Grand Opening of the Pawnee Nation Behavioral Health Facility

Pawnee Reserve, Oklahoma, (May 5, 2025)-The Pawnee Nation partnered with Ascension Recovery Services to host the official Grand Opening of the 22,000-square-foot, 26 bed adult/geriatric inpatient and outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment facility, the Pawnee Nation Behavioral Health Facility. 

Adrian Spottedhorsechief, 2nd Resaru for the Kitkahaki Band, led the ceremony. The newly crowned 2025-2026 Pawnee Nation Princess, Cora Pratt, was designated for the invocation and beautifully performed the Lord’s Prayer.  Welcoming remarks were presented by Madame President Nuttle of the Pawnee Business Council. The Project Introduction was given by Brian Kirk (Program Manager) while Gilbert Beard, 1st Resaru, delivered a Pawnee Song. Guest speakers included Kendall Carter, Vice President/Owner of Thompson Construction Inc (TCI), Dwayne Robinett, Senior VP, Managing Principal of HFG Architecture, and Doug Leech, Found & CEO of Ascension Recovery Services.

The Pawnee Nation also collaborated with KKT Architects. Baker Tilly helped pool capital for the construction costs.

According to Baker Tilly, “The Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma partnered with Ascension Recovery Services, an industry leader in developing comprehensive, fully integrated behavioral health systems for vulnerable populations who are uninsured or underinsured, to design the facility’s welcoming, accommodating programming, tailored for the ethnically diverse Tribal community that has not historically had access to treatment.”

The facility also provides local, accessible treatment for the predominately rural five-county service area, including both native and non-native members, who previously were forced to travel more than 40 miles to Tulsa to seek quality behavioral and mental health treatment.

“This center is more than a treatment facility – it’s a reflection of our values, culture, and commitment to healing within the Pawnee Nation. By weaving together clinical care with cultural connection, we are creating a place where our people can heal in a way that honors who they are.” -Brian Kirk, Program Manager

Pawnee Nation community and employees, and others that traveled to the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, toured the new facility with much enthusiasm. The halls were embellished with culturally-sensitive signage bearing the Pawnee Nation language.

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