Healthy Living Walk promotes energy, pride

Positive energy and pride, said Alvina Lake, is what the Nov. 19 Indigenous Healthy Living Walk is all about.
“The walk is powerful, very emotional. You have to be a part of it to feel actually what we are walking for. For me, I’m walking to, hopefully show people that if they seek help, well we are actually there (for them)…it’s a healthy pride to experience,” said Lake, aftercare cultural events coordinator for Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre.

The second annual walk takes place during National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 14-20, and cuts a path from the steps of the Edmonton Legislature up 107 street to Jasper Avenue where participants will then gather at Canada Place for a celebration of events to be highlighted by Sen. Thelma Chalifoux.

The walk brings public awareness to NAAW, said Tammy Berg, administrative assistant to health promotions at the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute, which hosts the event.

About a hundred people participated in the walk last year and Berg is hoping to increase those numbers with the help of sponsors and partnerships, such as with the City of Edmonton and Poundmaker’s.

Lake believes that working in partnership with Nechi provides employees and clients, and the general public with a good way to walk off negative energy and anger and replace it with laughs with new friends.

Poundmaker’s is Canada’s first addictions centre specifically designed for Aboriginal clientele. Located in St.Albert, the lodge has been in operation for over 30 years.

The Nechi Institute is an Indigenous facility where addiction trainers further their counselling practices, whether out in the community or in-house. Through specialized courses, students of the institute are exposed to culturally sensitive material based on traditional and spiritual values.

“Everybody is welcome (on the march), even the public. They don’t have to have an Aboriginal background. Our main focus is the addictions awareness. We just make it more Aboriginal-based,” said Berg.

Celebrating the milestones among the Aboriginal people is an important movement to show pride, added Berg.
Speakers joining Chalifoux include Nechi Institute CEO Josie Auger, longtime Nechi trainer Dave Belleau, Nechi board member Dr. Patricia Makokis, and Poundmaker’s Lodge chairman Don Langford.

Nechi Institute and Poundmaker’s Lodge will be hosting events throughout NAAW, including a tea dance (Nov. 15), a candlelight vigil (Nov. 17), and a round dance (Nov.20).

Events will be held throughout Canada marking National Addictions Awareness Week.