02/24/2020
Nechi Institute Press Release
On February 14, 2020, Nechi Institute Board of Governors again met with Alberta Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson. The Nechi Institute and the government had reached an impasse.
In November 2019, without prior consultation or inquiries Nechi received written notice that the government was no longer extending the lease Nechi had held for the past 36 years and Nechi would be evicted from their premises, and required to secure alternate facilities by no later than March 2020. The Minister and other government representatives were not able to provide any viable options that Nechi hadn’t already explored. And, again the Alberta Government failed to consult Nechi Institute prior to the meeting and closed the door by saying, “There would be no more meetings.”
The Nechi Institute Board of Governors Chair Angelina Pratt expressed disappointment, “I had high hopes the Alberta government would find final resolutions as part of the plan to address opioid addictions and to correct unilateral eviction notice given to Nechi Institute on November 2019; instead this government has placed financial burden on Nechi and with the fast approaching March 31, 2020 deadline to vacate premises and no place to move to.”
In the early 1970’s the Nechi Institute was formed. Nechi institute is recognized as a national leader, training individuals to work in the area of addictions counselling. Nechi’s certified training programs combine holistic healing base in Indigenous culture. Nechi trains individuals in the areas of additions counselling, leadership, and su***de prevention and abuse recovery. The Nechi method allows counselors to return to their communities to provide assistance, and recovery to individuals within their own communities utilizing and building upon existing supports and services. In 1984, the Nechi Institute opened a facility with Poundmakers Lodge where Nechi could expand and continue training leaders and counselors and Poundmakers could offer onsite additions counselling and recovery.
The Nechi Institute does not rely on government funding to operate their programs; however, they did receive the benefit of low costs leasing within the Poundmakers Nechi Centre.
The Nechi Board of Governors has met on numerous occasions with the Alberta Government in an effort to determine the reasons behind the eviction notice and to seek a reasonable resolution that will allow Nechi to continue to provide cost effective training especially during a time when the need for trainers is on the rise considering the recent rise in opioid and fentanyl deaths especially among First nations peoples.
Furthermore, The Nechi Institute Board of Governors Chair, Angelina Pratt states: “Nechi Institute Board of Governors will secure Nechi Institute historic legacy by honouring our vision of our ancestors and will explore a number of options to find safe suitable student and staff accommodations and will not disrupt learning schedules for both on-site and off-site training programs.
Even though the Nechi Institute has been required to cancel some of their immediate training sessions, we shall not be, nor should we be focused on our own survival.
The Nechi Institute instead will put all our energy in what we do best, which is training leaders and addiction counselors.
For comment contact the following:
Angelina Pratt, Chair, Board of Governors,
Nechi Institute
Phone: 613-832-4983
Marilyn Buffalo, Chief Executive Officer,
Nechi Institute
Phone: 780-221-3887
