CALLING LAKE — Recovery, according to Oxford Languages, is the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost. Similarly, healing is defined as the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again.
The concepts of recovery and healing go hand-in-hand within the context of addiction, and those concepts were central motifs to the evening of events held at the Calling Lake Community Centre Nov. 27.
More than 50 community members of all ages gathered in the centre to escape the late November cold on a Wednesday evening for the second annual Bigstone Cree Nation Nanatewehowin Mamawi-ayawin Recovery Conference, which spanned four days in three Bigstone communities.
The seven-day stretch between Nov. 24 to 30 is recognized across Canada as National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW), and in addition to the evening in Calling Lake, Bigstone Health Commission (BHC) held events in Wabasca and Chipewyan Lake.
“Our director Linda Amoah, she wanted it to centre around recovery and around people healing, and people living in the solution and celebrating their journey, rather than constantly focusing on the negative parts of addiction,” said Rob Zabot, program coordinator for BHC.
Psychologist at Bigstone Health Clinic and master of ceremonies Wally Rude said a large focus of the conference was on challenging and breaking stereotypes about addiction and recovery within the Nation.
“We often, from the outside, get a bad rap around what’s happening in the community, and it’s true, we have a lot of challenges,” said Rude. “But we also have a lot of good things happening, so this event was meant to celebrate; to reflect on our issues but to celebrate the successes.”
Healing through storytelling
After a pipe ceremony, dinner, and the rhythmic sounds of a drum group rang throughout the centre, attendees heard from Dr. Ray Baker, who specializes in addictions treatment. Baker’s academic knowledge of addiction and recovery were supplemented by anecdotes from his own journey through substance abuse and subsequent sobriety.
One aspect of sustainable recovery Baker did not understate was the importance of community and peer support, especially from those who have traversed the same path.
“When somebody says I want an evidence-based treatment, well, the best thing you can do is put their hand in the hand of a person in recovery from addiction,” said Baker. “If you want one good intervention, it’s that human connection with somebody who’s ahead of them.”
After Baker, three Calling Lake locals took their spots at the front of the room to share their own personal stories of generational trauma, loss of identity and culture, and substance abuse as a coping mechanism.
Sandra Houle has been a fixture of the community for more than 40 years, and despite having no history of substance use or misuse, she said her life has been impacted by addiction struggles in those around her.
As a friend, wife, mother, and family member to individuals at different points along their healing journey, Houle stressed the importance of keeping one’s mind and hands busy, a need she said she filled with traditional cultural practices, hobbies she and others recommended to attendees.
“It’s everything. For some people, it is their recovery,” said Zabot. “Spirituality is a big part of most people’s recovery journey, and connecting to who you are is also a big part of recovery.”
Pastor Nathan Gullion was another local to share his story, one full of the harsh realities of a life in addiction, but also of the positives of sobriety, identity, and purpose.
Now a religious leader and addictions counsellor, Gullion detailed his early years spent in and out of jail, drug, alcohol, and gambling dependence, and states of anger and confusion as to why that was his norm.
It wasn’t until later in life, after he cleared 30 years, did he find answers to his questions that resonated with him, and put him on a new path towards helping himself and others.
Sharon Loonskin, another long-time community member, proved a candid storyteller, and bridged the gap between Gullion and Houle’s experiences.
“I know what it’s like when the shoe is on the other foot; to love and care for an addict, and to be one,” she said. Loonskin shared memories of being both dependant on substances to numb the pain she felt, and enabling those around her to do the same.
“I had trauma I was dragging around, like I was shackled to it,” said Loonskin. “You pick it up and it becomes a part of you if you don’t deal with it.”
Celebrating community commitment
During the panel discussion, laughs emerged from around the room in response to smart quips and jokes from the speakers, and only got louder when Donald McDonald, A.K.A Emery Burninggrass, the crass puppet, took up the mic.
“Humour is a gift within our Indigenous communities; it’s a healthy way of coping, it’s a healthy way of expressing yourself, it’s a healthy way of living,” said Rude. “There was a good balance tonight — deep, vulnerable conversations with lots of laughter. That’s what we envision more of moving forward.”
But before the puppet show wrapped up the night, Lorraine Cardinal honoured a long list of locals with certificates and gifts, and the title of Community Champions.
“We allowed the public to nominate people that have been on a recovery journey or a sobriety journey,” said Zabot. “It’s open to people that might have been 30 years sober but never been recognized, we really want to bring those people out and create a community of recovery.”
In all, the event was a success in the eyes of Rude and Zabot, who noted they had received words of encouragement and positive feedback on the second annual conference.
When asked what he wants attendees to take away from the event, Zabot said his wish was guests came away with hope.
“And maybe that things aren’t as bad as they sometime seem. We have states of local emergencies and the media concentrates on the negative, but there is a lot of hope and there’s a lot of passion with people healing in this area.”
Both Zabot and Rude highlighted the open nature of the recovery conference, and many other educational events and intiatives the Nation puts on, noting both community members and individuals from outside Calling Lake are welcome to learn more about topics like addiction.
“It’s tempting to look at certain people and write them off because they’re down and out and they’re struggling so deeply, but they’re still a human being, and they still have something to contribute to the community,” said Rude.
Bigstone Cree Nation offers a range of addictions and recovery services through Bigstone Community Wellness and the Bigstone Health Clinic. More details on resources available can be found at bigstonehealth.ca.
Lexi Freehill, TownandCountryToday.com
