Meet Rebecca and Lene: Authors of the Blood Tribe Addiction Framework

The Blood Tribe Addictions Framework is a comprehensive plan developed by the Blood Tribe to combat the ongoing drug crisis. The framework has served as a blueprint for community-driven solutions, including the establishment of the Bringing the Spirit Home Detox Program. This framework was written by Rebecca Many Grey Horses and Lene Jorgensen, and is a valuable resource for other communities and organizations seeking to address similar challenges. This framework was published into a book in 2023 by Eaglespeaker Publishing.

Itisnohtispiyaki (Dances with Many Medicine Bundles) Rebecca Many Grey Horses is from the Kainai Nation. Being raised with the traditional Blackfoot ways and traditions, Rebecca continues to practice and live her Blackfoot ways.  Her western educational accomplishments include a BA, and a Masters in Jurispurdence in Indigenous Law.  

Lene Jorgensen was the Director of System & Service Planning for the AHS South Zone when this book was written.  She has been involved with various initiatives pertaining to Indigenous Health including: AHS South Zone Indigenous Health Action Plan, the AHS Indigenous Health Strategy (Roadmap to Wellness), the Alberta Health Diabetes Working Group Indigenous Recommendations, and the BTDH Bringing our Spirits Home Addiction Framework. Lene is originally from Denmark where my family still resides. I am married, have two grown children and a dog, and live in Calgary. I love connecting with nature, whether it is in the forms of biking, hiking, skiing, or canoeing.

Questions for the authors:

What inspired you to write this book?

Lene: The book came from the work that Rebecca and I did in 2018 on the BTDH addiction framework. In our roles with with AHS and BTDH, we were initially tasked with developing an opioid response plan, however this quickly expanded to become a broader addiction framework. Because of the extensive and rich feedback, we gathered from our stakeholder engagement, and how this informed the creation of the framework, it was apparent that many people, communities and organizations could benefit from learning about what we did, how we did it, and the recommendations that were made.

Rebecca: The information gathered with the BTDH addictions framework continued to assist the community and it had to be shared to a wider audience. Writing the book was the icing on the cake as it will deliver a template to organizations and communities in assisting with drug crisis not only in First Nations Communities but any community.

How long did it take you to write the book from concept to publication?

Rebecca and Lene:

-Phase 1: May – November 2018 was the creation of the framework and the recommendations for the BTDH Board of Directors.

-Phase 2: December 2021 editing of the original documents started to ensure the information would resonate with a broader audience, beyond the community health department.

-Phase 3: 2022 was the quest to find an editor and publisher, and funding to solicit their services, since we have never written or published before.

-Phase 4: October – December 2022 the publisher was engaged, and funding was secured.

-Phase 5: January – August 2023 rounds of edits with publisher and approval by BTDH Board.

-Phase 6: September 2023 the book was published on Amazon and Eaglespeaker Publishing websites.

What message or main idea do you want readers to take away from your book?

Rebecca: The main idea is using the book as a resource to learn how the Blood Tribe is addressing the opioid crisis, and how this community driven approach is providing services for addiction services.

Lene: There is great wisdom in Indigenous communities and most of the solutions to each community’s unique challenges already exist in the community. The magic emerges when this wisdom is gathered and consolidated into a common voice for the community.

How has writing this book influenced your perspective on the topics you address?

Lene: Addressing addiction can be overwhelming, especially when it infiltrates all aspects of peoples lives and communities, such as the Blood Tribe. It is important to understand the past, while bringing awareness to the current situation. This provides valuable information to help shape the solutions for the future. Building on the wisdom contained in the community and elevating this to frame solutions ensures that people see themselves reflected in the community plan.

Rebecca: The writing of the book has broadened my perspective on the opioid crisis; so many times, writing the framework we broke down in tears, but we continued knowing it was for the community.  Understanding that it must be healing, and Blackfoot culturally centered also brought us to elders, knowledge keepers and attending an Okan to ask for guidance strengthen the framework and the drive to complete it. 

Who is the target audience for your book, and how do you hope it impacts them?

Lene: I think many Indigenous, and non-Indigenous, communities who are impacted by addiction can benefit from this book and help them embark upon their unique journey to address the challenges in a similar way. I also think that post-secondary institutions, governments, and health care organizations can use this as a guide.

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