Communities fight suicide

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The need for suicide prevention training in two First Nation communities brought representatives from the Sunchild and O'Chiese First Nation RCMP and victim services from Rocky Mountain House together on March 29 to 31. The workshop "Weaving the Web" was held at the Goldeye retreat centre near Nordegg.

"We are the first group to receive this type of training," said Mandy Schnell, a victim services counsellor.

A similar workshop took place in 1998 and a committee was formed to promote suicide prevention in the two communities after a rash of suicides.

"During 1997 and 1998 there were eight completed suicides in the communities that were in close succession. One of the band councillors and the RCMP said 'we have to do something,'" said Schnell.

The workshops are developed by the Aboriginal Policing Branch specifically for First Nation people. RCMP officers from Ottawa attended the workshop to evaluate the progress the committee is making in their suicide prevention programs for the First Nation communities. The RCMP also evaluated the previous workshop and found the training was effective for committee members.

"We'd like to see something like a crisis intervention unit, but it has to be something that the Native community would utilize. We've got a long ways to go, but at least there are mental health workers in both schools now," said Schnell.

The victim service worker feels the frustration in trying to find resources and programs that effectively help Aboriginal communities to heal, she said.

"The message we want to send out to the community is there are people here for you, we meet as one community, our goal is to be here to help and heal the communities," said Schnell.

So far in 1999, one suicide occurred in one of the First Nation communities, but it is still one too many, said Schnell.

The prevention committee meets monthly and discussion revolves around activities the First Nation communities can be involved in that will not only prevent suicide, but to help the families and friends who have lost loved ones to suicide, she said.

Schnell believes the committee is creating a positive environment for all key community members to work together.

"In the healing circles that took place during the workshop, the RCMP participants spoke about how the suicides affected them. Everyone saw them as human, because it doesn't matter if you are white, O'Chiese or Sunchild or the RCMP, we are all here together for the same thing," she said.

Dennis Fraser, an officer with the Rocky Mountain RCMP credits the First Nation communities with the success of the committee and the awareness it has raised about suicide.

"I've worked with reserves for a long time and you always hear the negative things about life there, but not the good things that happen. . . this is more successful that I ever dreamed it could be because it is a grassroots movement," he said. Fraser is Metis from Saskatchewan.

The committee members are all volunteers from the First Nation communities and no one get paid, he said. The committee has brought the RCMP more acceptance from the communities and Fraser feels there is no question about why they have been successful.

Another positive spin-off of the suicide prevention initiatives is the round dance that will take place in the Rocky Mountain House community centre on April 16 to honor the healing journey for all First Nation people and non-native people alike, said Fraser.

"It goes beyond suicide, we are learning to problem solve and learning more about setting and reaching our goals in our own personal lives as well," said Fraser.