The Executive Director of a national addictions organization says First Nations culture that was disrupted by colonization and oppression can be used to regain Aboriginal identity for those struggling with addictions.
Carol Hopkins with the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation says a new addictions framework –Honouring our Strengths–recommends culture to promote health and a source of understanding towards identity.
“And so restoring a strong sense of pride in who we are as First Nations people lends itself then to building an awareness that the issues we face in our community are as a result of colonization and oppression and not just because we’re First Nations people.”
Hopkins says she attended the Issues of Substance 2011 conference last week in Vancouver that looked at innovative ways to tackle substance abuse in First Nation communities.