Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Rebecca Alty announcing the $13 million in addiction funding in Whitehorse. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – The federal government is putting $13 million towards addiction and recovery programs across Northern and Western Canada, including two Yukon projects.
The funding was announced in Whitehorse on Tuesday and supports 23 community-led projects.
In Yukon, $45,000 is helping the Council of Yukon First Nations expand its Moccasin Mobile outreach program to seven days a week. Officials say the money was received ahead of the announcement and the expanded weekend service is already in place.
Just over $2 million will support the Shäwthän Näzhì: Healing With the Land Society in Haines Junction.
The program offers year-long recovery support for about 15 to 20 participants at a time, including land-based programming and work with horses. Organizers say the funding will allow them to continue those services.
CYFN Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini says she is very proud to see the work being done on the ground and that investments in programs like these are needed across Canada.
“These funds help us meet people where they’re at, and that is exactly what’s needed here in the North,” said Alatini. “It is something that we need across our country because these addictions don’t just stop at nine to five.”
