New Site Officially Opens for Safe Sobering and Withdrawal Program
St. Joseph’s Care Group has unveiled the official name of its new safe sobering and withdrawal management site, [translate: Mino Ginawenjigewin], which means “wrapping arms around them and bringing them into a place of care,” according to Reena Larabee, manager of traditional healing.
“The very first thing to really acknowledge is that the language is connected to our land, the territory that we live and work and operate on. And that's the land of the Anishinaabe. So, having our care centre have an Anishinaabe name really honours our people that all share this land together, but also the first peoples of this land. From what the elders have described to us is really about that act of, of showing good care and love and support for people,” Larabee said.
The Anishinaabe cultural connection extends beyond the name. St. Joseph’s Indigenous health division, [translate: Mino Ginawenjigewin], is integrated into a cultural space focused on healing and ceremony for Anishinaabe clients.
In September 2024, the Ontario government granted $2.9 million to St. Joseph’s Care Group to expand addiction services. This funding enabled the relocation of the withdrawal management program to a larger facility at 500 Oliver Road, allowing the conversion of three temporary withdrawal beds into permanent ones and increasing the total number to 25.
Author's summary: The new Anishinaabe-named facility strengthens addiction services with culturally focused care and expanded permanent withdrawal management beds in Thunder Bay.