Tla’amin Nation members will get specialized support through new homes.
On Friday, the Nation officially opened teh-heh-thot, meaning to warm oneself by the fire, a new complex care housing program aimed at providing support to those facing challenges with mental health and substance use.
The program includes four new homes, which the Nation says are the first to be purpose-built for members needing primary care, support for mental health and addictions, peer programming, and culturally based healing.
The opening of these homes started with an ancestral food burning ceremony to honour those lost to addiction and mental health challenges.
Community Services Housepost Brandon Louie says families have suffered many sudden losses.
“Taking care of our relations in the spiritual realm brings healing, both in their world and in ours,” said Louie.
“Our ceremony today starts this new program off on the right foot.”
After the burning, nation members performed cedar brushing before opening the homes.
Minister of Health Josie Osborne says through this opening, they hope it provides an opportunity to give people the care, stable housing, and healing needed.
The homes are now located at the village of tišosəm.
