NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovering from alcohol or drug addiction, the territorial government is increasingly supporting programs that take people out of clinical environments and into nature.

On-the-land addictions counselling programs are gaining popularity in the NWT and the government is adapting its understanding of "success" to better reflect individual experiences in these programs.

"Traditionally we might not have put as much emphasis on things like emotional or social health where land-based programming allows us to incorporate that spectrum," said Kimberly Fairman, director of mental health and addictions at the Department of Health and Social Services. "We're incorporating connections to family and community and culture as areas that contribute to an individual's overall well-being and their health."

Fairman said the GNWT uses a "continuous quality improvement approach" to these programs, which means that the government defines success based on a number of departmental indicators (like equitable access) and goals shared with aboriginal governments such as improving mental health in communities.

The GNWT began rolling out its land-based programming across the territory during the last fiscal year and is continuing this year because of the positive results seen so far.

"We've seen a lot of success," said Fairman, pointing to the ways that on-the-land addictions programs put participants in situations free of distractions and negative influences.

"And those things we are able to demonstrate have an impact on the way an individual responds to their environment ... and their overall sense of well-being," she said.

During the last sitting of the legislative assembly, Health Minister Glen Abernethy stated his government has learned that residents of the NWT want a greater variety of treatment options for addictions.

"We heard clearly that people wanted options at the community level, at the regional level. We also heard that people wanted on-the-land options," he said.

Programs are currently available to Tlicho residents through the Tlicho Community Services Agency; to residents of the Akaitcho Territory through Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Deninu Kue First Nation, and the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation respective programs; and to residents across the Sahtu Region through the Sahtu Dene Council.

There is also Project Jewel, offered through the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) aimed at helping people struggling with addictions, particularly upon returning from treatment programs in Alberta.

"We realize that a lot of people do get support but when they come back to town perhaps the supports are there or there just aren't enough," said Jimmy Ruttan, aftercare co-ordinator for the IRC.

After two or three years of sorting out funding, Project Jewel fully launched in November 2014.

Project Jewel is voluntary and accepts referrals from anyone - from elders to community or government agencies. Programs are between three and 10 days long and depending on the participants, can involve a range of activities from making crafts to trapping and fishing.

"There are so many different levels of intensity with addiction; you have to take it case-by-case. You can't offer a standard program," he said.

An elder is always present when groups go out on the land, as are counsellors with addictions training.

"We realize that someone might have a trigger and it could be from anything. We ensure that we have clinical support on hand for the duration of all of our camps," said Ruttan.

"I think that the land offers a sense of calm and comfort that you can't achieve in town, in any town," he said. "You think of all the things that someone has to worry about when they're in town, and ... you take that all away, all those negative stressers."

Ruttan said he's encouraged by the growing support of the GNWT and the recognition that on-the-land programming can make a real difference in the lives of people struggling with addiction.

Attitude and flexibility are critical, according to Ruttan.

"Just be open and willing to participate," he said. "You're out in the bush to be relaxed, so sometimes you just have to go with the flow of it."

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