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TABLEOFCONTENTSINTRODUCTION 4

Background 4

HostAgencies 5

ANoteontheDefinitionof“Family” 6

ScopeoftheReport 6ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6PROCESS 8

DescriptionofEvents 8

Participants 9

StrengthsandLimitations 9FINDINGS 11

FamiliesSupportingLovedOnesinActiveAddiction 11

FamilieswhohaveLostaLovedOnetoSubstanceUse 13

ServiceProvidersSupportingFamiliesImpactedbySubstanceUse 14

What’sWorkingWellinMission?SummaryofPositives 16

AppendixA 17

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StrongerTogether:NavigatingthePersonalImpactsofSubstanceUseCOMMUNITYDIALOGUESSUMMARYREPORT

Mission,BC|September9-11,2019

WegratefullyacknowledgetheStó:lōpeople,particularlytheScowlitz,Matsqui,Kwantlen,andLeq'á:melFirstNations,onwhosetraditional,ancestral,uncededandcontinuallyoccupied

territorytheseeventstookplace.

INTRODUCTION

Background

InthecontextofBritishColumbia’s illicitdrugoverdosecrisisoverthepastthreeyears,toomanycommunitieshavebeenpersonallyandtragicallyaffectedbydrug-relatedharms.Thereisanurgentneed for stakeholders impacted by a public health crisis of this magnitude to lead and informoverdoseresponseandsubstanceusetreatmentinitiatives.Thefamilymembersofpeoplewhousedrugs are an important but undervalued resource for the health system. They hold a wealth ofknowledgeonhowthesystemcanbeimprovedtosupporttheirlovedones,particularlythosewhoare at the highest risk of fatal overdose (people using alone due to stigma). Similarly, bereavedfamilieshavesubstantialinsightsonwhatsystemicimprovementscouldhavepreventedtheirlovedones’deaths.However,familieshavehistoricallybeenexcludedfromkeydecision-makinginBritishColumbia,particularlyaroundsubstanceuseservices.Stronger Together is a series of family-led dialogue and learning sessions taking place in ninecommunitiesacrossBritishColumbiain2018-19,inpartnershipwithlocalandregionalstakeholders.Theprimaryobjectivesoftheprojectareto:

1. Mobilizefamilyandserviceproviderknowledgetoidentifylocalchallengesandbarriersforpeoplewhousedrugs,informserviceprovision,andimprovepathwaystotreatmentandcareinFraserHealthandacrossBritishColumbia.

2. Buildresilienceandincreasefamilymembers’capacitytosupporttheirlovedonesbyofferingtoolsandresources,aswellasbyfosteringlocalconnections.

3. Buildlocalcommunitycapacitytosupportfamiliesimpactedbyaddictionandtheoverdosecrisis through the delivery of learning sessions for people interested in running supportgroups.

ThecityofSurreyinBC,wasthefirstcommunitytohostStrongerTogetherwithintheFraserHealthAuthority(FHA)regioninMarch2019.DuetoanunderrepresentationofIndigenouscommunitymembersattendingtheSurreydialoguesessions,FraserHealthcontributedadditionalfundstosupporttheexpansionofStrongerTogethertoMissiontoengagetheurbanIndigenouscommunity.InpartnershipwithFraserHealth,BCCSUconnectedwiththeMissionFriendshipCentreSocietytoco-organizeanseriesofdialoguecirclesforIndigenousparticipantsfromSeptember9-11,2019.Fortheseries’learningsession,MelissaNielsenhostedaworkshop(WalkingForwardwithGoodMedicine)forthoseinterestedinimplementingaculturally-informed12-weekIndigenousgriefandlossprogramadaptableforchildren,youthand/oradults.WalkingForwardwithGoodMedicinewas

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developedbytheNlaka’pamuxNationTribalCouncilundertheguidanceofanAdvisoryCommitteeofIndigenousandcommunityserviceprovidersandpartnersfromtheFraserEastregion,aCurriculumCommittee,Indigenousagencies,andElders.TheInformationalSessionwasfacilitatedbyMelissaNielsen(AppendixA).ThisreportisaculminationofthewisdomandinsightsofferedbyfamilymembersandserviceproviderswhoattendedoursessionsinMission,BC.Wehopethatwhatfollowswillleadtothedevelopmentofrelevant,actionablesolutionsinpartnershipwiththesekeyknowledgeholders.

