K'ATLODEECHE FIRST NATION
The territorial government has agreed to provide funding to create a plan for alternative uses for the closed Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve.
New uses are going to be considered for the closed Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo |
The idea to use the facility for new initiatives was discussed on March 21 when Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy visited the reserve to meet with the chief and council of K'atlodeeche First Nation.
"We talked about the treatment centre," said Peter Groenen, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the First Nation.
"We had asked for some funding to put together a plan to use that treatment centre as a wellness development centre. He's agreed to give us $25,000 to do that plan."
Groenen said there was also agreement that will let the First Nation have access to the facility in order to run programs there while the GNWT will continue to own the building and pay for its operation and maintenance expenses.
The CEO said the band is looking to use the facility to host a variety of wellness and development programs and training.
"But it will not be a treatment centre," he said. "It will be a wellness centre."
Groenen said work on the plan will probably start in April and will be submitted to the Department of Health and Social Services.
"We actually have received some funding from the National Indian Brotherhood to fund a TRC healing workshop as well, and that one will run in the fall," he said, referring to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for residential schools.
"That will probably be held at the new wellness centre that we're developing out there."
Groenen said the plan will look at what kinds of programs and funding are available.
"We're pretty excited about this opportunity," he said.
"I mean everything takes time but we really kind of envision it being like a development centre as well where we can deliver programs."
When asked if there are any plans for the facility to eventually return to being an addictions treatment centre, Groenen replied, "It's not on the table anywhere right now."
News/North asked Abernethy last week to comment on how his meeting with the KFN chief and council went, but the request was unsuccessful.
The Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre was closed by the GNWT in September 2013.
