Residential trauma treatment centre gets funding

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The Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society's Substance Abuse Treatment Centre in Lantzville, B.C. received funding to the tune of $450,000 from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation in Ottawa. The funding is to be used towards a five-week residential program for Aboriginal adults who are living with the residual effects of trauma from their experiences in residential schools.

The program's funding is for one year. The program will be guided by the wisdom and support of Elders who advise the Tsow-Tun Le Lum centre on a regular basis. They will work with the participants to address the causes of the addictions, behaviors and relationship problems that result from residential school trauma. The effects of trauma are some of the lasting effects of residential school survivors. The new program called Moving Beyond the Traumas of Our Past, will run in six, five-week programs. An average of 10 people will attend each program.

"I believe in this. I guess in my perception we can move beyond this. That is the name of our program, Moving Beyond the Traumas of Our Past. I have a real understanding I think and a sadness, of course, for what happened. I try to give that message to other people out there. A lot of people do not understand," said Charles McLaughlin, executive director. "I think that it is a tremendous healing movement. Ten to 15 years ago we used to think that if we got over this alcohol and drug addiction circle we would have it made. All of a sudden, bang, the residential school issues started to come forth. In this program, we recommend that the participants have at least six months of sobriety before they apply to the program. It is an intense program. Our experience tell us that if they do not have as many months of sobriety, they are not going to stay around to complete it."