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HEALING ON THE LAND
Charles J. Andrew
Youth Treatment
Centre
CJAY:
opened in 2000 in response to a crisis of
gas-sniffing and suicides among Innu
youth
has served over
350 Innu, Inuit and
First Nations youth
from across
Canada
CJAY’s mission:
to empower Aboriginal youth and
families by providing a holistic healing
treatment program
to strengthen and
renew Aboriginal
culture, practices,
spiritual beliefs
and values.
CJAY fosters the values of:
respect
trust
generosity and
sharing
acceptance
cooperation and
family bonding
CJAY works to:
build on the strengths of the youth
and families
reduce risk factors
help youth and
families make
healthy changes
and life choices
CJAY learning and evolving
accredited since 2002 with well-trained
staff
in 2011 piloted first ever in-depth land-
based program (50% held on land)
in 2013 held a
successful 6-weeks
family program
Why families and on the land?
2009 regional needs assessment
showed a need for more services for
families
NNADAP Renewal
Report called for
family healing and
parenting programs
NNADAP Renewal Report:
Healthy families provide children with a home
where they feel loved, nurtured, safe, and
connected to their spirit, community, and
culture. Within First Nations families, children
can have many caregivers apart from parents.
First Nations identity comes from a healthy
family, community as well as the land and clan
systems. These supports and connections
promote a strong identity and pride in culture,
which can prevent or delay substance use and
mental health problems.
Research shows that:
reclaiming and nurturing culture is healing
traditional activities such as hunting integrate
spiritual beliefs, values, and family and community
relationships
culture nurtures self-esteem,
provides a sense of meaning
and purpose in life, staves off
self-destructive feelings
a cultural and family-based
approach are seen as best practices
(Mayfield et al, 1984; Kirmayer et al, 2003; Leslie et al, 2001;
Mussell, 2005; Blackstock et al, 2007; Bamblett et al, 2007; Harckham, 2002)
Where do we go from here?
In Sept 2014 CJAY will offer a 6-weeks
live-in family healing program
CJAY’s vision will stay the same
program adapted to
each family’s needs
and may extend to 10
weeks
Family program participants:
2 to 3 families with a maximum of 10
participants
Staffing:
Executive Director
Executive Assistant
Clinical Program Manager
Treatment Facilitator/Outreach Coordinator
Youth and Family Case Manager
Land-based Coordinator
Cultural Advisor
Counsellors
Youth & Family Workers
Cooks
Maintenance Worker/Driver
CJAY governance:
A Board of Directors representing:
Sheshatshiu and Natuashish Innu
Nunatsiavut
The Atlantic
Policy Congress
Organizational chart
CJAY partners:
Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation Social Health
Department
Mushuau Innu Health Commission
Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social
Development
Atlantic Policy Congress
Child Youth and Family
Services
Mapping the Way
Project
Family program provides:
a safe and trusting space to heal 24/7
a focus on mind, body, spirit and heart
a multi-disciplinary approach
50% clinical residential
program and 50%
cultural program on
the land
Family program includes:
detoxing, with sweat lodge, traditional
medicines and elder care
individual and family
assessments and
counseling
professional referrals
and consultations
after care community and
land-based support planNavarana Igloliorte
Family program addresses:
impacts of intergenerational trauma from
colonization, history, residential schools,
child welfare, etc.
alcohol and substance
abuse, including impacts
on family
sexual, physical and
emotional abuse
dual disorders
Communication and reconnecting:
family and other relationships
values and virtues
parenting skills, including talking, bonding
and discipline
managing emotions
(e.g. grief & anger)
stress and coping
skills
Strengthening the family:
health and wellness
life skills such as budgeting, shopping and
cooking healthy foods
healthy leisure and recreation
employment and
education needs
FASD and healthy pregnant
moms
Recovery through culture
Land-based programming:
draws on Innu, Inuit and First Nations natural
connection with the land
develops self-esteem and a strong Aboriginal
identity
provides a safe, caring and
comfortable environment
to heal
teaches responsibility,
traditional values and
beliefs
Land program also:
teaches self-sufficiency and survival skills
explores opportunities to live well as an
Aboriginal person
calms families, especially anxious children
like those with ADHD
nurtures a sense
of belonging and
purpose in life
Skills learned in land program:
hunting and fishing
canoeing and snowmobiling
hiking and snowshoeing
berry-picking
preparing traditional
and healthy foods
pitching a tent and breaking
camp
traditional crafts
building a lean-to
Land-based program includes:
storytelling and sharing circles
spiritual rituals such as sweats and Kudlik
lighting
families sharing their
own cultures
learning respect for the
land, animals, fish, birds
and plants
Participants say land program is:
the highlight of their CJAY experience
healing
peaceful
calming
a reprieve from
community
distractions
Participant quote:
“In the country it was better. They showed
us how to be spiritual. Sometimes we went
fishing. At night we played games. We
talked, bonded, laughed. Everyone really
connected. The staff would take us for
really good long walks,
one-on-one. There’s
always friendliness in the
country.”
Partner quote:
“Culture and the land program are seen as a best
practice…The kids connect with the land and
culture, with their spirit. It’s peaceful. Through talk
— gently, naturally — the kids learn, like through
storytelling. They learn about how culture can help
them with their long-term
healing, how it relates to
their strengths and
resilience.”
Other programming at the Centre
swimming and family beach days
walks
skating
bowling
cross-country skiing
church services
family gym night
library visit
shopping
Schooling at the Centre:
a teacher works with children during the
school year
classes are offered in the summer by CJAY
workers and invited
guests.
School prevention program
early intervention education program with
local schools
focus on gas-sniffing
starting in kindergarten
includes day counselling
and treatment for youth and
families
Referrals to CJAY can be made by:
social worker, doctor or nurse
parents, grandparents or other family members
priest, minister, chaplin or spiritual leader
teacher or principal
First Nations constable or police
local Nunatsiavut
representative
Or you can refer yourself
and decide to come on
your own.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is very important.
Information about the youth and family is not
shared with anyone outside the treatment
program, except when:
someone could cause
harm to him/herself or to
others
by law, it must be
reported to the
authorities
We have a nice cabin.
CJAY needs you.
CJAY needs the support of the community through:
referring youth and families who need help
supporting youth and families from other communities
and cultures to come to CJAY
working for CJAY as staff
volunteering for our board
Together we can help youth and
families struggling with substance
abuse!
Thank you
CJAY would like to thank
Navarana Igloriorte,
Paula McLean-Sheppard,
Alex Andrew and Iris Allen
for the use of
their beautiful photos
in this presentation.
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