Memorial Bench Salmon Arm

Dream:

To build a Memorial Bench beside Howling Wolf Carving to be placed at the Shuswap Family Centre, providing a place of sanctuary for people to gather to remember those lost to overdose / drug poisoning in Salmon Arm and surrounding communities.

We acknowledge that we are on the unceded (stolen) territory of the Secwepemc people.

Hello, My name is Kayla Belcher. I am an indigenous, Cree and Metis woman. I am a mother of 3 beautiful children. I was adopted into a family when I was a newborn infant. Born on Vancouver Island, I moved to a small town in the Cariboo where I was raised. I moved to Salmon Arm about 7 Years ago after I left Hazelton B.C.; where I made major changes in my life and embraced recovery. I have been in recovery since fall of 2018, and ever since I have focused on building a career in the field of human services and as a spiritual medicine healer. I am an Interior Health Substance Use Peer Advisor and am also co-facilitating a group, providing direct service to mom’s in recovery. I have struggled with substances throughout my life, which has led me to be unhoused living on couches, shelters, and bussing up and down BC which nearly costed my life.

I have not only lived the hectic, chaotic, survivalist lifestyle that substance brings, but I have also witnessed what kind of tole it takes on communities and families, including my own family and friends.

I was once a victim of the disease called addiction. I have ended up in an ambulance on oxygen then hospitalized from substances that nearly killed me. It is sad to know that statistically there are reported deaths every day from the toxic drug supply. Sadly, these are just the deaths that have been documented.

I have seen so many families, friends, co-workers and community members that have had someone they know pass away from a drug overdose/drug poisoning. In my work field and lived experience I am one of many who understand that is does not just affect a certain population or age group.

Some may associate people who use substances as people who are “living rough” on the streets and that it is not a problem they have to worry about. When in reality, many people with an addiction also have a mental health or health issue, have experienced intergenerational trauma, are dealing with a disability, or have been in an abusive relationship or experienced abuse during their up-bringing. It affects EVERYONE, EVERY AGE GROUP, EVERY COMMUNITY. It effects teenagers, seniors/elders, people with jobs, people who are in the unhoused community and victims who are “recreational users” Nation-wide. Drug overdose/poisoning does not discriminate, in fact some cases are an experimental one-time use. It effects all walks of life.

I am asking for YOUR support to raise funds to provide a place of sanctuary where those who have lost someone to drug poisoning/overdose can go to honor their loved one. So those who gather can mourn and pay their respects to the lives lost, so they can be remembered.

Throughout the peer work I have done at both the Shuswap Family Centre and Interior Health MHSU, it has become increasingly apparent that our community needs a place to gather to begin our healing. I am supported by Cathy Auld who is a Substance Use Clinician at Interior Health as well as Patti Thurston who is the Executive Director at the Shuswap Family Centre. I believe this project will help bring peace to our community. With both organizations, I have had the pleasure working with women and help them on their journeys to recovery and wellness; and I have heard the need for the community recognize the losses we are collectively experiencing.

I also work full-time in the field of harm reduction at a local shelter and see impact of the drug toxicity and deaths . It is heartbreaking to see lives being taken by this toxic drug supply in our community. I have seen countless overdoses / poisonings to at my work-place, to which I have responded to with naloxone. Unfortunately, I feel the devastation everyday because of the lives that are claimed by overdose/drug poisonings.

My sister was sadly also a victim of an overdose that almost ended in fatality. She was in a coma for a month, left unresponsive and on an airway for another month. She now is paralyzed with a brain injury. Currently living in a brain injury rehab with loss of full movement function, in a electric wheelchair and unable to walk on her own. My sister is strong, and it is a miracle to be here today. My brother is also in active addiction and has recently lost his leg, in part due to his substance use.

My Biological mother was a victim of the disease of addiction and she had sadly passed away at the age of 27 from double lung pneumonia. She was unhoused and in and out of shelters seeking wellness and recovery. I was just 5 years old when she passed. I never got meet her as she was too sick. She carried a flame of will power and love that echoed through generations and her community, including myself.

I am so happy and honored to be working on this project with the support of The Shuswap Family Center, Rise Up Indigenous Wellness, Moms Stop The Harm and our local Interior Heath Mental Health & Substance Use team // Peer Engagement & Inclusion. Together we are bringing this forward for our community, as we all see there is a dire need.

My dream will be to have the Memorial Bench, situated on the grounds of The Shuswap Family Center, where folks can purchase a plaque with their loved one’s name on it; to be affixed to the bench. The bench will be build out of cedar wood by local youth in our community through a collaboration with the Shuswap Family Centre. Cedar is one of the four sacred plants of the indigenous peoples. Cedar is known as a plant medicine used for centuries. A powerful symbol of strength and revitalization, holding its own life force spirit energy.

The Shuswap Family Center holds a deep place in my heart as this is where I came first to seek support when I moved here to Salmon Arm. It resonates as a place of hope and strength providing resources and connections that provided the foundation to my success on my journey with recovery. I had a lovely pregnancy outreach worker that gave me the opportunity of a better life and the support I needed to carry-on my journey without the stigma of my past addiction holding me back.

The Memorial Bench will be facing the beautiful Shuswap Lake, which holds deep healing in the natural waters of our community. Behind it sits incredible Mt. Ida. Where the sky meets the top of the mountain connecting us with the Heavens. Bringing Earth to source. Connecting people to spirit. To the right of the bench sits a lovely tree. Reminding us that the roots connect us all and while leaves fall as seasons change; it will regrow into something beautiful.

There will be a beautiful Cedar Howling Wolf carving, carved by a local man in our community. Cedar is one of the four sacred plants the Indigenous peoples. “The Wolf ” which represents the strength in community, as wolfs run in packs. It represents courage, strength, leadership and communal harmony as a wolfs howl.

The wolf means a lot to me as I grew up visiting my biological Nana, My biological mothers Mom. My memories hold love, her home being filled with wolf statues and decorations. Even the sweaters my Nana would wear were pictures of Wolves. She told me the story that my Mom had bought her the first Wolf statue and that she began collecting them after that. My nana told me that my Mom’s favorite animal was the wolf. I want to honor her and bring her strength to this project and to this community.

This Go fund me will pay for the "dedication plaque" as well as create a fund for the personalized plaques to be ordered (that community members can access if needed) as well as to pay the artist for the Howling Wolf Carving. This Memorial Bench will bring awareness and bind people from our communities together by offering a sacred, loving place to gather.

We will be unveiling and officially introducing the Memorial Bench on August 31st 2025, which is International Overdose Awareness Day. A ceremony will be held at The Shuswap Family Center, 681 Marine Park Drive, including indigenous smudging and drumming.

Join us while we heal our communities with one plaque at a time.

I want to thank everyone who has been there for supporting me on my recovery journey. Family and Friends. Colleen Bunbury, Patti Thurston, Cathy Auld and Jayme Pereira. Together we will end the stigma and bring hope.

Thank you Kukstemc, Kayla Belcher