HostAgencies

MissionFriendshipCentreSocietyisanon-profitorganizationfocusedonhelpingtomeettheneedsof Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people and families who aremaking a transition to the urbancommunity. TheMission Friendship Centre Society provides a central and suitable facilitywherecounselling,supportandreferralserviceswillbeprovided.TheBritishColumbiaCentreonSubstanceUse(BCCSU)isaprovinciallynetworkedorganizationwithamandatetodevelop,helpimplementandevaluateevidence-basedapproachestosubstanceuseand addiction. The BCCSU’s focus is on three strategic areas including research and evaluation,education and training, and clinical care guidance. With the support of the province of BritishColumbia,theBCCSUaimstohelpestablishworld-leadingeducational,researchandpublichealth,andclinicalpracticesacrossthespectrumofsubstanceuse.TheBritishColumbiaBereavementHelpline (BCBH) is aprovincial leader inprovidingeducation,support,advocacy,networking,and information resources for thebereaved, their caregivers,andprofessionals.TheBCBHiscommittedtoassistingthebereavedandtheircaregiversincopingandmanaginggriefandrecognizestheuniquefactorsthatcomewithsuddendeathduetosubstanceuse.Inadditiontoahelpline,theBCBHprovidessupportprogrammingforthebereavedandtrainingforcommunitymemberstoestablishsupportgroups.MomsStoptheHarm(MSTH) isanetworkofCanadianfamilieswhoselovedoneshavestruggledwith substance use or have died from drug-related harm.MSTH aims to advocate, educate, andexpandsupportsforfamiliesaffectedbysubstanceuse.Theycallforanendtothefailedwarondrugsandembraceanapproachthatreducesharmandrespectshumanrights.ThehostagenciesalsopartneredcloselywithFraserHealthAuthorityandMissionHospiceSocietytoplan,implement,andpromoteStrongerTogether.

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ANoteontheDefinitionof“Family”

Weacknowledgethatnotallfamiliesarebiologicalornuclear,butrather,“family,specificallyfamilyinrelationtooutpatientsubstanceuseservice,wasinallcasesunderstoodasbeingdefinedbythepersonaccessingservices.”1

ScopeoftheReport

TheprimaryintentofStrongerTogetheristoholdspaceforfamiliesandaffectedcommunitymemberstogather,sharedialogue,tools,andresources,andtoexploreopportunitiesformutuallysupportingoneanotherthroughsharedexperiences.ThisisadocumentationofwhatweheardfromsomefamilymembersandserviceproviderslivingandworkinginMission,BC,basedontheirlivedandprofessionalexperiences.Pleasenotethatthisisnotnecessarilyarepresentativesampleoftheentirecommunity,andthereforethisreportdoesnotintendtobeageneralizationoftheentirecommunity.WehopethisreportwillprovideoneviewoftheopioidoverdosecrisisinMission,BC,andthatitwillbeusedinconjunctionwithresearch,bestpractices,engagementofpeoplewithlivedandlivingexperience,andadditionalengagementoffamilymembersandcaregiverstoimproveservicesandcare.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BCCSU,BCBHandMSTHwouldliketosincerelythanktheProvinceofBCthroughtheOverdoseEmergencyResponseCentre(OERC)andCommunityActionInitiativefortheirsignificantcontributionof$75,000tomaketheseeventspossibleacrossBritishColumbia.ThankyoualsotoFraserHealthAuthorityfortheiradditionalcontributionof$2,060.80tosupportincapacity-buildingofurbanIndigenouscommunities.Inparticular,weexpressoursincerethankstoMicheleLylyk,ExecutiveDirectorofMissionFriendshipCentreSociety,forhermanyhoursdedicatedtoplanningandleadingtheStrongerTogetherdialogues.TheorganizersalsowishtothankthefollowingindividualsfortheirkeycontributionstotheseeventsinMission,BC:MagnusTurner,NathalieMillerandIanKunitskiforco-facilitationandmarketing.ParmMatharuforadditionalfacilitationandmeetingsupport;GenevaHealey,TracySteereandAnthonyNeptunefromFraserHealthforstewardingfinancialcontributions,committingtoutilizingcommunityfeedbackintheirworkandleveragingrecommendationstoleadership,andservingasaregionalresource.Mostofall,thankyoutotheparticipantswhosharedtheirdeeplypersonalstoriesofstruggle,

grief,andloss,andinspiringuswithyourvisionsofabettersystem,andfinally,toElderHermanDanforhisunwaveringsupport,guidanceandhissongs.

