Keeseekoose First Nation takes action to help children

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The Keeseekoose First Nation has a new partner in its battle to confront youth mental health issues.

The East Central Health District (ECHD) and Keeseekoose have joined forces to create the Circle of Strength program, designed to help address the mental health issues affecting the children and grandchildren of residential school survivors, who along with the survivors are still suffering from the effects of the residential schools.

The main goal of the Circle of Strength program was to establish a walk-in clinic on Keeseekoose that would offer services combining Aboriginal philosophies and culture with the expertise of local health professionals. The program offers young people ways to understand and deal with problems such as addictions, anger, depression and destructive behavior.

Opening ceremonies for the Circle of Strength program were held July 26 at Keeseekoose First Nation, with representatives from all participating organizations in attendance.

"We the East Central Health District are honored to be a part of this program. It just shows that you can't keep a good idea down," said Michael Redenbach, CEO of the ECHD. "I hope the Circle of Strength program serves as a model to others."

The involvement of the ECHD in the project came about when Keeseekoose recognized they did not have the capacity to develop and deliver a program to address the wide range of issues that were being identified within the community. They decided a partnership with ECHD could help bridge the gaps in services to First Nation youth.

"This program was a long time coming," said Myrna Rhinas, director of Child and Youth Health Services with the ECHD. "The partnership has developed something we two could not do on our own. It has allowed us to build a service that is supported and credible to the community. We realized we were not meeting the needs of these people and we were pleased when Keeseekoose approached us."

The ECHD agreed that a partnership with First Nations people would help address issues of trust and ownership. Child and youth workers also felt that if they could work with Aboriginal staff, they could learn how to incorporate Aboriginal values and beliefs in their work.

In the past, ECHD services have not been well utilized by Aboriginal people. This was due not only to problems with transportation to both the Kamsack clinic and Yorkton services, but also to the clinic environment and manner in which services were provided.

"The Kamsack clinic is by appointment only" explained Rhinas. "The clinic on Keeseekoose is on a walk-in basis and we expect that will be a great improvement in meeting their needs."

The Circle of Strength project has been developed based on feedback received from the community. A needs and priority assessment was conducted on Keeseekoose First Nation from November 2000 until February 2001. The information gathered provided the co-ordinating committee with a foundation necessary to determine how they would design and implement the Circle of Strength program.

Judy Hughes of On Trac Consulting Ltd. conducted the assessment.

Hughes's report was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the program.

"This program will create a safe, confidential environment for young people to share their problems and difficulties" explained Hughes. "The youth themselves expressed an interest in wanting a place such as this to go, that is easily accessible to them."

Leonard Keshane, Keeseekoose First Nation project co-ordinator, said a critical aspect of the Circle of Strength will be its focus on families as a whole rather than individuals exclusively.

"The only way to overcome these problems is to work with the family and to let them heal together. That was a vision I saw when I first started this project," said Keshane.

"I have seen the hopelessness in the eyes of our youth and I knew they needed help. I am very thankful that the East Central Health District was willing to partner with us, sharing their exprtise and resources for the people of Keeseekoose and in return, their willingness to learn from what we have to offer," said Keshane.

The Circle of Strength program is funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF). Grant Severight from the AHF also attended the ceremony at Keeseekoose.

"I myself am on a healing journey and am continually working to improve," said Severight. " I too have injured my children. I didn't give them the validation they needed because I didn't know how. I have cried so much. I have asked God when will it stop, because our people are in pain."

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Vice Chief Lawrence Joseph has strong beliefs that First Nations people have been long excluded from government policies and structures.

"How can people know our pain when they haven't taken time to learn our history?" Joseph asked. " The Circle of Strength program will be a step in the right direction.... The organizers of this project have persevered. I ask you to remember that healing is not an event, it is a process."

There are two Circle of Strength offices currently located in the Keeseekoose First Nation health administration building. The program employs two full-time staff-Debra Nabess and Diane Musqua. They both hold Bachelors of Indian Social Work.

Clients have a choice of receiving the services on-reserve from the project staff, or off-reserve at the East Central or Assiniboine Valley Health Districts' rural clinics in Kamsack, Canora or Preeceville.

The offices at Keeseekoose are open Monday through Friday when parents, guardians, children and youth are welcome to drop in at anytime.