INUVIK - Sunday's sober walk from the post office to Ingamo Hall and candlelight ceremony kicked off National Addictions Awareness Week events in town.

Youth centre employee Megan Hames, who sat on the committee which planned the afternoon's events, said she knows many teens struggling or who have family members struggling with addiction. Providing a safe and supportive atmosphere for people to open up about their struggles is part of the solution, said Hames.

Bella Kay joined Winston Moses on Sunday's Sober Walk as part of the kick off of National Addictions Awareness Week. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

"We're bringing attention to the fact that sobriety is possible," she said. "By bringing it forward we can talk about these issues and by talking about them we can work towards solving them."

For Bella Kay, it was a long and winding road to recovery. Both her parents were alcoholics and weren't around much, which meant she was the one who had to look after her brothers and sisters. She drank alcohol to deal with the pressure and anxiety.

Kay said she abused alcohol for more than two decades before she headed down to a healing camp in St. Albert, Alta., in 1988, thanks to the support of a group of family and friends.

She's been sober ever since.

"Walking on this sobriety walk makes me feel good, like I might help someone the way that people helped me," she said. "Someone might see me or the others in the walk and they might feel OK to get help."

Now a Gwich'in language teacher at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, she said she has learned to forgive her parents. She's more concerned now about being there to support anyone who needs it.

"Being sober I look at things in a different way, " she said. "I'm always there for people as a friend. If they don't trust anyone, they can come to me. I'm here."

After the walk, there was a candlelight ceremony where some shared their own stories of alcohol or drug abuse while others offered prayers for friends and family plagued by addiction.

Angie Edwards, 11, attended the candlelight ceremony. Having family members struggling with alcohol addiction, she came to quietly support them. And for one more reason.

"I never want to drink," she said.

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