Indigenous experts share harm reduction strategies at first-of-its-kind forum in Calgary

‘We’ve got to be open and willing to try things that are working for other nations,’ says Siksika councillor

CBC News · Posted: Nov 15, 2019 10:23 AM MT 

Rebecca Many Grey Horses is a health analyst with the Blood Tribe department of health. She was hired to develop an action plan after two local states of emergency were declared in 2015 and 2018 due to the opioid crisis. (Rebecca Kelly/CBC)

Rebecca Many Grey Horses is a health analyst with the Blood Tribe department of health. She was hired to develop an action plan after two local states of emergency were declared in 2015 and 2018 due to the opioid crisis. (Rebecca Kelly/CBC)

Following dozens of opioid related overdoses and two states of emergency, the Blood Tribe’s chief and council have started looking for answers in their own backyard, and are now sharing their solutions with the broader Indigenous community.

Doctors and health care practitioners from across Canada gathered at a first-of-its-kind forum in Calgary focused on Indigenous harm reduction, to discuss the different strategies at work to combat addictions.

Rebecca Many Grey Horses, a health analyst with Blood Tribe Health, was there on Thursday to share where her nation is finding success.

Many Grey Horses spoke with users and recovering addicts, family members and health care staff to arrive at 24 recommendations, some of which are already at work on the Blood Tribe reserve.

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