Rehabilitation centre sought by Fort McMurray Band

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The Chief of the Fort McMurray Cree Band at Gregoire Lake, 60 km south of McMurray, is hopeful that construction of a rehabilitation treatment centre will take place there in the near future.

In a letter to the Indian Medical Health Services Commission, Chief Robert Cree and his council stated that a needs assessment study has identified that alcohol and drug abuse has taken its toll amongst "our peoples lives, physically, mentally and spiritually which has resulted in more problems related to education, family well being and employment.

Not only is it the Fort McMurray Band that has recognized the need for a centre of this calibre, but also the Fort Chipewyan Cree Band, Janvier and Fort McKay are supporting the idea for the centre.

Letters of support have been received by the Band from Athabasca MP Jack Shields, Alberta Health Commission, local unions, social services, the Beaver Lake Detox Centre and MLA Norm Weiss.

"We have been working on the concept for a treatment centre here for the past three years. For a long time, and when Charles Wood was with the health commission board, we had discussed the idea and he said it was very probable," said Cree.

Cree and his council have stated that all the Bands in the Fort McMurray district have taken positive steps by implementing counselling services on their reserves. But they feel there is a need for a rehabilitation centre and that "hardly a day goes by without one being able to pick up a newspaper or turn on a broadcast, without being made aware of an alcohol or drug-related death or conviction involving one of our Native people."

At this time the Band has accepted proposals from architects who are interested in designing the centre.

The Band have approached community organizations, unions and businesses, who wholly support their endeavours.

"That is about where we are right now, however, we are pushing for it. It is very much needed," said Cree.