INUVIK - While Winston Moses stands at his public prayer corner on Mackenzie Road, a passing truck offers a greeting beep to the elder.

"See that, he's beeping at me," said Moses with a laugh.

After five years of sobriety the 66-year-old has found the strength and peace which alcohol robbed him of for many years. The smiles and greetings he encounters around town during his daily walks are, as he sees it, an affirmation of the new man he has become.

"I know I can walk downtown now and face people," he said. "Friends of mine greet me now and say let's have a coffee. That sure feels good."

Several times a week the father of five walks to his prayer corner where Kingmingya Road meets Mackenzie Road in Inuvik. It's a place in town known for attracting the downcast who are often under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

While others rush by, en route to NorthMart or another destination in town, Moses takes the time to talk and pray with anyone who wants to listen.

"I know they're listening," he said. "I don't want to see them drift away. A lot of people see only what's on the outside: a drunk. I see what's on the inside, the loneliness and people craving for friendship."

After all it wasn't that long ago since Moses was in their shoes.

Born in the mountains of Old Crow, Moses's introduction to alcohol came at the innocent age of nine while at a muskrat camp with his father. Though he only had a taste of that home brew, which made him feel good, he saw others abuse it.

"Those days you didn't need alcohol to be relaxed because you had strength, the power to do what work was available."

But the experience didn't keep him away from the bottle. Attending residential school in Inuvik, he drank with the boys. What started out as a social activity turned into a complete dependency at the age of 21. He even resorted to panhandling and minor theft to feed his addiction.

"I drank anything that contained alcohol. Whatever you buy in the liquor store, whatever was in the drugstore: hairspray, shaving lotion. I drank it."

His slide into alcoholism coincided with a move south where, for years, he held temporary jobs throughout Alberta and British Columbia. The drinking continued after he got married and had children. In fact for a period he and his wife Martha drank heavily together. But she was able to face her addiction and got the help she needed. Martha's been sober for the last 21 years.

There were many times when she'd bar him from their house because he was too intoxicated. He'd end up sleeping in the woods or on the streets.

"Wherever I was I'd say a little prayer, hoping to be cured of my sickness," he said.

There were sober stretches for years at a time. Then there were the relapses. He recalls an episode five years ago, when at the time he'd been off the bottle for four years. He visited an Inuvik pub with the intention of having one drink. Four days later he woke up in the hospital.

That was the point when he started turning his life around.

"Over the years I realized this is not for me," he said. "But it took a hell of a long time. I abandoned my family. I lost a lot of good jobs, territorial and federal government jobs."

He attributes his sobriety to a strong will and a supportive network of family friends.

He points to the actions of a concerned nephew for finally getting him on his healing journey. His nephew travelled to Inuvik from Old Crow to convince his uncle to stay at his healing camp. After obliging, Moses returned to his roots for a few weeks where he experienced a profound awakening.

"It dawned on me that without alcohol, I'm OK," he said. "This is the mountain where I used to trap, where I used to hunt. I was free. Freedom was there. There was fresh air. When you're drunk you can't even tell if you're breathing fresh air."

He's gone through it all and has been on the doorstep of suicide twice. His message to others struggling with alcohol addiction is to simply walk away. There are people and programs to support you, he says.

"You just have to leave it alone, just leave it alone and find someone to talk to. Life's supposed to be healthy. Life is supposed to be full of happiness. Alcohol addiction takes that away."

Now he's living for his family, which includes seven grandchildren. He takes pleasure in simple things - waking up in the morning with a clear mind and sharing coffee with friends.

It's been five years since he's had a drink and he'd like to think he knows enough to stay away for good.

"I used to be scared to sober up and today I'm scared to drink."

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