b'ADDICTIONS SUPPORTTheir framework, Honouring Our Strengths: A Renewed Framework to Address Substance Use Issues Among First Nations People in Canada, was created through a four-year process that relied on engagement from every First Nations region across Canada in deciding their strengths and gaps related to substance use, as well as examining the intersec-tions between mental health and substance use. Despite an initial pushback on the concept of harm reductiondue to the misinterpretation that harm reduction measures are supporting continued addictionHopkins notes that there is now a growing understanding of what harm reduction really means. Communities have done a lot with the resources that they have available to shift the thinking in that [regard] and help communities, families and individuals see that investment, whether its [the] creation of a new strategy or workforce, can be very meaningful in saving lives. This, Hopkins says, is ultimately based on the premise The first phase of the Gwekwaadziwin Miikan program is land-based treatment, meant to get participantsthat everybody has the right to health. The people that are outside of the facility. using substances typically are marginalized in our community because often times theyre committing crimes of survival, addiction from the foundation of culture and Indigenousshe points out. However, she adds that some First Nations knowledge. We talk about COVID-19 as a public healthcommunities and their health prescribers have invested in crisis, an emergency, and there are more people dying froma more trauma-informed approach, rather than blaming or drug poisoning than there are people dying from COVID-19,stigmatizing people for their opioid dependency. With that Hopkins says. Every day we see the numbers of Canadiandependency there is most likely the experience of trauma people who have contracted COVID-19 and died or got well.or intergenerational trauma, and so that means a different Meanwhile, the population that is dying from drug poisoningapproach for both the community, the individuals and the gets no attention.families that surround them, Hopkins explains. PROUD TO PARTNER WITH ONTARIOSJOIN THE GARDEWINE TEAM!FIRST NATIONSCompany Drivers and Owner Operators Wanted!COMMUNITIES AMBIENTDriving Opportunities include: Linehaul, Deck, Bulk, Regional, City, ParcelBULK Canada Runs OnlyProfit Sharing COLD CHAIN Competitive RatesAnd moreCOURIER DECK DEDICATEDVisit our website tofind all current career GENERALopportunitiesFREIGHT www.gardewine.comLOGISTICS Benefits MOVING &STORAGE Pension WAREHOUSING RRSP Profit Sharing SERVING Stock ShareCOMMUNITIES FOR OVERPurchase Plan65 YEARS Educational 1312 Hurontario Street,SupportMississauga, Ontario ManagementCertificate L5G 3H3Program www.gardewine.com 1.800.282.800032l I ssue1 2021C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'