By Bryan Eneas

Bringing the medicine back to communities

Dec 7, 2016 | 5:41 AM

Two days of discussing a taboo subject have concluded; now it’s time to implement and discuss strategies to prevent suicide in Indigenous communities.

People from across Saskatchewan gathered at Plaza 88, Dec. 5 and 6, to listen to Dr. Darien Thira speak about suicide prevention. Now, they will return to their communities to begin to apply what they’ve learned during their stay in Prince Albert.

Annie Joseyounen, Hatchet Lake’s health director called the event an eye opener.

“This conference that I attended, it gives me a different view at the issues we do have at home. When I do get home, I will share the information and help them to better understand that there is all these solutions or issues that we do have,” Joseyounen said. “But we can work with the people that have the issues.”

Joseyounen said the community of Hatchet Lake has a variety of mental health services in place despite its remote location over 700 km north of Prince Albert. Her biggest takeaway was the interconnectivity of her small village.  

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“…[I learned] it’s all one community and everyone can play a part in it,” Joseyounen said. “If we look at the problems as solutions to underlying issues it would be easier to deal with; more do-able.”

Priscilla Joseph, an Elder originally from Big River First Nation who now lives in Prince Albert, also attended the gathering. She said after her 53 years of work, she has truly learned something new.

“I find that I have attended many, many workshops and training and it’s always blowing the word suicide upfront and how to learn the warning signs,” Joseph said. “This one spoke about life,”

She said people have difficulty saying the word ‘suicide’ and even discussing the topic. For Joseph, the answer is hope.

“When you can provide the opportunity to people of all ages, of the whole human family that life is valuable and there is resources and you provide love and support for that person, [that] is just the answer,” Joseph said. “Life is so valuable.”

She said the teachings of the Elders have always been important in the First Nations family dynamic. Because of residential schools, their teachings have been lost. Joseph said its important these links be reconnected. She said she hoped to be a role model for her family and the people she met on a daily basis.

Stephanie Constant, 27, and a councillor from the James Smith Cree Nation, was able to attend the medicine gathering.

“We did programs for the youth before, but we never really got them involved or gave them roles and stuff like that,” Constant said. “Now, with this training we just did here, we know what to do. Give them roles, get them involved in the community.”

Constant said when she ran for council in January of 2016, she ran for the youth of the Cree Nation. A youth council was set up, and young people cast their ballots for a youth chief and council. There is a youth centre in James Smith, and a travel club has also been implemented.

“We heard them saying, when you take them on a trip it only last two weeks, in [terms of] suicide prevention,” Constant said. “Now we know how to make it last longer, [by] getting them involved in the community.”

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas