Carol is thrilled to be joined by Gilbert Whiteduck and

Jamie Carle for another in our series of discussions about successful Indigenous Treatment Centres and what lessons they provide. Gilbert and Jamie are the Program and Services Team Lead and Nurse, respectively, delivering harm reduction programing at Wanaki Centre, located in the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community next to the town of Maniwaki, Quebec. Under their leadership, Wanaki was granted Accreditation of Exemplary Status in the Qmentum program of Accreditation Canada, an impressive achievement. The Wanaki Center provides an important wellness program that supports First Nation and Inuit people to discover the strengths they carry and learn how to balance life's challenges, seeking to heal from alcohol and substance addiction.

​The center first opened its doors in 1991 with the mission to provide

programming for substance abuse and to promote the physical,

mental, spiritual and emotional well-being for First Nations and Inuit

populations. The wellness services are provided over a 4-week

period in French and English on a rotational basis.

Gilbert Whiteduck is Anishinabek from the Kitigan Zibi First Nation. He has served as chief of his community. He holds a bachelor of social work, a bachelor and masters of education, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa. He is currently completing an Indigenous law certificate from University of Ottawa. He has worked as a clinical coordinator, residential counselor and now as the program and services team lead at the Wanaki Centre.

Jamie Carle is a nurse from the Kitigan Zibi. Jamie has been a nurse for over ten years in her community and is passionate about Indigenous health. Her work has included acute care palliative care, community care, maternal and child health, midwifery and she now works in treatment of substance abuse.

.For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

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Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.  

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation