Breaking ground on Blood Tribe Recovery Community

Too many individuals are suffering from the deadly disease of addiction and Alberta’s government is focused on ensuring everyone has a path to recovery. Alberta’s government is establishing 11 new recovery communities throughout the province to ensure people with addiction can access life-saving treatment. Each of these facilities will offer long-term addiction treatment at no cost to clients.

Alberta’s government is working in partnership with the Blood Tribe to build the first Indigenous-led recovery community. With an investment of up to $30 million in capital, the facility will offer culturally appropriate treatment and holistic healing on Blood Tribe lands for up to 300 people every year.

The Blood Tribe Recovery Community will be operated by the Blood Tribe Department of Health with funding from Alberta’s government. This is a historic partnership between Alberta’s government and the Blood Tribe, and the first of many collaborations between the provincial government and First Nations in Alberta.

“Today’s ground breaking is an exciting milestone towards increasing addiction treatment in Alberta that is truly built for those most in need. As part of our commitment to land-based treatment, we have ensured that every aspect of this new building was designed in collaboration with the Blood Tribe. We are looking forward to delivering this vital service to those suffering from the deadly disease of addiction in southern Alberta.”

“The addiction and opioid crisis are deeply affecting the Blood Tribe as well as other Indigenous communities. Every member has felt the pain of losing a friend or family member. The new 75-bed recovery community will help us to support those willing to make their world a better place for themselves, their children and families, through the lens of Kainayssini.”

The Blood Tribe Recovery Community is the first of four recovery communities to be built in collaboration with First Nations partners. Also in progress are facilities with Enoch Cree Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation and Siksika Nation.

After extensive consultations between Alberta’s government and the Blood Tribe regarding site selection, building design and other logistical concerns, the Blood Tribe Recovery Community is entering the construction phase. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2024 with clients entering soon after completion.

“Thanks to our incredible partners for bringing their best to this project and for helping to advance reconciliation. This recovery centre will present Indigenous-led solutions that will help break the cycle of addition and create positive change for everyone needing support.”

“We are proud to be working together with Kainai Nation to construct a new 75-bed recovery community on Blood Tribe lands. This collaboration with First Nations partners is a further step in providing much-needed recovery and mental health care to every Albertan while also creating jobs and strengthening our economy.”

Recovery communities are an important part of Alberta’s recovery model of addiction and mental health care, where every person in Alberta has the opportunity to pursue recovery from the deadly disease of addiction. Participants can stay up to a year and take part in programming that helps them improve their health, relationships and skills to support their recovery and thrive in all areas of their lives.

“We are appreciative of the government’s commitment to help us provide hope for those battling addiction. The new 75-bed recovery community, rooted in the Blackfoot way of healing, aims to improve the health of the community and to reduce health inequities of our most disadvantaged and vulnerable members, strengthening our continuum of care.”

“Kainai Nation and Alberta’s government are building a culturally sensitive system of addiction treatment that uplifts and empowers communities. I’m honoured to have this vital service delivered in my constituency and I look forward to witnessing the positive impact of the Blood Tribe Recovery Community on the lives of those seeking healing and hope.”

Alberta’s government remains focused on building a system of care where everyone struggling with addiction and mental health challenges is supported in their pursuit of recovery. This includes the addition of 10,000 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces, eliminating fees for live-in addiction treatment, launching the Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) app and expanding access to life-saving opioid agonist treatment medications.

Quick facts

• Recovery communities are a form of long-term treatment for addiction used in more than 65 countries around the world.

• Treatment at publicly funded recovery communities is free for all Albertans.

• Construction on the Blood Tribe Recovery Community is beginning this summer and is expected to be complete in late 2024.

• The 75-bed facility will provide holistic addiction treatment for up to 300 people every year and is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

• Albertans struggling with opioid addiction can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) by calling 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. VODP provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait list.