Gilakas'la. Our land-based healing.... We have an island-wide mandate. We go directly into communities and ask communities for different layers of supports. Sometimes the individuals we're bringing are connected to that community because of the work we've already done with them. We go as far as Kwakwaka'wakw territory. Then there's Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish. We do serve Métis and Inuit, and we make sure that we try to have individuals who can come in to support us directly in some of those teachings, protocols and ceremony.
One thing that I know is important, which we have recently added to our land-based healing, is making sure we also have a medical team that comes with us, so we're using the dual model of health as well. When we are taking an individual who still needs to use opioids or still needs to have a pour through a managed alcohol program, we are taking a medical team with us to support that individual so that the individual can be successful in the camp. It's a non-judgmental space, and we make sure we're looking at all of the risk factors and the measures but also connecting them to individuals who can support them in that ceremony and that space. I can tell you that the beautiful thing I've been able to see is that subtlety in the urgency of having that supply and getting out onto the land and saying, “I don't need it right now. I'll let you know when I need it. I'm going to enjoy this moment,” so having their own breakthroughs.
When we look at culture, when we look at tradition and ceremony, it is about knowing distinctly where the individuals are from. I could tell you about some of the systems that aren't in place and that we do need to invest in, whether that's data sovereignty discussions or whatever it may be. We as a collective are pulling in that knowledge so we can say directly how we're supporting the indigenous population that needs these services.
The other piece in this is traditional medicine and having access. In an urban setting, that's done pretty much through trade, when you're bringing traditional medicine in and allowing them access to something that's familiar, such as smells. We all have that innate memory of the smell of cinnamon or of our mother's or grandmother's bread, and sometimes that's exactly what medicine brings to us when we're able to say, “I need an alternative.”
Thank you.