Healing Lodge restores hope and provides inspiration

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A number of treatment programs have found a new home in the Somba Kei Healing Lodge. The Grollier Hall Residential School Treatment Program is just one. It provides a safe environment for people who are addressing issues that stem from residential schools.

"Eight beds are set aside for both men or women who are interested in taking the 40-day Residential School

Trauma Treatment Program. The other 20 beds are set aside for Corrections Services Clients," said Norman Yakalaya, executive director, Grollier Hall Healing Circle.

"We had an all women's program last month and it went really well. We are looking forward to holding another program for the women as soon as we get enough interest in the program.

Women who have children find it a bit hard to attend because they have to find babysitters before attending the 40-day program," he said.

In 1999, a 28-day residential treatment program for alcohol and drug abuse was terminated by the territorial government. Shortly after, the federal government and Corrections Services Canada approached Northern Addictions Services and talks began on programs for Aboriginal inmates who were from the North.

Under Sections 81 and 84 of Justice Canada's regulations, more emphasis was put on Aboriginal inmates who needed to be integrated back into their communities.

"One of the things that we noticed about the clients that were coming through Corrections Services was that their issues were no different than residential school issues. Trauma is trauma. We are working with some of the clients who have done certain things in society and ended up in southern institutions. We are noticing that the only thing that separates the trauma treatment clients from Corrections Services Canada is the name," said Yakalaya. "What we do is put them in a facility structure with a really strong program with some really good counselor's and some really good staff and the clients get a second chance. Some of these clients who are in the program have a lot of good things to offer back to their communities. It just takes some time and patience. We require them to look at some of their own issues," he said.

On Dec. 20, eight men graduated from the program. Some of the graduates were emotional as they disclosed some of their experiences before attending the program. An Aboriginal drum group and local musicians rounded out the evening's entertainment, as family members and friends shared in the clients' celebration.

"The Trauma Treatment Program is definitely needed in Canada. It is definitely needed in the NorthWest Territories. If you look at the number of years that the residential schools have been in existence in the NorthWest Territories you will find that it's been over 100 years. A lot of people have been in residential schools in the N.W.T.," said Yakalaya. "So you look how many people have been affected by residential schools and the amount of damage that's been done that has not been properly addressed. Instead people have been addressing their hurts and pain through addictions, dysfunctional relationships or suicide," he said.

Yakalaya said ours has become a non-feeling society.

"We do not know how to react to strong feelings such as anger, love or hurt. We were not allowed to feel our emotions when were children. I think that in terms of healing, we as Aboriginal people are just starting at the tip of an iceberg. We are trying to understand what it is like to have a fairly healthy life with decent relationships with other family members and our spouses and society. We encourage the clients to not always point fingers at the church or at the federal government, but for them to start looking at themselves and what it takes for making healthy choices. Even if it means some gut-wrenching stuff has to come out knowing that healing needs to be done," he said.

Harold Cooke, executive director of the lodge fondly remembers a particular client who not only healed from emotional pain, but fro a physical ailment as well.

"There was a client who was asthmatic for nine years when he entered the program, however, after completing the trauma program he was no longer asthmatic," said Cook. "That is what can happen after a person begins to deal with their issues. When people start to heal emotionally they can heal physically as well," he said.