North

Closed K'atlo'deeche treatment centre to be reopened as healing centre

Members of the K'atlo'deeche First Nation will meet today to discuss plans for a healing centre on the KFN reserve. It will serve to replace their treatment centre, which closed in 2013.

Chief Roy Fabian says programming will be determined by members

The Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre was closed down in 2013 due to a lack of staff. It will be re-opened as the KFN Healing Centre. (CBC)

The K'atlo'deeche First Nation is looking to turn its now-defunct treatment centre into a healing centre, and is asking members to weigh in on what should be done with the facility.

The Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre is located on the K'atlo'deeche reserve, near the community of Hay River, N.W.T. Funding for the centre was pulled by the territorial government in 2013 due to staffing issues.

Now, the building will be used as a healing centre. However, Chief Roy Fabian says it will be up to the members to decide what kind of programming is offered.

"At one time, it was a treatment centre for alcohol and drugs," says Fabian. "But that's just one small problem, of a bigger problem. That's just a symptom. Alcohol and drugs is just a symptom of a larger problem.

"For us, we need to take a look at the whole healing issue." 

According to Fabian, the future facility will be known as the KFN Healing Centre.

A workshop is being held today at the Chief Lamalice Complex on the K'atlo'deeche reserve, where members will voice their opinions on what to do with the facility.