National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week

Unfortunately, this will be the last post made on this page by our organization:

It is with a great deal of sadness that we must inform you that the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada has terminated all funding for the National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week effective immediately.

In an e-mail on April 23, 2012 Director, Mental Health and Addictions Division, Community Programs Directorate, FNIHB, Health Canada wrote:

“we regret to inform you that, as a result of decisions taken in Budget 2012, FNIHB National Office is unable to enter into a new contribution agreement with NCSA this year for activities relating to NAAAW. For Health Canada and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, the priority was placed on protecting front line health service delivery to First Nations and Inuit.”

It has been our distinct pleasure, at the National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week office, to serve communities in planning, supporting and celebrating this very important week each year. We have always acknowledged that the true spirit of NAAAW lives in the hearts of the people in communities and will continue to do so. Funding can be terminated but the spirit of caring and healing within the community can never be taken away.

We sincerely thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey to “Living the good life” for so many years. Our thoughts, prayers and good wishes are with each and every community member, community worker, man, woman and child who walks this path of wellness towards a better future in your community.

National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week For the 23rd year in a row First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada will celebrate the NATIONAL ABORIGINAL ADDICTIONS AWARENESS WEEK during the third week of November 2012.

Children in the Cat Lake reserve have made a desperate plea to adults in the troubled community. “We feel we don’t what to do to help you stop doing Drug,” the grade 6 students wrote in a letter put together last week with the help of a local band member.

Children of drug-ridden Ontario First Nation reserve send pleading letter to elders The children of the Cat Lake reserve in northern Ontario have made a desperate plea to adults in the drug-ridden community. "We feel we don't know what to do to help you stop doing Drug," the Grade 6 students wrote … Continue reading →

New research has led to the conclusion that gambling is an addiction and a mental health issue. “Problem Gambling in Canada,” features a new approach in that it focuses on social influences and the cost of gambling to society as well as the individual.

Problem Gambling in Canada

A heart calculator stand, at Pangula Mannamurna in Mount Gambier, hosted a number of services aimed at achieving greater life expectancy and general health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The calculator estimated that a 41-year old subject’s heart was aged equivalently to 69 years of age, the nurse attributed the discrepancy directly to lifestyle choices. The services offered confront smoking, drug and alcohol use, and promote healthy lifestyles.

'Close the Gap': indigenous urged to quit smoking When a forty-one-year-old Aboriginal man's heart age in relation to his actual age was calculated at 69, the nurse attributed it directly to his unhealthy lifestyle and chronic smoking addiction.

Ambrose Daniels was a Metis man who lived, and died, on the streets of Edmonton’s inner city. Ambrose Place, a 42-unit building on 96th street and 106th, was named in his honour. The facility was intended as supportive housing for individuals who were deemed, “hard to house,” referring to people with severe addictions and who have been turned away from other facilities.

Simons: City owes duty to consult McCauley residents about treatment centre Ambrose Daniels was a Métis man who lived, and died, homeless on the streets of Edmonton’s inner city. Known on the street as Uncle Smurf, he was an addict who died of pneumonia, aged 50. Ambrose Place was named in his honour.