An event offering cultural and conventional supports for people living in and affected by addiction and homelessness is coming to Williams Lake on Thursday, June 19.
Calling Our People Home is a grassroots movement out of Bonaparte First Nation started by Danny Kennedy, a homelessness worker for the band.
"I was working on the streets in Kamloops trying to find members of our community and try to offer them different options," he told the Tribune. "I was approached by a young Native woman that was into prostitution and she tried to sell herself. It nearly broke my heart."
On his way home, Kennedy said he was praying and crying about it, wondering what he could do to help his people.
"She probably had somebody somewhere that really wanted her to come home," he recalled. "The idea of calling people home came out of that."
For two years the event was held in Kamloops but after the team at Bonaparte had Williams Lake's name put forward, they decided to expand the program north into Williams Lake.
Angela Clark, the band's family and community engagement coordinator with more than 20 years of experience working with mental health and additions, said they have already received lots of support for the event.
Clark and Kennedy will bring a cooler truck filled with fresh fruits, vegetables from Desert Hills and proteins that people can 'just grab' and put in bags they will be supplying.
"Our nation is doing at least 100 hygiene kits if not more," she said. "We've had so much support from the bands, and health authorities and support organizations that will also bring basic necessities for quality of life. We are asking everyone that does participate to bring anything they can give away that will help people who don't have access to those resources on a regular basis."
Clark said they are compelled to bring resources to Williams Lake to help in any way they can.
The event is designed help end the stigma around this population and help instill a sense of compassion in communities where those that struggle reside.
It will take place in Boitanio Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be smudging, drumming, singing, prayer, ceremony, detox and treatment options, harm reduction and care packages.
"When Danny started it was geared towards bringing Indigenous people back, obviously to their band so they can be supported, but it's opened up since then," Clark said. "It's open to everybody whether you are Indigenous or not. We are targeting people who are suffering in the toxic drug crisis right now and we support and let them know what resources are available in their area."
She referred to the last BC Housing survey done in Williams Lake, where of the 77 people without homes that were interviewed, there were 83 per cent who identified as First Nations. Of those 83 per cent, 72 per cent identified as being impacted by residential school trauma.
"It's significant and that is one of the lenses we want to shine on this. There is a lot of stigma around these populations that are suffering and it's usually because there's not enough education around what these people are living with and what they are dealing with."
Lack of housing, cost of living, trauma and impact on community are all things they focus on, she added.
"We also want to bring awareness and bring this topic into the light so we are inviting the general public to come and hear some stories of lived experience from people who are now on the red road living a sober life after being in the toxic drug crisis."
