For many people in recovery, the journey to healing is not a straight path, and ongoing support makes all the difference. The Substance Use Recovery Program (SURP) offers Indigenous people a safe, and culturally grounded spaces to strengthen their recovery and reconnect with culture.
At the Ormond Lake Healing Center, SURP will host a 2-week recovery program that blends modern approaches and meaningful Indigenous practices including smudging, beadwork, drum making, dream catchers, and land-based connections. Guided by Knowledge Keepers and Atsoos (grandmothers), participants will deepen their cultural identity while building wellness tools.
One of the most fulfilling parts of the program is seeing participants grow and support one another. “That sense of shared experience, cultural affirmation, and safety is powerful in the healing journey,” says Nnamdi Ike, Substance Use Recovery Counsellor. “Participants have shared that the program refreshes them and equips them with new tools to continue walking the Red Road and supporting their recovery journey. Some have even expressed that the program motivated them to pursue community support or helper roles to assist others who are struggling with addiction and recovery.”
“This program has helped many reimplement tools that may have been forgotten. It is a reminder that even while in recovery, our wellbeing is always going to be something that we need to work towards, and it’s not something that we need to do by ourselves,” says Gavin Janzen, CSFS Substance Use Recovery Counsellor.
The Trauma Recovery Program will take place from July 14 to July 28, 2026, at Ormond Lake Healing Centre. There will be opportunities to explore trauma, grief and loss, emotional safety, healthy relationships, and coping strategies to support healing and personal growth.
To learn more about this program, visit www.csfs.org/programs/substance-use-recovery-program/