The groundbreaking ceremony was held June 17 along Highway 2. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Health Services

‘It has become a reality’: Wellness, treatment and recovery centre construction begins

Jun 17, 2020 | 5:33 PM

It was a momentous day for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and the region, as a groundbreaking ceremony marked construction of a long sought-after treatment facility.

Flanked by special invited guests such as Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice-Chief David Pratt, local band councillors and others, LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson announced a dream was officially becoming a reality. She told those in attendance a 24-bed, in-patient and out-patient wellness, treatment and recovery centre would be completed by the end of 2021.

“It took on a life of its own, and we’re really blessed and thankful for all the people who we have been coming in contact with and the willingness to support this project,” she said. “I want to thank all the community members from our youth to our elders for providing input through many community consultations into our community vision.”

The facility will be nearly 20,000-square-feet and was made possible through an $11.6 million commitment from the federal government, $2.5 million from the provincial government and $2 million from the band itself. Aside from the main complex located along Highway 2 on reserve land near the Jeannie Bird Clinic, the other five LLRIB communities will also have mini healing lodges constructed to provide aftercare.

Patients at the centre will live on-site for six to eight months and treatment will incorporate both western therapies and Woodland Cree culturally relevant programming. Cook-Searson also mentioned all residents can look forward to the opportunities a project of such size will bring.

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“This was a dream and it has become a reality, and it’s something we have been working towards for years,” she said.

This is a rendering of what the facility will look like. (submitted photo/Lac La Ronge Indian Band)

La Ronge Mayor Ron Woytowich also attended the ceremony and he talked about how happy he was to see the project commence. With medical services lacking in northern Saskatchewan, he said northerners are tired of travelling to larger centres in the south to seek treatment.

“This is a great day for this whole area, not only for La Ronge, Air Ronge and the immediate reserve,” Woytowich said. “There is nothing better than providing a centre with any kind of treatment or service to the people who are living here.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno