Our communities have the answers: Shaping a Nation-Wide Healing Strategy
Martina Escutin is the project lead, and following the guidance of Ktunaxa Leadership and citizens.
The toxic drug crisis has deeply impacted Ktunaxa communities.
Families are grieving lost loved ones and those living with addictions face deeply personal challenges.
In 2021, the governments of the Ktunaxa Nation—ʔaq̓am, ʔakisq̓nuk, yaqan nukiy and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it—declared a crisis, a mental health state of emergency within ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa. The crisis has roots in colonialism, systemic racism and other barriers to healing. It is fed by a toxic drug supply and continues to hurt Ktunaxa families.
In response, and after much deliberation and input, KNC Social Investment Sector has launched an initiative to develop a Nation-based, Nation-Wide Healing Strategy.
This work follows clear direction from Ktunaxa Nation Leadership, who have emphasized the health and wellbeing of Ktunaxa people must remain at the centre of all efforts.
Therefore, the strategy development will depend on close collaboration between the four Ktunaxa First Nations and as many Ktunaxanin̓tik as can participate.
Ktunaxa voices leading
To support the work, Ktunaxa Nation Council has contracted Urban Matters, a social enterprise that collaborates with communities across western Canada.
ʔakisq̓nuk member, Martina Escutin (nupqu nana), is the lead on the project and works with Urban Matters as an Indigenous wellbeing practitioner. Martina and her team bring considerable experience working on complex social issues and will coordinate engagements with Ktunaxanin̓tik.
“We want to bring people together, build real connections, and support communities to find their own paths to healing,” said Martina.
“Each Ktunaxa community is unique, with its own history, strengths and challenges. Our job is to facilitate these conversations, listen and elevate the good work already happening.”
Seen, heard and valued
“The more disconnected people feel, the more vulnerable they become,” Martina said. “Our goal is to cultivate spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.”
Upcoming engagements will support ʔaqⱡsmaknik̓ to share their voice towards developing community-based and Ktunaxa-led solutions to support healing across the Nation.
There may be successful Indigenous-led models from across the country to learn from, while ultimately ensuring strategies remain locally rooted.
“We’re not here to reinvent the wheel,” Martina said. “We’re here to amplify what’s working, identify gaps, and help build momentum for long-term change.”
With projects like Complex Care Housing, the Seven Nations Soaring Eagle Treatment Centre, and the Ktunaxa Nation Regional Health Centre already in motion, the Ktunaxa Nation has been making progress on different aspects of health, wellbeing and healing for communities.
The Nation-Wide Healing Strategy will enhance these projects and will serve to bring people together to share space with one another, allowing for grief, hope and personal stories of healing to open the way for a unified response, grounded in collective responsibility.
“Our communities have the answers,” Martina said.
“The toxic drug crisis has affected all of us in some way, and this is a good moment to step forward and share your voice. While the goal is to develop a Nation Healing Strategy, the success of that strategy is dependent on each of us doing our part to support each other.”
The Nation-Based Healing Strategy was proposed by Ktunaxa Nation Council’s Social Investment Sector and approved by Leadership in December of 2024.
It has four phases:
- Relationships & Exploration (January – March 2025): Building connections and gathering insights.
- Community Involvement (March – May 2025): Engaging Ktunaxa First Nation Health Teams and holding Healing Circles with community members who are interested in being involved.
- Community Engagement & Strategy Development (May – August 2025): Further engagement with Ktunaxa Citizens and informing a comprehensive healing strategy.
- Presentations & Finalization (September – October 2025): Presenting back to communities for a final round of input and finalizing the strategy.
Grounded in key guiding principles:
- Culturally Responsive: Rooted in ʔit̓qawxawiȼikimik (everyone holds this belief together), as outlined in the Guiding Principles for Research and Engagement within Ktunaxa Nation.
- Inclusive & Accessible: Elevating Ktunaxa voices and people with lived/living experience of substance use and addiction, grief, and healing.
- Community-Driven: Grounded in Ktunaxa community strengths and perspectives.
- Healing-Oriented: Focused on strengths-based solutions and cultural safety.
Interested? Email nation.healing@ktunaxa.org
https://ManyWaysofWorkingOnTheSameThing.com/researchprinciples/