Muskrat Dam family treatment centre receives accreditation

A treatment centre in Muskrat Dam First Nation has been accredited by a national organization that sets standards of excellence for human service organizations.
The Reverend Tommy Beardy Memorial Wee Che He Wayo Gamik Family Treatment Centre has been accredited by the Canadian Accreditation Council.
“(Accreditation) will improve our best practices in the workplace,” said Roy Thunder, executive director of the treatment centre, during the Nov. 14 announcement of the accreditation at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation office in Thunder Bay. “This accreditation process sets a higher standard to perform a professional service for those clients who do come in and it will greatly enhance our programs that we deliver at the moment.”
While the accreditation process began about three-and-a-half years ago, Thunder said the real work begins now.
“We’re going to be looked at from the standards perspective,” Thunder said. “Are we delivering the programs and services to the best quality as best as we can. Are the clients getting the best services that they need when they come to the treatment facility.”
The treatment centre received accreditation for the next three years.
“Accreditation is ongoing, it’s not just stopping here today,” said Deridre Gerro, Canadian Accreditation Council’s eastern regional manager of accreditation services. “We stay in contact with them and we continue to support the community and continue to support the treatment centre.”
Located in Muskrat Dam, the treatment centre offers a six-week phased residential program for six families at a time or about 80 clients per year from across Nishnawbe Aski Nation, with some referrals from Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“Accreditation supports our goal to provide the best services possible for the families who come to us for healing,” said Ronnie Beaver, chairperson of the Wee Che He Wayo Gamik Family Treatment Centre Board of Directors. “This is significant because the uniqueness of our program is that we treat the entire family, not just the person seeking treatment, in familiar surroundings in culturally appropriate manner. There is no other program like this anywhere.”
The program provides support and guidance to substance abusers and their families so they can understand and overcome addiction by developing a strong spiritual base, understanding traditional values and beliefs and developing attitudes and skills to help them deal with changes within the community.
“This facility is unique as it treats the entire family and is recognized as a leader in community-based and culturally appropriate healing for our people,” said NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno. “This centre has had a positive impact on the health of many families who struggle with addictions in terms of providing not only testimonies but success.”
Yesno said the treatment centre’s success stems from its focus on keeping families together.
“It allows families to stay together,” Yesno said. “That is a real key feature and this is making a difference to the health and wellbeing not only of the people of Nishnawbe Aski, but people all across the country.”
The treatment centre was incorporated in 1989 and officially opened in 1991 after First Nations in the Sioux Lookout district first began exploring options for appropriate addiction treatment closer to home in the 1970s.