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Land Based Healing Program for Mental Health and Substance Use
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Land Based Healing Program for Mental Health and Substance Use

Land-Based Counseling: A Path to Recovery

Overview of the Program

  • The program aims to reintegrate individuals into society as healthy individuals who no longer desire to use alcohol or drugs.
  • It emphasizes adaptability and flexibility, mirroring real-life changes in weather and conditions that participants must navigate.
  • The approach is client-centered, focusing on individual needs while incorporating international customs and values through therapeutic interventions.

Core Principles and Teachings

  • The program integrates the seven grandfather teachings, ensuring participants embody these principles during their recovery journey.
  • Honesty is a key value encouraged among participants, fostering an environment where they can express difficult truths about their experiences.

Participant Experience

  • Participants engage in practical skills such as cooking outdoors and gathering wood, which are essential for their survival during the program.
  • Graduates of the program demonstrate significant success, reinforcing the effectiveness of this intimate and sincere approach to addiction treatment.

Collaborative Learning Environment

  • Partnerships between academia (e.g., Centennial College) and project Legba quads create dynamic learning experiences for both students and participants.
  • Students visiting from Centennial College express gratitude for the opportunity to learn from real-world applications of addiction recovery strategies.
Video description

In this video, Dr. Hasan Mahbub, Professor and Social Worker, conducted interviews and captured insightful footage, creating this amazing case study video as part of the Applied Research program. It was a collaboration between SaGE and the Community Services Department of Centennial College in partnership with GWEK, showcasing their dedication to applied research and community well-being. Dr. Hasan, along with his students and the faculty of Centennial College, participated in the Land-based healing program of Gwekwaadziwin Miikan (GWEK) on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, in March 2019. This unique land-based healing and treatment initiative integrates outdoor experiential learning, immersing participants in the wilderness. The program strategically blends therapeutic techniques with Anishinabek Culture, aiming to achieve "Stabilization, emotional growth, self-management skills, and social skills." For a detailed overview of the program, visit https://gwek.ca/.