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.