Treatment centre never completed in Eabametoong

About a 10-minute drive from Eabametoong lays the shell of a circular-shaped log building in a clearing overlooking Eabamet Lake.
It was supposed to be a treatment centre. It could yet become one.
“We’ve been trying to resurrect it,” said Eabametoong Chief Lewis Nate. “It’s a matter of money and planning it right.”
Neither Nate nor band manager Andrew Yesno would estimate what it might cost to resurrect the project which was originally started in 1998.
Both agreed it would be good for the community, which is currently under a state of emergency due to a prescription drug abuse epidemic and other issues, to be able to offer drug treatment within the First Nation.
“It would be good for the community,” Nate said.
“We have so many people who are addicted. It is hard to get help from the outside.”
Yesno said community members need something to help them.
“This building is a big topic of discussion in our community,” he said.
“Everyone has a different opinion about what to do but people do want it open.”
As recently as this spring, proposals for funding to continue construction of the centre and housing lodges were denied, Yesno said.
If the community were to receive funding to proceed, Nate said several logistical steps will have to be addressed as well.
“We will need staff for it,” Nate said. “We will have to look at sustainability, programming, infrastructure and overhead costs.”
He doesn’t want to see the project started and not completed, as was the case 12 years ago.
But Nate said a treatment centre isn’t the only answer when it comes to healing the community.
“We need to look at economic development, housing and other development,” Nate said.
“Are there going to be jobs at the end of the road? They need things to look forward to or they will be right back at the start ... needing help again.”