A look in from Thursday's Overdose Awareness Walk in North Battleford. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Starting a conversation

Battlefords Friendship Centre works to end stigma with Overdose Awareness Walk

Aug 31, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The Battlefords Indian Metis Friendship Centre held its Second Annual Overdose Awareness Walk, Thursday in North Battleford.

The event started at 10 a.m. with opening remarks from Friendship Centre staff and city dignitaries, followed by the walk itself, to city hall for a flag raising to help raise awareness.

There were also personal testimonies and information booths at the centre from community organizations offering addiction resources, and sharing about the impacts of overdose, including Battlefords Tribal Council, the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, and NeepSee Herbs Teas [and] Traditional Medicines.

Executive Director of the Friendship Centre, Jackie Kennedy was among those to share her own story of how overdose has impacted her family on a personal level. She said the idea for the awareness walk came about last year as a way to help shine a light on a subject that impacts many but is rarely talked about.

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“It is International Overdose Awareness Day all over the world, and nobody was recognizing it in our community, so last year we came up with [the idea for the walk] because we recognized we do have a huge addiction problem in our community,” Kennedy said.

“We wanted to bring awareness and stop the stigma around addicts. We’re just trying to bring awareness and let people know there are people out there who will help them, there’s agencies out there, there’s councillors out there, there’s mental health help out there, so let’s stop the overdose in our community.”

Despite a bit of rain earlier in the day, the weather cleared for the walk, as residents of all ages and backgrounds set out to city hall for the flag-raising ceremony, walking up 103^rd St., onto 13^th Avenue, then across to 101^st St., led by an “Overdose Awareness” banner, with a few others from the community joining friends on the walk along the way.

Many of those who took part in the Overdose Awareness Walk, pictured here at the flag raising ceremony at City Hall. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kennedy said seeing so many come out, despite the wet conditions means a lot.

“It’s just awesome,” she said with a smile. “Our Friendship Centre is all about bringing awareness for anything that’s happening in our community, so we’re happy that we’re able to do this.”

Acting Deputy Mayor for the City of North Battleford, Bill Ironstand represented the city, mayor and council at the event, and said overdose is something that impacts all.

“Overdose is something that affects the whole community, not just the individuals and the families that are directly affected, but the entire community,” he said.

“From our first responders to community members, to future generations, overdose awareness is huge for the city and right up there as one of our top priorities for helping do everything we can to get rid of it.”

He said they are hopeful the flag raising, added this year, can help bring the issue to light and spark conversation.

“When people drive by city hall they’ll see the flag and they’ll take a moment to think that overdose is in our communities,” he said. It’s so important for the city to do everything we can to help raise awareness around important events such as this, and support those who are grieving or who have lost people.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1