Equipped with a large pair of scissors, dignitaries help officially open the White Buffalo Treatment Centre. The facility will provide cultural programming for girls ages 12 to 17. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Healthy communities

Youth treatment centre celebrates opening at Muskoday First Nation

May 16, 2022 | 4:28 PM

A loud cheer filled the air Monday morning south of Prince Albert, as the cutting of a large red ribbon represented the culmination of four years of work and partnerships.

While the White Buffalo Treatment Centre has been around almost 25 years, the new facility at Muskoday First Nation is an actual brick and mortar structure and has classrooms, a medical room, a gym, a courtyard and even equine therapy. Board Chair Jose Pruden, who is also a representative for Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, fought back tears when asked how it feels to stand in it.

“To me now I just think now our girls have a place they can be safe, they can grow, they can heal because there’s actual space,” she said.

Prior to 2018, the White Buffalo Treatment Centre was being run at Sturgeon Lake First Nation. Since the move however to Muskoday, programming has largely been held in portable classrooms.

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“They become part of our family here so now we have a home to do that in,” Pruden said.

Jose Pruden addresses the audience. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Cultural and land based programming is offered for girls between the ages of 12 and 17, and their stay is for four months. Muskoday Chief Ava Bear said she would like to see more facilities like this one.

“There’s all kinds of addictions these days and it’s very prevalent all over,” she said.

As part of her remarks during the opening ceremonies, Bear acknowledged the work done by her predecessors Austin Bear and Herman Crain, and added the project represented a lot of work by a lot of people.

“We wouldn’t be here without you,” she said.

Chief Ava Bear. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The total costs of the facility was over $6 million, funded through Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). Deputy Minister Christiane Fox was on hand Monday and provided a tour. She described feelings of warmth and security.

“A lot of times when we are sitting in our offices in Ottawa, we see proposals go through and see ideas and when you can come and see an idea that’s been developed and is now opening, it is so special for us,” she said.

Noting the feeling of warmth and security in the building, Fox also complimented all the partners involved.

“We need to shift the way government works in order to have programs thar are built by First Nations, for First Nations,” she said.

A look inside one of the well lit bedrooms. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Those in favour of having a courtyard would ultimately win the battle. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Project Manager Kyle Krushelniski acknowledged how the project was not without its challenges. Planning was started in January, 2020 and less than three months later the pandemic arrived. Construction started that fall and would take about a year-and-a-half.

“It truly is amazing what we did,” he said.

Krushelniski joked how the one mistake he made, was dismissing the idea for a courtyard, claiming early on it was not an efficient use of space. On Monday, he admitted it’s one of the facility’s brightest highlights.

Acting Executive Director Erin Gordon said she aims to have girls begin arriving later this summer.

A view of the facility from highway 3. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell