Awareness walk from Sweetgrass First Nation tackling addictions

Albert said many people suffer in silence with such issues as addictions, mental health and abuse (physical, mental and emotional) due to intergenerational trauma and lack the coping skills to make it through an important grieving process. A former addict himself, Albert said he was in a dark place last year where his life had crumbled before requiring the help of his wife and sisters to get in touch with multiple service providers.

“I went through intergenerational traumas as a child, leading to drug and alcohol addictions, which had such a control of my life,” he said. “I’ve managed to pick myself back up with the help of these great organizations.”

The Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre and Kanaweyimik Child & Family Services currently serve the community of Sweetgrass. Other local organizations that have met and are meeting with those on the walk include the Battlefords & Area Sexual Assault Centre, Lifeways Integrative Wellness, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The Fire Keepers at the Battle River Treaty 6 Health Clinic. (Submitted photo/Fire Keepers Support Group)

Albert said he’s learned to cope and stay sober over the past year and simply wants to raise awareness of the struggles many face, as well as point others towards help.

“If we can help prevent someone from going through what I went through, then this walk will be totally worth it,” he said.

Providing hope in recovery

Krystal Potts, Albert’s cousin and the founder of the Fire Keepers Support Group, also dealt with alcohol addiction, referring to herself years ago as ‘one of the biggest alcoholics on my reserve’. This came, she said, from trauma she experienced from her parents leaving her when she was young.

“I partied all the time, I was all over the place in different communities and I didn’t see it as a problem, because I didn’t realize the issues I had to heal within myself,” she said.

Potts went through a 41-day rehabilitation in Prince Albert and relocated her family afterwards for a fresh start, eventually starting a group on Facebook to bring awareness to healing. One day, Potts said she had become frustrated and angry at not having a sense of action being taken for people going through what she had gone through and started contacting others who’ve healed themselves, which became the Fire Keepers.

“We want to bring a change in the community and be an example, bring back connectivity in the community where we can be happy and sober,” she said. “We’ve come to stop the cycle with our own children.”

“All we want to do is plant seeds wherever we go. Even if there’s just a couple people, at least one or two people will have that inspiration and motivation.”

And Potts said that given the struggles she and others have overcome, she hopes that will be encouraging for anyone who hears their message.

“If I can do it, [learn to cope with my trauma], then anyone can.”

The Fire Keepers will continue ‘STOP THE CYCLE’ tomorrow, ending the walk back in Sweetgrass First Nation.

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josh.ryan@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports

by Josh Ryan

Awareness walk from Sweetgrass First Nation tackling addictions

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