LETHBRIDGE – Nearly three years after the facility burned to the ground, the Blood Tribe Youth Wellness Centre is back open and it comes with new programs and new beginnings.
The centre is designed to house eight First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are experiencing difficulties that stem from addiction and drug abuse.
Unlike other treatment facilities in the area, the centre will use holistic treatment methods, combined with traditional customs and practices.
Board member for the Kainaiwa Children Services Corporation Kyla Crow said it was important to incorporate their traditions while helping the youth recover from their addictions.
“It’s important to be able to implement our culture into the program because a lot of them are lost, and are dealing with lost identity,” Crow said.
Board members also connected with youth ahead of planning specific program details to make sure they would be beneficial to the clients.
“We are actually asking the kids what they would like to see, and if that will assist them, rather than just throwing it at them,” Blood Tribe Councillor Lance Tailfeather said. “This way we found an opportunity to get some feedback so that these are the types of programs the kids want to engage in.”
The centre has eight private bedrooms and bathrooms, four offices, a boardroom, living area and a ceremony room. It has also be revamped to make it completely accessible. The sessions will not be coed; they will rotate between male and female youth.
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