Following a recent groundbreaking ceremony, construction is underway on the Indigenous treatment centre in West Creston.
The project, dubbed the Seven Nations Soaring Eagles Healing Centre, has been many years in the making, with countless hurdles along the way. What was once a $4-million project turned into $16 million nearly a decade later.
The Ktunaxa Nation Council and Lower Kootenay Band (LKB) are involved in the building of the centre, located at 1278 West Creston Road, in collaboration with the six other nations in the Interior region (Dãkelh Dené, Nlaka’pamux, Secwepemc, St’át’imc, Syilx and Tŝilhqot'in).
“This project has been years in the making and has required extensive collaboration and perseverance to overcome numerous challenges, including COVID-19, rising material costs, red tape with government — you name it. We've had one step forward, three steps back,” said Debbie Whitehead, Ktunaxa Nation Council.
At the groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 17, Nasukin Jason Louie of LKB (Yaqan Nukiy) echoed the sentiment of the long journey to get here.
Back in the 1970s, Mary Basil started a sobriety movement that rippled through the community.
“For years, and I'm talking many years, it was just her and another gentleman that would have an AA meeting. And they used to say all it takes is two,” said Louie. “And then one day, three people walked in, and then four.”
Her legacy and fighting spirit has served as inspiration for a vision of healthier, stronger Ktunaxa citizens.
“It is her legacy and the belief in this dream that helped make this project a reality,” said Louie. “The change starts today. The healing starts today.”
Progress on the project was a team effort. Louie thanked the “unsung heroes” who have been there from the beginning, including Whitehead, Curtis Wullum, Heather Suttie, and Ken White.
“Most people would have given up, but we are not most people,” said Louie. “We believed in this dream, and today, we're making it a reality. The sun is shining. I can feel the warmth and the presence of our ancestors. I believe that they're happy with what we're doing.”
Before the shovels hit the soil, he said it was only fitting to share a moment of silence to remember those lost to addiction, before the centre could be built.
“I must say that it is bittersweet because, in these nine years, we have lost many, many young people to alcohol and overdose.”
In B.C., Indigenous people are almost six times more likely to die from illicit-drug poisoning.
Seven Nations Soaring Eagles Healing Centre aims to address the ongoing cycle of trauma and addiction created by the impacts of colonization.
“People will come from all over this province to seek a second chance, to get them on the right road, the red road to change their lives,” said Louie. “We know that we can’t make anyone come to treatment, but it gives us peace of mind to know that we can offer it.”
Treatment will involve culturally-informed care rooted in Indigenous knowledge to support a life centred on wellness.
Once open, the site will include four separate dwellings with 16 beds, a spirit walk through the nearby trees, and a workshop for art, woodworking, and mechanics. The main centre will house administration, gathering spaces, wellness services, a fitness room, and a kitchen and dining area.
The design of the building itself incorporates the shape of an eagle and emphasizes connections to nature. The importance of the bird has transcended more than just the name. When problems arose while drilling a well on site, Louie visited to perform a ceremonial smudging. Later that day, the water flow increased and two eagles were seen flying overhead.
“We recognize that providing substance use and addiction support within a cultural context is critical to providing holistic wellness and recovery,” said Greg Shea, vice president of health infrastructure, FNHA. “The impacts of colonialism continue to disproportionately impact Indigenous people in British Columbia, especially in healthcare.”
Funding is supported through a Tripartite Funding Partnership between the First Nations Health Council and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2018, a provide-wide project and funding commitment was established to build two new and revitalize six existing Indigenous-led treatment centres, the first of which opened in the Cowichan Valley in January of this year.
Construction on Seven Nations Soaring Eagles Healing Centre is expected to be completed by spring 2026.
