I'm a Native Oklahoman; citizen of the United States of America, and the amazing Pit River Nation. I am enrolled in the Illmawi Band. A rising high school senior, I am a member of the Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Class of 2025.