1McCuneS.,PaulyB.,VanBoven,S.(2017).DisruptingStandardMode:ABigPictureStoryofFamilyInclusioninSubstanceUseServices.Retrieved

from:https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/cisur/assets/docs/report-family-inclusion-substance-use-services.pdf

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PROCESS

DescriptionofEvents WeconvenedfourgroupsinMission.Thisincludedthreetalkingcircles:

1. Forfamiliessupportinglovedonesinactiveaddiction(5hours);2. Forfamilieswhohavelostlovedonestosubstanceuse(5hours);3. Forserviceproviderssupportingfamiliesimpactedbysubstanceuse(2.5hours).

Andoneworkshoplearningsession(6hours):

4.WalkingForwardwithGoodMedicine–forpeopleinterestedinhostingahighlyadaptableIndigenousgriefandlossprogramthataddressesgrief,loss,andtraumaforallchildrenofallages.Thefacilitatorreviewedthecurriculum,providedinsightintohowtofacilitateit,andexploredthemanywaysinwhichitcouldbeadaptedtomeetarangeofcommunityneeds.(AppendixA)

EacheventwasopentothepublicwithpromotionledbytheMissionFriendshipCentreSociety.MealswereprovidedattheMissionFriendshipCentreforeachsession.AlthoughthesesessionswereaimedaturbanIndigenousparticipants,wedidnotaskparticipantstoself-identifytheirethnic,ancestral,orotheridentities,andthesessionswereopentoallcommunitymemberswhowishedtoparticipate.Eachgroupcommittedtoasetofcommunityguidelinesforengagingindialogue:

● Makespace,takespace● Takebreakstosupportyourwellness● Whatwesayhere,stayshere.Whatwelearnhere,leaveshere● Welistentolearnratherthantorespondorreact● Wegatherinaspiritofmutualsupportandrespect

Eachtalkingcirclewasguidedbythreequestions

1. What’snotworkingwell?2.What’sworkingwell?3.Whatareyourhighesthopesandbiggestwishesforyourcommunity?

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Participants Totalnumberofparticipants:37Note:Wedidnotscreenoraskparticipantstoself-identifyasIndigenoustoattendthesessionsDialoguesession:ForfamiliessupportinglovedonesinactiveaddictionDate:September9,2019Participants:4Dialoguesession:ForfamilieswhohavelostlovedonestosubstanceuseDate:September10,2019Participants:3Dialoguesession:ForserviceproviderssupportingfamiliesthroughsubstanceuseDate:September10,2019Participants:22FacilitationWorkshop:WalkingForwardwithgoodMedicineDate:September11,2019Participants:8

StrengthsandLimitations Wearegratefultohaveconvenedadiversegroupofparticipantsandheardifferentvoicesatthesesessions.WehaveobservedthatoneofthestrengthsofStrongerTogether,istheopenconversationfosteredandconnectioncreatedbetweenparticipants.Often,intentionallyholdingspaceforcommunitymembersisanimportantfirststeptobreakingdownstigmaandbarrierswithincommunities.However,weacknowledgethatstigmaaroundthetopicsofsubstanceuse,grief,loss,andtraumaoftenareabarriertocommunitymembersattendingthesesessions.WewereabletoreachawidevarietyofcommunitymemberslargelythroughpartnershipwiththeMissionFriendshipCentreSociety.Thespacewasanaccessiblelocationthatwasalreadyfamiliartomanyfamilymembersandserviceprovidersalike.Wealsostrovetomaketheeventsasfinanciallyaccessibleaspossiblebyprovidingfreeregistration.TheMissionFriendshipCentreSocietyalsoprovidedmealsforparticipantsoneachdayoftheprogram. Eachofthetalkingcirclesweredesignedtobelong(5hoursforthefamilysessionsand2.5forserviceproviders)inordertoholdappropriatespaceandensureallattendeescouldspeakasmuchastheywanted.However,thelongermeetingtimemayhavebeenabarrierforsomewhowishedtoattendthesession.WealsoheldoursessionsduringdaytimehoursinaccordancewiththehoursoftheMissionFriendshipCentre;however,thismayhavebeenabarrierforthosewhoworkduringthosehours.

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Photo: Mission Friendship Centre, Stó:l! Territory, Mission, BC

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FINDINGS

Anumberofpriorityareas,challenges,andhopesforthefutureemergedfromthediscussions.Whatfollowsisasummaryofkeythemesfromthedialoguesessions.Insightsfromparticipantsappearthroughoutthereportinitalicizedquotes.

