Rehabilitation centre offers valuable Indigenous components

Forty years ago, caring individuals from the Treaty Six First Nations and adjacent Métis settlements formed a society in northeastern Alberta which would eventually become the Bonnyville Indian-Métis Rehabilitation Centre.

 “It took about three years to accomplish all the organizational details and get the doors open, but it became a reality,” said Leah Ferris, the current executive director. “We recently recognized the determination of the original volunteers who made it happen in a celebration at the centre.”

With no treatment centre with an Indigenous component and the highest percentage of people in jail being of Aboriginal descent, the need for such a facility was obvious. The centre was built a few miles from the town of Bonnyville, on the calm and healing shores of Moose Lake.

 “Right now we are treating about 300 (clients) a year,” said Ferris. “The 28-day treatment helps to make a difference in the lives of the addict or alcoholic, but also in the lives of their families.” The success of the program has often persuaded friends or family members of a rehabilitated client to recognize the effectiveness and enter it themselves, seeking a similar new start in life.

Referrals are accomplished in various ways.

“If they are incarcerated, they can apply through their addictions worker, while those entering from the community can approach their AADAC, NNADAP or AHS worker,” said Ferris. Sometimes it’s an employer who has given a valued worker time off to attend the program. “A lot of work goes on in those 28 days and there is community support when they get out as well.”

The family of the addicted person also must realize that their relationship with their loved one has changed once treatment is completed.

“There were perhaps some enabling behaviours that need to be discontinued. Trust needs to be built up again, and incidents have occurred and words been said that makes it hard to forgive and forget,” said Ferris.  “They have to remember that the person is different from the addict. Their behaviours when they are in addiction are not necessarily what they would do when they are clean and sober.”

Programming includes the participation of Elders, both in individual sessions and in cultural activities, weekly sweats, speaking sessions, and time with caring and patient counsellors.
“It’s based on the Twelve Step Program and on finding spirituality, so the healing comes from there,” said Ferris.

The clients enjoy small group sessions as well, and the members support each other once they leave the safety of the centre. Many are on their way to a new life, but others find the need to return again.

“They sometimes don’t get it the first time. And while we have staff and counsellors who contribute to the success, the work that is done here is done by the clients themselves,” said Ferris.