Alcohol treatment program championed by chief

Page 1

The O'Chiese reserve (69 km northwest of Rocky Mountain House) opened a mobile treatment program, designed to help alcohol and drug abusers overcome their addictions, on July 8.

The treatment will be conducted in a camp setting on the reserve where 30 band members have agreed to be a part of the program. For the first week of the month-long program, the band members will be asked to stay in the camp, returning home in the evenings after the first week is up.

When asked why the band began the mobile treatment program, Chief Theresa Strawberry replied, "The number of deaths occurring (on the reserve) that were alcohol related was really scary."

Chief Strawberry says alcoholism was killing any initiative the community had to accomplish objectives.

Inspired by the Alkali Lake decision to move in the direction of an alcohol and drug free reserve last winter, Chief Strawberry knew it was possible to beat the source of the reserve's problem ? alcoholism. However, first the chief and council had to set an example for the rest of the band members to follow.

Thus, a band resolution was passed one year ago, stating the chief and council must be alcohol and drug free at least six months after they start serving their term.

Led by the chief and council, band members began going to the Poundmaker Lodge for abuse counselling. Executive director of the Nechi organization in St. Albert, Maggie Hodgson explains that mobile after-care support services were also offered to the band members when they returned to the reserve. In addition, Nechi donated 30 training days to band members, to act as abuse counsellors for other members. But, it became too difficult and time consuming to bring band members from the reserve to Poundmaker. So, the decision was made to start the mobile treatment program.

Hodgson says the band members who will assist in the program will need a tremendous amount of strength. Because of the small size of the 180-member community, they will likely have to deal with close relatives who will be going through withdrawal and may be difficult to handle.