FamiliesSupportingLovedOnesinActiveAddiction

September9,2019THEME:SERVICEDELIVERYGAPSANDOPPORTUNITIESFamilieshighlightedinconsistenciesinpoint-of-careservicesbetweenhowtheirlovedonesaretreatedforsubstanceuse-relatedissuescomparedtopatientspresentingwithregularphysicalconditions.Oneparticipantshared:“Iwishmyson[livingwithasubstanceusedisorder]wastreatedthesameasmydaughter

whenshewenttotheclinicforherbackproblems”.

Participantsagreedthatwhenanindividualdisclosestheirsubstanceuseproblems,shamingisnotthesolution,norshouldithindertheirpathwaystowellness.Participantsrecommendedthatclinicsandemergencydepartmentswhomaybeseeingpatientswithsubstanceusedisordersprovideahandbookwithresourcesforfamilymembersandcaregiverssupportingtheirlovedoneinactiveaddiction.Participantsexpressedthat“itcannotbetakenforgrantedthat[parentsandcaregivers]knowwheretoreachoutforhelp”,sooneconsolidatedhandbookwouldhelpfamilymembersseekingresourcestosupporttheirlovedones.Additionally,participantsrecommendedasubstanceusetoolkitorprotocolforhealthcareprofessionalsthatwouldhelpstandardizecareandreducestigma.Participantsalsorecommendedthatforfutureservices,includingmedicalservices,treatment,andharmreductionservices,locationsshouldbechosenbasedonwherecommunitymemberscongregate.“Iwouldlikethesamecaregiventopeoplewhousedrugsasanyoneelse…Ibetwewouldtreatadogbetter[thanthewaymysonwastreatedinthehospital]”–Communitymember

THEME:ACCEPTANCEATTHEHEARTOFITAmajorthemefromalldialogueswastheneedforcompassionandsocialcohesionwithinthecommunity.Allmembersemphasizedthe“powerofsharingandthesharingcircle”,inparticular,toeliminateshameandstigmaattachedtoaddiction.Oneparticipantdescribedtheirisolationexperiencedasacaregiver,“sneakingaroundtolearnhowtosupportmyloved

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ones”andhopedthatsomedayindividualswithsubstanceusedisorderswouldbeabletodependnotonlyontheirinnerstrengthsbutlargersocialnetworkswhentheychoosetotalkaboutaddictionorseekrecovery.Participantsfeltthatthecommunitylackedasafespaceforfamiliestoexchangeinformationonsupporttoolsandsubstanceuseknowledge.“Whydowepunishfamilymembersforsupportingtheirlovedones?”–Communitymember

THEME:CONTINUUMOFCARESomeparticipantshadnoticedthattheirlovedonesdidnotexperiencefollow-upcareoncetheywerereleasedfromtreatment,andcommentedthatthisledtoacycleofindividualsenteringhospitals,“gettingclean”,beingdischarged,thenusingagain.Participantsrecommendedwraparoundservicestomitigaterevolving-dooreffectsonthosewhodisclosetheirmentalhealthoraddictionissuesathospitals,referredtodetox,aredischargedfromtreatmentcentersanduseagain.Participantsrecommendedestablishinganoverdosepreventionsiteinordertomeetthelocalcommunity’sneeds.OneparticipantsuggestedasupervisedinjectionfacilitybeestablishedinMission.Participantsalsocommentedonthedetrimentalimpactsofwellnesschecksconductedbypolice,astheycancausedistresstopeoplewhousedrugs.Onesuggestionbroughtupwasanalternatesystemforconductingwellnesschecksthatdon’tinvolvepolice.

“Beingopenordisclosinganaddictionsproblemshouldnothinder[one’s]pathwaystohealth”–Communitymember

THEME:INTERGENERATIONALTRAUMAANDGRIEFParticipantssharedabouttheongoingimpactsofintergenerationaltraumafromresidentialschools,abuseandthe60sscoop.Inadditiontoculturallossandcomplexgrief,alcoholusedisorderwasidentifiedasaffectingmanycommunitymembers’families.Oneparticipantsharedabouttheirexperiencehavingaparentwithalcoholusedisorderwhichwascompoundedby[theparent’s]traumafromhavingbeeninresidentialschools,experiencingabuse,andthe60sscoop.Theparticipantnotedhowchallengingitwastotrytosupportboththeirparentandtheirotheraffectedfamilymembers.“HowcouldInotfeelbadwhenI’ddoneallIcan,andmyhandswerestilltied?”Participantsspoketotheimportanceofculturalpracticesintheircommunities’healing,andthatculturallyrelevantpracticessuchas“drummingbeforethedeathofafamilymember”wereimportant.“[Mylovedone]wantsandneedsthehelp,but[they]shutusout.”–Communitymember

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FamilieswhohaveLostaLovedOnetoSubstanceUseSeptember10,2019

*Note:duetothelownumberofparticipantsinthissessionandtopreserveconfidentiality,wehavekeptourfindingsbriefinthissection.

