Kanaweyimik launches new Prevention Services Facility

As a board member with Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services, Stone said the Intergenerational Trauma Recovery Program that is offered at the new centre will help people attempting to overcome their demons, personal struggles and addictions issues.

“It is very important in our community because there are a lot of dysfunctional families,” Stone said. “What they learn here is to deal with their past issues, the traumas they have come through.”

Stone said the Residential School System as well as the Sixtie’s Scoop practise of taking Indigenous children from their families and denying them their culture has had a lasting impact on Indigenous people for generations to follow.

She hopes the new facility that allowed Kanaweyimik to expand the program, which offers both group and individual counseling, will give people who are struggling the support they need to move on.

Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services’ new Prevention Services Facility celebrates with grand opening. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kanaweyimik, a non-profit organization, purchased the new property, located kitty-corner to its main building, to provide more space for its trauma recovery program. Each room in the facility reflects Indigenous people’s spiritual values. There’s a place for smudging, a space for gathering, separate rooms for men and women to sit and share their stories, an area for individual counseling, and for people to learn to trust.

An honour song was sung in the opening celebration. Moosomin First Nation Chief Bradley Swiftwolfe participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the launch. He sits on the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Child Welfare Political Task Force. His community is one of the founding members of Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services. Swiftwolfe said in his opening remarks he is proud to see the expansion project now completed.

Moosomin First Nation Chief Bradley Swiftwolfe (centre, right) participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the launch. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kanaweyimik Executive Director Marlene Bugler noted the Intergenerational Trauma Recovery Program is based on the Seven Sacred Teachings of Indigenous heritage and culture: respect, truth, humility, honesty, courage, love and wisdom.

“If you live by those values, you’ll be stronger, and you’ll be able to overcome whatever it is that gets in your way,” she said.

Bugler said this expansion project was a long time in the works and will help meet the need. The new opening was also fitting as the organization celebrates a milestone anniversary.

“We’ve grown over the last 25 years,” Bugler said. “It’s an emotional time; it’s exciting.”

The centre offers support and healing for people dealing with trauma. (Angela Brown/battlefords NOW Staff)

Kanaweyimik’s programming is supported through Indigenous Services Canada; and Saskatchewan Justice; as well as from the Ministry of Social Services that serves urban children and families.

The Kanaweyimik organization provides programming to the Battlefords and five surrounding First Nations – Moosomin, Red Pheasant, Saulteaux, Sweetgrass and Mosquito. Indigenous people as well as non-Indigenous people are eligible to participate in the trauma recovery program.

Bugler said she there have been many success stories for people taking the program.

“We’ve had people who were very distracted by their addictions make a total recovery,” she said. “It’s a difficult thing to do.”

Marveena Albert, a program facilitator, has also seen people come through the recovery program with good results for the future. That’s a sign of hope.

“Before they even start the program they are kind of shy in their eyes… by the time they are done the 10 weeks (of the program) they are just glowing, and they are ready to tackle life again,” she said. “It’s just beautiful.”

Albert added there is also an outreach component offered through Kanaweyimik, to help people in the community recover and get back on track.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

by Angela Brown

Kanaweyimik launches new Prevention Services Facility

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