This weekend I was reflecting on this 30 year anniversary and how BC First Nations people and communities have shown tremendous leadership not only in addictions services but also more broadly in a healing movement, nationally and internationally.
Leaders like Dr. Maggie Hodgson (Carrier), a driving force in the First Nations healing movement and founder and executive director of the Nechi Institute. Kukpi7 Charlene Belleau and the Esketemc community, nationally recognized for their community-based and culturally driven model. Kukpi7 Wayne Christian (Splatsin) for his visionary and foundational work to establish the Round Lake Treatment centre. There are many others.
In the early addictions treatment movement, the impact of residential schools was detected early as one of the root causes of alcohol and drug abuse.
As BC communities began to confront the issues, and the church perpetrators of such abuse, this began a series of developments which led to the eventual recognition of this reality of First Nation's life story in the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. An agreement which triggered many future developments, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Today we see reconciliation language in the mandate letters of both federal and provincial ministers. Totally remarkable.
Coming back to today, it's always helpful to remember where we have been when considering where you are going.
It has been a privilege to work alongside these talented leaders and to witness first-hand the growth of a First Nations recovery movement. A First Nations recovery movement whose characteristics I would argue could be of service today, including.
1) Culturally Driven: The NNADAP and their Healing movement put First Nations culture and teachings at the centre of our healing.
2) Community development approach: The early NNADAP work depended heavily on community development which assured that capacity was developed which remained in the community.
3) Healing focus: The early movement was largely non-medical and healing focused. It was premised on the idea that alcohol and drug use were symptomatic of deeper pain and trauma. Addressing pain and trauma are the focus.
4) Offenders need healing too: Through the experience of Alkali Lake and Hollow Water identified that supporting the victims of family violence and abuse is important, however, healing for offenders brings balance back to community.
In the midst of this Opioid Public Health State of Emergency today's addiction issues are on a different and on more dangerous track which require us to also consider the best evidence from western medicine.
An Elder of much respect described a potential path forward: "We need a 200% approach – 100% of Western knowledge and 100% of the First Nation culture and knowledge".
As someone who has seen much both fall into and out of vogue, I would venture that it's time to revisit the wisdom of our early community leaders and assess community-driven and culturally based solutions as a sustainable path forward, and to look at supporting a movement towards Health and Wellness.
Salute to those communities carrying out National Addictions Awareness activities this week!