THEME:INTERGENERATIONALTRAUMAANDGRIEF Inthebereavedfamiliesdialogue,thestoriessharedwerefocusedonindividualstoriesandmultipledeath(s)andcomplexandlayeredgrief,opposedtodeathsprimarilycausedfromsubstanceusedisorder.Thisseemstoalludetodeep-rootedsystemicimpactsofhistoricalandongoingcolonialismandcomplextrauma.Heavygriefandlosswasevidentwithsomemembersastheysharedtheirexperiencesofdepressionandtrauma.ThesedialoguesinformedusoftheneedforsafespacesforindividualstospeakabouttheirpersonalexperiencesofgriefandlossinMission.ElderHerman’s“rhythmofstory-telling”allowedmanyparticipantstoacknowledgetheirgriefandbroughttotheforefronttheneedforculturalconnectionsandland-basedhealingtobeincorporatedintoWesternhealthcarepractices.

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ServiceProvidersSupportingFamiliesImpactedbySubstanceUse

September11,2019THEME:FAMILYENGAGEMENTANDADVOCACYTheserviceproviderdialogueconsistedofparticipantspassionateaboutraisingfamilyvoicesintheirpracticeandagreedthat“familyvoicesarelouderthanours[serviceproviders]”.Manyserviceprovidershighlightedchallengesinsubstanceusecarewithrespecttocompassionatelisteningwhenpatientsdisclosetheiraddictionproblems,willingnesstogooutoftheirwaytomeetpatientsandfamilieswheretheyareat,“Whoarewetosaywheretheyareontheirjourney?”andintegratingculturallysafepracticestoaddressIndigenousyouthwhopresentwithSUDs.

THEME:VICARIOUSTRAUMAANDBURNOUTBythesametoken,serviceprovidersalsofeltthesechallengeswereaby-productofburnoutandincessantneedtofillthegapswheregovernmentdoesn’tprovideenoughresourcesforfamiliesandpatientsaccessingsubstanceusecare.Serviceprovidersrecognizethat:

“Familiesareoverwhelmedandneededucation.Theydon’tknowwhattheirkidsaresmokingoringestinganddon’tknowhowtohavehonestconversations[withtheirchildren]”.

Onememberhighlightedthat‘’we[serviceproviders]shouldn’thavetogetcreativetomeettheneedsofpeople.Thisisachallengewhenyouhaveagoverningsystemsodistantfromtherealitiesofourpeople”andhopedthatthey“wouldnothavetofightforbreadcrumbs(funding)butinsteadthegovernmentcometouswithopportunitiestoopenmoresafespacesforcommunity”.

THEME:BARRIERSANDCHALLENGESServiceproviderssharedmajorbarrierspreventingpeoplewhousesubstancesfromaccessingrecoveryservicessuchasidentificationrequirementsfortheformerlyincarceratedandlongtraveldistancesbetweenMissionandtreatmentcentersoutsideofthelocalarea.TheynotedthatfundingmustbespentonbuildingtreatmentcenterswithinStó:lōterritorysothatyouthandPWUDarenotremovedfromtheircommunity,asseenwithresidentialschoolsandthe60’sscoop.Serviceproviderscalledforan“endtothemillennialscoop”andsharedthattheabsenceoflocaltreatmentcentersandpharmacotherapieswasespeciallydiscouragingincontrasttotheexistenceofnineprisonswithinStó:lōterritory.Participantshoped‘’toliveinacommunitywithpreventionworkersnotprobationandchild-apprehensionworkers”.OnesolutionidentifiedtoincreaseaccessibilitytoserviceswasestablishingamodelsimilartotheCommunityVoiceMailprogramcurrentlyofferedbytheLu’maNativeHousingSocietyinotherpartsoftheprovince.

OtherneedsincludedIndigenousculturalsafetytrainingandtraumainformedcareforyouthtohelpthemdevelopapositivesenseofwhotheyareandcelebratetheirclients’successes

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throughceremony.Bothserviceprovidersandfamiliescalledforculturalsafetytrainingwithinhealthcareandcriminaljusticeframeworksthatwouldaddressthelegacyofhistoricalandongoingcolonialization,whilecultivatingIndigenousWisePractices2intoexistingsubstanceuseservices.2.Thoms2007;EsquimauxandSnowball2010.

