Long Lake #58 offers transformational program from community members
“We brought members down from the reserve and we’re here trying to help them on their healing journey, get away from the drugs and alcohol and really start to deal with the trauma,” says Kyle Arnold, community support worker specializing in addiction at Long Lake #58. “Generally, we’re doing sharing and healing circles, we have a facilitator here, Ed (Yerxa), and he’s facilitating it, going through their trauma, just kind of going through the first steps and really trying to help them work through what they’ve been in in their life. A lot of it is life skills, we do have some presenters coming in that are going to be talking about what they went through in recovery, as well as we have a sacred fire, sweats and using traditional medicines.”
Arnold says they did a pre-detox program for two weeks in Long Lake #58 where the clients participated in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, drum socials, and different activities to prepare them before they attended the 10-day detox program.
“We’re going to be here for 10 days and then we’re going to be at Dilico (Anishinabek Family Care) for another 10 days and then we will be out on the land for a few weeks,” Arnold says.
Arnold says he has never seen people open up so fast as they did during the 10-day detox program.
“I’ve been to a lot of treatment centres, I’ve never seen people open up so fast,” Arnold says. “A lot of that goes to the facilitator, Ed, who has been doing this a long time. But seeing people really open up and really want to better their lives, to deal with that trauma, to get back together with family, I think it’s been going really well.”
Pascale Baillargeon, band representative at Long Lake #58, says she noticed a big change with the clients during the 10-day detox program, which began on March 28.
“This is my fourth one being here and I’ve noticed a big change this time around,” Baillargeon says, noting that only four clients had dropped out of the program as of the sixth day. “I think they’re taking it more serious this time, like with the circles they’re more intense. They’re all doing very well and I’m very proud of them.”
Baillargeon says they had a great team for the 10-day detox program.
“We’ve all been through some type of trauma, so we pour our heart and soul into this,” Baillargeon says. “Even if we save just one or two every time, it’s well worth it.”
Kurtis, one of the clients from Long Lake #58, says he decided to join the program because he was tired of the way he had been living.
“I’ve been told by several doctors that I wouldn’t make it to a certain age so that sort of opened my mind a little bit and I have a young son that I need to provide for, and I just want to get my life back on track,” Kurtis says. “I’ve been to other detoxes, treatments, but this one really opened my mind so far because I said, enough is enough. These past few days have been incredible and I have a lot of support and it’s just opened up my mind a whole lot and I just feel like this is the time — I love what we’re doing here and it’s just helping me move forward.”
Skylar, one of the clients from Long Lake #58, says he was also tired of how he had been living.
“I came out here just to get sober and finally change my life around,” Skylar says. “It gets tiring and start to realize some things, what am I doing here? What am I going to do with life? I want my kids back, too, so obviously I’ve got to change some things around here, so this program is a real good way of changing what’s going on.”
Gary, one of the clients from Long Lake #58 who is Iroquois from Quebec and married to a woman in the community, says he joined the program to find a better way of living.
“I want to learn new skills on communication and just have a good sober life with my children,” Gary says, noting that the program has been amazing. “The people here are great, they’re showing me a whole new way of life. We have a Sacred Fire going, we have group sessions, Healing Circles in the morning, we have one in the afternoon, we have a few activities throughout the day. It’s been helping a lot, it’s showing us that routine is important and when you get a good routine you live a healthier life.”