Join the Circle Walk a huge success

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The crowd came to their feet in honor of the Ben Calf Robe Children's Choir as they sang Circle of Life to kick off National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW).

About 400 people rallied at Edmonton's City Hall on Nov. 19 for the 13th annual Join the Circle Walk.

It started with a ceremony and then the participants took to the street with smiling faces and flapping banners. The 10-block walk ended at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre where the celebration concluded with some snacks, prizes and good times.

"It's phenomenal," said Duane Morrisseau, national health assistant for the Metis National Council, who came from Ottawa to attend the walk.

"It's something for the betterment of our people, and it's also really good for public relations within the scope of the non-Aboriginal world."

At the city hall rally, Thelma Carter brought a sobering word about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). She knows the devastating effect alcohol can have on a family, as she was responsible for subjecting three of her children to the life-long challenge of FAS.

Providing the hopeful side of the equation was Morris Nepoose from Hobbema, who has never suffered from addictions. He spoke about the advantages and choices of an addiction-free lifestyle.

Richard Jock, executive director of the National Aboriginal Health Organization, gave the keynote address.

A lack of snow and a mild temperature made for fine walking conditions.

The extra room available at the friendship centre (instead of the traditional destination of the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples) allowed information booths to be set up for the first time. About a dozen booths gave attendees access to addiction-related information and organizations.

A small grant from the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch-Alberta Region and fund-raising efforts made the event possible. But the biggest credit goes to Edmonton's Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute for taking the initiative to lobby for NAAW and for finding volunteers to make it happen.

"Most of the work is done by volunteers- - hiking up our arm sleeves and getting the work done," said Richard Jenkins, Nechi director of marketing and health promotions.

Various national leaders who play a role in the newly established National Partnership Co-ordinating Committee for NAAW came to Edmonton for the kick-off walk and to make plans for next year.

National partners such as the Metis National Council are looking at joining Nechi in the promotion of NAAW.

"It was almost like passing the baton," said Jenkins. "We've done our job here in Edmonton and we've brought a lot of this good stuff to the people in terms of awareness. Now it's up to the national groups to make it more national than it has been."

This year signaled the last time Edmonton will host the national kick-off walk.

The Join the Circle walk will continue in the years to come, but will adopt a more local focus. The kick-off walk will be held in a variety of places across the country to help spread the excitement of NAAW elsewhere.