Image Credit: Carrier Sekani Family Services
Healing facility

Indigenous healing facility moving forward at Tachick Lake

Jul 8, 2021 | 9:33 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) says an essential Indigenous healing facility on Tachick Lake will be moving forward.

CSFS says the decision was made after ongoing dialogue with the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) and the Province of B.C. In a news release , CSFS says the ALC granted them an exemption for the facility for non-farm use which will be located within traditional Saik’uz territory.

“This location was chosen after years of due diligence and feasibility studies commissioned by CSFS to identify potential sites for a health and treatment centre to serve local Indigenous people. This facility, currently planned to have 60 beds, will form a much-needed service-delivery model tailored to the unique needs of local Indigenous people that is medically-based and grounded in traditional Carrier and Sekani healing and wellness model,” says CSFS.

CSFS says planning for the facility was stymied earlier this year by a decision made by the ALC North Panel that denied an application submitted by CSFS for exemption from the ALR or non-farm use.

“We are very happy with the ALC Decision to allow ‘non-farm use’ of the property for operations of the Carrier Sekani Family Services Addiction Recovery Program in the new facility, and will continue to serve future generations,” said Corrina Leween, Carrier Sekani Family Services Board President and Chief of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation. “The ALC decision allows Carrier Sekani Family Services to move forward in realizing our long-term goals that include healing and treatment that will help address the ongoing opioid and mental health crises that are disproportionately affecting Indigenous people.”

CSFS says the current Addiction Recovery Program (ARP) serves both male and female individuals and provides a range of services including grief and loss, trauma, gambling and opioid replacement therapy.

Next steps for this project will include fundraising for the remaining funds needed to begin construction of the facility and then moving to the Design Phase of the construction process. CSFS serves a predominantly Indigenous clientele from local Carrier and Sekani Nations. This project is crucial to removing barriers to health services and making progress toward fundamental objectives of improved health and wellbeing for Indigenous peoples.