St. Mary's man building cabin retreat, anyone welcome

A man from St. Mary's First Nation is building a new cabin a place he said is for anyone who needs to take a break and get away from it all.

Percy Sacobie, a teacher and band councillor, decided to build the cabin behind his mother's place after his younger brother Anthony committed suicide. He said people have already been using the makeshift birch tree and tarp shelter he has up now.

"What I've noticed is over the past year [is] three or four people have stayed in there when they had a hard time. One person stayed for a month and another person a couple weeks," he said.

Sacobie, whose new cabin will be a 16 x 24 foot structure, said he has even offered refuge for first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Just last month I did a sweat for first responders, for the Fredericton City Police. I understood where they were coming from. I understand what it's like to see things that you don't really see in real [or everyday] life."

Refuge from personal struggles

Sacobie said offering people refuge is one way he is able to medicate his own struggles.

"I have PTSD and depression and things that go along with that. I was the first on the scene with my brother, I found my sister, I was called to a neighbour's, but I've had a strong support with my wife, my kids, and my grandchildren. That helps [me] out," he said.

"Me trying to help people out is kind of helping me out."

Sacobie said the cabin is not so much about "seeing spirits and talking to spirits" or anything like that.

"It's more of a place where you get to realign your thoughts and focus on what's important because … everyday life makes people very busy," he said.

"You don't have time to think about yourself, think about what's important to you."

If you focus on the pain, the pain stays. But if you recognize the pain and focus on how to make things better, then eventually they do.- Percy Sacobie

Everyone is welcome to the new cabin Sacobie will begin building this weekend, one he refers to as the "Take a Break Lodge." He said that is the only thing anyone needs to know before venturing out to use it.

"Mental health isn't about one particular group of people. It's not aboriginal people, it's not the police, it's not just the army, it affects everybody," he said.

"And when you're in a sweat lodge, it's dark, it's black, so everyone's the same colour, which is no colour. It's the same thing about mental health."

Help from many

Sacobie said between 20 and 30 people are planning to help him build the new cabin. This includes members of the Fredericton police force, ex-military personnel and general community members – many of the same people who benefit from the lodge's purpose.

"If you build a fire, people will come," he said.

"Nature is good medicine. But with us having busy lives it's hard to do those things. Some people can afford to go to Cuba, Mexico, have a cabin up in the Miramichi. A lot of people cannot. So, a simple fire is an escape for people."

Sacboie said even with everything he has been through, he has managed to rise above it day after day and get by with a little help from friends and knowing he is helping others.

"With pain, there's happiness, though, right? If you focus on the pain, the pain stays. But if you recognize the pain and focus on how to make things better, then eventually they do."

Listen below to hear the entire interview with Percy Sacobie and learn more about his project.