“Thisisnotasystemthatsaystopeople,‘Heyyou’rehurting,howcanwehelpyou?’”–MissionServiceProvider

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What’sWorkingWellinMission?SummaryofPositives ThefollowingisabriefsummaryofcommunityprogramsorstrengthsidentifiedasworkingwellinMissionbycommunitymembersthroughoutsessions:

• AvailabilityofNaloxonekitsandtrainingshaschangedhowpeopleviewtheirlives“noweveryoneisresponsibletosavesomeone’slife”

• OneparticipantcitedapositiveexperiencewithCreeksideDetoxinSurrey,specificallyrapidintakeandflexibilitywithappointmenttime

• BC211hadbeenahelpfulresource• Oneparticipant’schildhadbeenseenbyasubstanceusecounselorthatprovided

resources.Unfortunatelytheresourceswerenotvaluable,buttheparticipantappreciatedthattheofferhadbeenmade.

• HavingoneintakeforalltreatmentcentresthroughtheFirstNationsHealthAuthoritywashelpfulforserviceproviders.

• Serviceprovidershighlightedmanystrengthsdemonstratedbyindividualserviceproviders,including:

o Allowingfamiliestoguidetheservicesprovided-listeningratherthanspeaking;o Celebratingsuccesses;o Commitmenttoshowingupandgoingaboveandbeyond;o Culturalcompetencyandsafetywhenpracticed;o Havinghonestandtransparentconversationswithyouthandfamilies;o Patience;o Gettingridofone’sownexpectationsandunderstandingthebarriersfacedby

patients.o Listeningwithoutjudgment-“Thespirittakescareofit.Theheartandmindis

openwhenyoureallyengage,thenthehealingbegins”• Connectiontolandandceremonyworkswellforserviceprovidersworkingwith

Indigenousfamilies• Manyserviceproviderscitedvariousregularopportunitiestheyhadtoconnectwith

otherserviceproviderstotalkopenlyanddiscusschallengeswiththeirwork.• ResidentialSchoolSurvivor’sSociety

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AppendixA

‘WalkingForwardwithGoodMedicine’

(GriefandLossProgramforChildrenandYouth)

Overthepastyears,ithadbecomeincreasinglyclearthatchildrenandyouthrequiregriefandlossprogramstoaddressthemanylossesthattheyexperience. Mostunfortunately,therewerefewtargetedservicesorprogramstoaddressthisneedand,asaresult,therehadbeenanincreaseinthenumberofchildrenandyouthaccessingsubstancemisuse,mentalhealthandchildprotectionservices.Inresponse,acoregroupofpeople(fromacrossdisciplinesandorganizations)setouttodevelopanewprogram,builtupongenerally

acceptedconceptsthatmanyAboriginalcommunitiesrecognizeasholdingsignificanceandvalue.

CalledWalkingForward,thecurriculumisdividedinto12one-hoursessionstobedeliveredonaweeklyorbi-weeklybasisbytrainedfacilitators. Itisadaptabletoanyaudience(agegroup/culturaltraditions)andisbasedonthecoreculturalvaluesofwholenessandconnectedness,balance,healingandrespect. Whilethefocusoftheprogramisonlossandgrief,itiscomplementedbyteachingsonandabouttheMedicineWheelandMedicineBags.Inaddition,itisinformedbytheworkofBendtro,BrokenlegandBockern(2004)andtheCircleofCourageandthefourcorevaluesofbelonging,mastery,independenceandgenerosity.

The12onehoursessionsinclude:• Week1:MyGifts• Week2:HeadandHeart• Week3:StormyWeatherandChangingSkies• Week4:SeekingBalanceonaRoughRoad• Week5:PricklesandTears• Week6:WorriesandWishes• Week7:TheManyFacesofFamily• Week8:ThePeopleinMyLife• Week9:ReleaseandBalance• Week10:ThePowerofMemories• Week11:StrengthinWitnesses• Week12:MyWeb

Thecurriculumiscomplementedbyafacilitatorsguidewhichprovidesstep-by-stepinstructiononhowbesttofacilitatethecurriculum.ThecurriculumandfacilitatorguidescanbeaccessedbycontactingAnneCochranattheNlaka’pamuxNationTribalCouncilatac@annecochran.ca