Land-based recovery camp to offer support to people on their sobriety journey

Two women organizing a land-based camp this summer in Saskatchewan hope to offer support to people who are on a recovery journey by getting them in tune with their culture and reconnecting them to the land. 

Candace April, a mental health therapist, said what will make this camp different is that it's a follow-up for people who have gotten sober either on their own or through some sort of treatment centre. 

April said oftentimes people complete programs and once they are done, there is no more support offered to them. She said one of the main goals is to maintain relationships with the camp attendees and offer support after it is over to help them with their recovery. 

"Addiction comes from trauma or it comes from a different lifestyle; it comes from different things," said April.

"We're going to address as much as we can in one week." 

Sherry McLennan, regional director for Western Region 2 of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, said the Métis Nation office in Prince Albert got funding from the federal government for the camp.

"We want to encourage these people that are wanting to get help, to get connected to their culture, get connected to the land, be able to talk about what's holding them back," said McLennan.

The camp, set to take place Aug. 4-11 at Christopher Lake is open to First Nations and Métis people ages 18 to 29.  

April is doing the intake for the camp and said one of the key elements for the camp was that people needed to be willing participants, and had to already be on the path of sobriety.  

Alongside lands-based and cultural teachings, mental health services will be provided so participants can deal with their triggers, from trauma to grief. The camp will also have registered nurses and elders at the camp. 

McLennan said they also saw a need for a second camp related to mental health, for youth, later in the month.  

"Our kids are getting involved in drugs and alcohol at a younger age," she said.

"They need mental health support because of bullying and because of all these other things that are going on in our world." 

The adult camp would look more into triggers and helping them work through them, and the grief and loss aspect of addictions. It is a more one-on-one approach to help people get the help and support they need to stay in recovery.