Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jun 2006
Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Peak Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.prpeak.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734
Author: Luke Brocki, Peak Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

CAMPAIGN BUILDS DRUG AWARENESS

Raindrops pummelled bouquets of multicoloured helium balloons outside 
Tla'Amin Community Health Services as participants registered for 
Tla'Amin's (Sliammon) first annual drug awareness campaign walk, jog, 
or run on May 31.

Black, white and yellow balloons adorned the front of the building, 
with dozens of red balloons interspersed on the circuit. Cyndi 
Pallen, campaign coordinator and addictions counsellor for Tla'Amin, 
invited everyone present to "walk the red road."

"Prior to contact, first nations didn't use alcohol or drugs," she said.

Balloons of other colours represented the absence of ethnic barriers 
when it comes to drug abuse.

Participants also carried cedar boughs, to be released in the river 
or burned in a ceremony following the event. The release of the 
boughs was accompanied by a prayer for strength as people let go of 
pent up negative emotions affiliated with exposure to drug use.

"Due to the isolation and lack of activities, more and more people 
are looking at experimenting [with drugs]," said Pallen. "This is one 
form of raising awareness."

Pallen plans to wrap up the summer with another reminder, hoping the 
walk will become a quarterly event.

The campaign's logo was a feather representing abstinence from the 
use of drugs and alcohol. It was designed by Sherman Pallen, who's 
steered clear from drugs and alcohol for 25 years.

Cyndi Pallen returned to work as an addictions counsellor for 
Tla'Amin last October, after receiving a bachelor's degree in social 
work from the University of Victoria. Prior to her return to school, 
she worked as an addictions counselor for 15 years.

The Tla'Amin addictions program is a supportive counselling service 
geared toward aboriginal people within the Powell River area. For 
more information readers can contact Pallen at 604.482.3009.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom