Participants say recovery camps make an impact
By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 11, 2023.
The Kii Maa Pii Pii Tsin deep healing recovery camps at Red Crow Park in Standoff have been touching and helping individuals living on the street to overcome their addiction.Eldon Chief Calf, a past recovery camp participant, shared his experience Wednesday with the camp last year and the help he received.
“I’ve been sober for a while; this camp really helped me. I came last year, but then I kind of have had my ups and downs again. I want to be sober. I know that the camp helped me last time,” said Chief Calf.
Casey Vielle is another past participant of the recovery camps; he voiced the impact the recovery camp had on him and how it helped him to get in touch with his Blackfoot roots.
“This camp helped me through my recovery. I was in treatment, and then I went through recovery, and now I’m here with Alvin Mills to help him out with his camp… It helps me get into my roots and my culture. And we’re going to be doing a couple of sweats,” said Vielle.
Chief Calf talked about the meetings the Kii Maa Pii Pii Tsin deep healing recovery camps have to help participant know they are not alone.
“We had meetings, we had participants speak on how they helped them on their feelings and help them open up more and not to feel shy or not feel like they’re all alone because they’re not alone. People are out there to help them with what their struggling addiction.
We’re not pushing people away. We just want to help people so they can feel better about themselves, and me I don’t feel better about myself. But sometimes I need outside support like people from outside to help me support, understand better.”
Vielle said he has been sober now for three years and said he feels good giving back to the community.
“This makes me feel better, makes me feel a sense that I’m helping out in the community that I’m helping out and my well-being. I’m helping out my sobriety, and I’m giving back to the people.”
Chief Calf wants people struggling with an addiction to know they are not alone and there is care for them.
“I hope people make use of this understanding that they’re not alone with their addiction. People are out there to help them. Don’t feel alone because you’re not alone. People who are wondering. People care, and they want to help you.”
Chief Calf emphasized the care others have for them, and talked about how the recovery camp helps them to cope with their feelings through the ups and downs.
“People want to help them get on their feet and help them move on with their life. People with family, too, are lonely. People want to help them. Struggling people, all people have ups and downs, but people can change. As I think about it, this group, it brings people to understand more of themselves and to help them cope with what they’re feeling or what they’re doing.”
Chief Calf shared the concern Alvin Mills, the founder of Kii Maa Pii Pii Tsin deep healing recovery camps, has and his purpose in helping Indigenous people to overcome their addictions.
“He’s pretty nice, understanding. He wants to help people recover, you know, help them with their, like I said, they’re not alone. Like people want to people care for you. They want to help you get off that bad stuff you’re doing.” 2
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