Groundbreaking of Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre
Groundbreaking of Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre: Toward Healing and Wellness
nasuʔkin Jason Louie, Jared Basil, (yaqan nuʔkiy); Diane Whitehead, (Interior Health); Mary McCullough, (FNHA); Robin Louie (yaqan nuʔkiy); Rosemary Phillips, (Ktunaxa Nation Council); Constable Ryan Smith, (RCMP) at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Seven Nations Soaring Eagles Treatment Centre on September 17, 2024.
Breaking ground: Ken White, Rhonda Basil and Jared Basil (yaqan nuʔkiy); Debbie Whitehead, (Ktunaxa Nation Council); Mary McCullough, (FNHA); Matt Kenyon (Greyback Construction); Greg Shea, (FNHA).
September 18, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
yaqan nuʔkiy (Creston, B.C.):
A significant milestone was reached this week with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre, a culturally rooted facility designed to help Indigenous communities, and the broader region, heal from the impacts of addiction and trauma.
The treatment centre, located in a peaceful spot in the Creston Valley owned by Lower Kootenay Band, is the result of collaboration between the Ktunaxa Nation, yaqan nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay Band), the First Nations Health Authority, and Indigenous Services Canada, among other partners.
The project has faced numerous challenges, including delays caused by COVID-19 and rising material costs, but is now on track for opening in 2026. It will offer trauma-informed programs and services that integrate Ktunaxa culture, traditions, and land-based teachings to support holistic healing.
“This project has been years in the making, and we couldn’t be more relieved to have finally broken ground,” said Debbie Whitehead, Special Advisor, Ktunaxa Nation Council. “The design of this centre is rooted in healing, not just through the programs and curriculum, but also in the building itself. We’re not only creating a treatment facility, we’re creating a space where people can heal from the deep wounds of colonization and trauma. This is about supporting families and future generations.”
Jason Louie, nasuʔkin (Chief) of the Lower Kootenay Band, emphasized the personal and community impact of the centre. “This was a team effort—almost a decade to get here. Most people would have given up, but we are not most people. We believed in this dream. It’s bittersweet because, over these nine years, we have lost many young people to alcohol and overdose. We honour their memory today as we move forward with this project.”
As British Columbia continues to grapple with the toxic drug crisis, Indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected. Since the Province declared a public health emergency in 2016, over 12,000 people have died from drug overdoses, with First Nations individuals dying at a rate nearly six times higher than other residents. The crisis has placed a spotlight on the urgent need for culturally appropriate treatment options.
Mary McCullough, Executive Director for the Interior Region of the First Nations Health Authority, shared her reflections on the importance of culturally rooted care. “This treatment centre promotes healing through traditional approaches that reconnect individuals to their culture, which is vital for addressing the complex trauma driving substance use. The legacy of the late Mary Basil, who inspired this project, reminds us that healing is a journey, and this centre is a step in the right direction.”
Jared Basil, a member of the Lower Kootenay Band and grandson of the late Mary Basil, highlighted the generational impact of the project. “This is a momentous day for our people. My grandmother was the first in our community to achieve sobriety, and her vision for strong, healthy Ktunaxa citizens is what drives us today. Projects like this give us the opportunity to unify, define, and articulate what health and wellness means to us as Indigenous people.”
The centre’s construction will continue over the next few years, with a focus on preparing the operational framework to ensure a smooth opening once the facility is complete. As the toxic drug crisis persists, the Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre represents hope for a brighter future and a culturally grounded path to recovery for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.