NAN calls for women's addiction treatment facility

Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin of Nishnawbe Aski Nation said a women’s addiction treatment facility is badly needed.
He made the comments during Ka-Na-Chi-Hih’s 11th annual SAAFE (solvent abuse awareness for everyone) walk.
“We need facilities like this (for women) – this is only for men,” Metatawabin said Sept. 15 after completing the SAAFE Walk at the Ka-Na-Chi-Hih Specialized Solvent Abuse Treatment Centre in Thunder Bay.
“We don’t have a facility for our sisters, and I think that is a shame that we haven’t done anything for our sisters,” he said. “They need help as well.”
Metatawabin was impressed with Ka-Na-Chi-Hih’s achievements, noting the treatment centre has a waiting list of people who want to enter treatment.
“And that is only taking into consideration the men – not even our women’s population,” Metatawabin said. “So that is something we need to look at.”
Metatawabin was pleased to see the large turnout at the SAAFE Walk, noting that most people are affected by solvent, drug or alcohol abuse in some way.
“I’m sure we’re all touched by this, every community, probably every family,” he said. “It impacts all of us.”
Metatawabin had earlier called for the governments of Canada and Ontario to recognize and take action on the rapidly increasing rates of prescription drug abuse in NAN communities at the Sept. 1 conclusion of Lyle Fox’s Penasi Walk to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse.
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug’s Laura Calmwind and Aroland’s John Gagnon were among those who participated in the SAAFE Walk.
“Hopefully with this walk we can generate awareness of how devastating solvent abuse is on our young people,” said Calmwind, who was previously a board member with Ka-Na-Chi-Hih. “The more we create awareness, the more we can deal with the problem and root out the causes that’s (impacting) our young people now.”
Calmwind said her own family has been affected by prescription drug abuse.
“Hopefully, when we work together and address the problems and issues, we can get our young people healthy again,” she said.
Gagnon took part in the SAAFE Walk to remember a family who was affected by alcohol abuse when the parents died from drinking antifreeze.
“That’s why I’m here today, to walk for that tragedy,” Gagnon said. “And to raise awareness for the solvent abuse. It’s real and it’s very scary.”
This year’s SAAFE Walk featured an afternoon play and workshop and an evening comedy show by Aboriginal comedian Don Burnstick. Ka-Na-Chi-Hih has been holding the SAAFE Walk since 1999.
“The play talks about addictions for our people,” Burnstick said. “The addiction is not just about the person; it’s also about the family and the community. When one person is sick, it affects everybody.”
Burnstick developed and performed the play from his own life experiences as a youth many years ago, before he established the comedy shows he is known for today.