Indigenous Trauma & Addiction treatment

We are asking our communities to support us in funding treatment at a residential trauma and addiction centre in the traditional Coast Salish territory of someone we love very dearly. He is ready to begin healing a lifetime of trauma and addiction, but we need to help him get started; for privacy reasons, we are keeping his and his support systems' identification anonymous.

Some of those reading this may be aware of the funded treatment centres in BC.​​ These are a resource, but after extensive research into our options, there are very vital reasons that they are not his best chance at recovery. The treatment centre that we are admitting him to can take him right away, is in his traditional territory and close to his community and family, offers detox support, has an Elder known to their family on staff, and is known by those in this field to be the very best at addressing the root cause of addiction, rather than just being a sobering site.

In the past month, our advocacy has not been enough. We have not been able to secure adequate funding to send him to the treatment he needs from First Nations Health Authority, Island Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, the Ministry, or any other leads (grants, sponsorships, etc). We have thoroughly exhausted the options but nothing is lining up in his favour. The bureaucracy of the process has been a nightmare, and the system is not made to support young Indigenous folks looking for more than a band-aid fix.

We are unable to privately fund his entire stay as these programs are very expensive. Now we are in a life threatening situation, leading us to reach out to community for financial support. This is not easy for us to do.

He is a resilient, charming, motivated young man who is ready to begin healing a lifetime of trauma, but he needs help to do so. We, the recipients' loved ones, want to share our gratitude for the opportunity to share his story with you and for your consideration.

Huy ch q'u

Klecko-Klecko

Thank you