Addictions treatment on the land
Cambridge Bay women's counselling program follows similar camp for men
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Monday, August 28, 2017
IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
Eight to 12 women will travel to a camp outside of Cambridge Bay in September with a goal of starting to tame their addictions and getting in closer touch with their culture.
The Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre has organized a 28-day mobile addictions treatment program in a natural setting at a cabin with some tents eight kilometres from the community. A similar program was held for men in May and June – seven participants started out, three completed the treatment.
"In my opinion the program was successful. By starting a program such as this, (it) is a success in itself," said Janet Stafford-Brenton, director of wellness, who noted that 30 per cent completion of treatment programs is the norm.
In addition to the trained alcohol and drug counsellors, elders are on hand to share knowledge at the camp. The men went on hunts for geese, ducks, eggs and seals with a wildlife monitor. Traditional teachings included proper harvesting methods, safety on the land, Inuinnaqtun lessons, storytelling and dance, according to Stafford-Brenton.
For the women, activities will include throat-singing, storytelling, fiddling and dancing. The treatment site also has a drying rack for fish.
"That's a healing in itself, being out of town... we have to reconnect back to the culture and the land," said Stafford-Brenton. "When we go out on the land... there's more open sharing and everyone helps."
She is planning similar treatment camps again next year. Other Nunavut communities have expressed interest in the same model of on-the-land counselling, she noted, adding that Health Canada provided the funding this year.
Training local counsellors
Addictions counsellor training programs have been offered in the community over the past few years, some in partnership with the Nechi Training Research and Health Promotions Institute in Edmonton. The objective is to have more certified counsellors within the community, said Stafford-Brenton. Some of those locally-trained counsellors are involved in the mobile addictions treatment clinics, under the supervision and mentorship of more experienced clinical professionals.
"In the next year or so we'll be able to offer our own treatment program with staff," said Stafford-Brenton, who has been in Cambridge Bay since 2002. "Instead of hiring outside agencies, we'll have enough skilled and trained staff here for the community."
Hundreds of people stop by the wellness centre each year seeking some level of support, Stafford-Brenton noted.
Having more homegrown counsellors will aid in the "aftercare support that is vital in any treatment program, not only to support the client but the families, which in turn helps the community," she said. "Having supports in place to help with aftercare once the client finishes a treatment program is the key to success. You cannot expect someone (coming) out of a 28-day healthy changed lifestyle to succeed if they are going back into an unhealthy home environment," said Stafford-Brenton. "Each community has a role to play – including housing, family services, justice and legal services and the RCMP – to help community members to lead healthy productive lives."
