In this episode of Mino Bimaadiziwin, host Carol Hopkins welcomes Koral Hamilton, program manager with Feathers of Hope in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an Indigenous youth advocacy organization. Koral shares her inspiring journey from addiction and trauma to advocacy and leadership in Indigenous youth support and addiction recovery. Koral, a proud Metis woman with roots in Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, has lived experience with addiction, incarceration, sex trafficking, and criminalization. She discusses the transformative power of reconnecting with Indigenous culture and the integration of dialectic behavioral therapy with Indigenous practices. Highlighting her efforts in developing harm reduction tools and leading the creation of a stabilization facility in Thunder Bay, Hamilton emphasizes the need for support structures that bridge the gap between detox and long-term treatment. Her approach centers on cultural healing, emotional regulation, and life skills, underscoring the critical role of Indigenous identity and community in the recovery process. Hamilton’s story is a testament to the impact of compassion, non-judgment, and cultural connection in fostering lasting recovery.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by David McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca  ​