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06 Juli 2005 | Canada, Ottawa

AHOUSAHT, British Columbia - The remote community of Ahousaht is dealing with an epidemic and is calling for professional help.

Located on the extreme west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Ahousaht is located on a small island 40 minutes north of Tofino by boat.

An epidemic of suicides has devastated the community over the past few months, and community and health industry leaders from around Vancouver Island gathered in a small Ahousaht church to work toward solutions.

''Ahousaht is on its knees right now and we're trying to stand up, but we need help,'' said Dave Frank Sr., manager of the Ahousaht Holistic Center. His son tried to hang himself only six weeks earlier. ''It has been a very difficult year for us and we are in crisis,'' he said.

Last year, there were 19 suicide attempts in Ahousaht, and one suicide death on Dec. 26, 2004. Many people feel the Boxing Day suicide opened the floodgates, and in only six months of 2005 there have been more than 40 suicide attempts and one suicide death in Ahousaht. Some people have attempted suicide more than a dozen times, which fuels the already staggering statistics. Seventy-eight percent of the suicide attempts in Ahousaht were attempted overdoses.

Throughout other First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth Confederacy located along the west coast of Vancouver Island, there were 32 suicide attempts in 2004 and three completions. In the first six months of 2005, there were seven suicide attempts in the 13 other Nuu-chah-nulth nations. There was also one suicide completion outside Ahousaht involving an Ahousaht member living away from home.

More than 70 people jammed into the LightHouse Church Center on June 8 as health care professionals and suicide specialists came from as far away Port Alberni, Nanaimo and Victoria to help address the problem and offer their support to the Ahousaht Nation.

Reasons behind the epidemic are as unique and different as the people who attempt suicide. The effects of residential school abuses, poverty, unemployment, mental illness, spiritual and cultural disconnections, drugs and alcohol, family problems and a litany of other issues were discussed.

Of the 1,750 Ahousaht members, 850 live in Ahousaht (the largest Nuu-chah-nulth nation); and according to Ahousaht ''Circle of Healing'' Program Coordinator Anne Atleo, only a small percentage are fueling the epidemic.

''Ninety percent of our community members are drug- and alcohol-free; and only 5 percent of our community members are really addicted to drugs and alcohol, and they're the ones we're having problems with right now,'' she said.

''Most attempts happen when people are under the influence of depressants such as drugs and alcohol,'' said Frank.

The Ahousaht Holistic Center offers many traditional and modern healing programs, but it's not enough. ''We need resources for prevention and intervention programs because our meager resources are being totally exhausted dealing with crisis management,'' said Frank. ''Our people here are crying out for help. How can we work together and prevent these people from falling through the cracks?''

Walking down the rough, gravel roads in Ahousaht, the picture of poverty is everywhere. Abandoned fishing boats, once valuable tools used to bring home the riches of the ocean, now lie derelict and rotting beside the dock to which they were once proudly tied before Native people were forced from the British Columbia fishing industry. Houses and buildings suffer from neglect and disrepair as people lack the resources to keep up with needed maintenance.

Ahousaht Council Youth Representative Marvin Frank rejected the notion of suicides being tied to drug and alcohol abuse, and said the reasons people attempt suicide are as varied and unique as the individuals.

''Many youth share the same problems, and when one person commits suicide it's seen as a possible answer by others,'' said Frank. ''There needs to be more recreational programs and jobs for the young people here. The fish farms haven't come through with the jobs and training they promised us,'' he said.

''When you see a 14-year-old kid trying to commit suicide, it just tears your heart out,'' said Fred Adams, a former First Responder who was forced to take time off from the volunteer position because he burned out.

People also point to the loss of Ahousaht language and culture as a reason behind the feelings of desperation many have.

''Many people I've talked to who've tried to commit suicide, talked to me about their disconnection from their culture and, as a result, their disconnection from who they are as a person,'' said mental health worker Ray Seitcher, who is also a hereditary chief from the neighboring Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.

When one person commits suicide, they leave behind a network of people who feel the loss of love and loneliness. The close relational ties in Ahousaht leave the entire community in shock when a person dies.

''When I attempted suicide, I didn't think about all the pain I would have caused if I had completed it,'' said Ahousaht Chief Councilor Keith Atleo, who admitted he'd attempted suicide three times, the last time in 1997. ''It hurts to hear all the pain and suffering our people are going through. Our teachings are still strong, and it's time for us to start showing our love for one another again,'' he said.

Along the roadside in Ahousaht, members of the holistic center posted brightly colored signs blaring positive messages. ''We are responsible for the health and safety of our children ... We seek to ensure that they are always protected,'' read one sign. ''Please help us, our kids deserve the best,'' read another. ''Life is tough, but I am tougher,'' and ''Don't expect life to be fair, but believe that you can make it,'' read others.

''There is a lot of work being done to prevent this crisis from becoming an all-out disaster,'' said Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Mental Health Program Supervisor Louise Tatoosh. ''Talking about the problems and working towards solutions is a sign of a healthy community, and you should be congratulated for all the work you're doing to make Ahousaht better,'' she said.

''We are starting on a long journey, and we're just taking baby steps right now,'' said Frank.

  • 18 Mei 2007 - 11:27

    Angelina:

    hello. very nice. good luck

  • 03 Juni 2007 - 12:14

    Tlxb Lfirnbva:

    pafqn fadrbp wldickap xbwpia qujlnto mfndzoh zgxhyowr

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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley

Marco

We vertrokken om te leren van de indianen en te kijken hoe we ze kunnen helpen. Nu drie jaar later zijn we deel gaan worden van kerk voor op een reservaat in Saanichton. genaamd: Tsawout First Nations Indian Reserve Nr 2. Onze thuisgemeente is de Levend Woord Gemeente in Rotteram. Voorganger: Gerard de Groot. www.lwg.nl Onlanks hebben we een mobile home mogen kopen op het Tsarlip reservaat. Dit is zo'n 10 minuten van het Tsawout Reservaat vandaan.

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