Recovery

We believe that culture is the foundation for American Indian people in recovery. True healing comes from addressing both historical and individual trauma and our services provide support through that journey. Our recovery plans include using traditional medicine, stories, songs and cultural teachings, as well as the culturally-based Wellbriety curriculum. By relying on the foundation of the medicine wheel, no part of the recovery journey and healing process will be overlooked.

The names came to me in this way: In Ojibwe, Ziibaaska’iganagooday means Jingle Dress; Niimi’idiwin means Dancing; and Nookomis Onikan means Grandmother’s Arms. In Lakota, Kunsi means Grandmother. So, the name is Ziibaaska’iganagooday Niimi’idiwin. Khunsi Onikan.

The spiritual message of this dream is that we must wrap these people and their children in those healing jingle dresses. Staff will metaphorically teach them to dance, meaning that they will find their way to health again by dancing to the music of the drum within their own hearts. The grandmothers will wrap these women and children in their arms.

We would like to thank D. Richard Wright, LADC, an Elder of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, author of The Way of Our People, for this story and his inspiring work in recovery.