Photo of Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction (Left), Chief Ouray Crowfoot, Siksika Nation (middle), Premier Danielle Smith (right)
On July 6, the Alberta Government has signed a historic memorandum of understanding with Siksika Nation to develop and build a recovery community for addictions and mental health on the Nation’s territory.
Siksika is the third First Nation in Alberta to house a recovery community along with Tsuut’ina and Enoch Cree Nation.
There are also talks with the Blood Tribe located Southeast of Lethbridge to also house a recovery community.
The Provincial Government will be investing $30-million dollars towards the facility in Siksika that will have 75 beds for people coming to the community and the facility is estimated to have approximately 300 people coming through the doors per year. People who attend the facility can stay for a year for treatment.
Chief Crowfoot of Siksika shares how building a stronger community at home in Siksika will not only help the Nation but also, help the surrounding communities in the Calgary Area.
Photo of Chief Ouray Crowfoot
The recovery communities are part of the province’s strategy to tackle the epidemic of addiction across the province. Aswell, a step towards creating an addiction and mental health care system.
Minister Dan Williams of Mental Health and Addictions shares the importance of having partnerships with Alberta First Nations when approaching Alberta’s Addiction crisis.
Photo of Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams
A total of 11 recovery communities are planned or underway in Alberta, including in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Siksika, Gunn, Blood Tribe, Enoch, Tsuut’ina, Calgary and Grande Prairie.
Construction of the Siksika recovery community is expected to begin in 2024.
Albertans struggling with opioid addiction can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) by calling 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. VODP provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait list.
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