The director of Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres addressed the media to discuss the financial obstacles leading to the closure of the addiction facility’s day program. Brad Cardinal, Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres’ executive director, emphasized the program’s cultural and spiritual significance during the news briefing.
Situated in St. Albert, Alta., the day program catered to Indigenous individuals in the Edmonton vicinity with culturally rooted care. The recent shutdown of the program was attributed to the lack of sustained provincial funding, as indicated in a social media post by Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres.
The organization cited the necessity to prioritize direct services, such as client support, recovery assistance, and ceremonial participation, due to limited resources. Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction responded to inquiries, highlighting previous emergency funding reallocation following a facility fire and ongoing financial support for Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres.
Cardinal expressed disappointment over discontinuing the program, emphasizing its unique role in the organization’s addiction treatment services. He stressed the program’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of urban Indigenous populations, offering flexibility to individuals with parental responsibilities or full-time jobs.
To sustain the day program, Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres requires approximately $600,000, with over 140 individuals on the waitlist at closure. Concerned about gaps in support, program recipient Anne Green joined Cardinal at the conference, urging government recognition of the program’s importance for diverse individuals’ timely assistance.
Cardinal disclosed efforts to engage with First Nations chiefs and government departments for solutions. Despite initial funding denials, Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres remains resolute in advocating for continued support to address critical community needs.
