Inside the 'come back to life' house that helps people recover from addiction

Two years after opening, St. Mary's First Nation's healing lodge has already seen one person go from being a client to a support worker for others recovering from addiction.

The lodge is called Apatawsuwikuwam, meaning "come back to life." Its own story of coming to life involved strong community effort and zero government funding.

In 2019, community members spent seven months working on their vision for the healing lodge. A working group whose members included Maliseet member Martin Paul and St. Mary's First Nation councillor Evan Sacobie wanted a model that emphasized healing within the community.

CBC's Ann Paul recently visited the lodge, which can hold five guests for up to 90 days, a timeline meant to reverse the 30-day cycle of people who struggle with addiction going in and out of treatment.

Scroll through the photos below and watch the video to see how Apatawsuwikuwam is helping people heal.

WATCH | Behind the doors of St. Mary's First Nation's 'Apatawsuwikuwam'

Ann's Eye: How this healing lodge in N.B. encourages people to get clean in their community

2 years ago

Duration 3:27

Apatawsuwikuam, which means "come back to life house" in Wolastoqey, fosters a balanced lifestyle at St. Mary's First Nation for those in recovery, through community networks and traditional teachings. Ann Paul is your guide.

Ann's Eye

Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or the image below to see more of her work.