On March 13 and 14 the Tri-Reserve Health symposium was held at the OCC Hall in Kamsack.
A collaborative effort of the Cote, Keeseekoose and The Key First Nations (FN), the two-day event included presentations, meals and entertainment by the James Chartrand Band.
At the symposium, the Chiefs and councils of the three FNs made a commitment to their FN communities to stand up against the battle of drugs in the tri-reserve area.
With approximately 100 people in attendance the two-day Health Symposium was said to be a success.
The event was hosted by the New Beginnings Outreach Center in Kamsack said Jamie Desjarlais, an organizer. Other organizers included Marion Whitehawk of Cote FN, Enola Friday and Gladys Quewezance.
Information was presented by the Yorkton Tribal Council (YTC) Mental Health and Wellness, YTC Health and Social Development, National Native Alcohol and Drug Addiction Program (NNADAP), Cote FN Health, Keeseekoose FN Health, and Jordan’s Principle.
Speakers included: Dr. Raj Hathiramani, executive director of Yellow Quill Child and Family Prevention Services; Melanie Knutson, addictions worker with YTC Health and Social Development; Stella Pelly; Desjarlais, and Ted Quewezance, FSIN (Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations) senator.
A meeting of the members of the Tri-Reserve group was to be held on March 25 at the Cote Health Centre to follow up on the symposium, firm up the objective and create a work plan to move forward, Quewezance said.
