St. Paul Treatment Centre / Kainai Healing Lodge

St. Paul Treatment Centre /Kainai Healing Lodge has been in operation since 1977 and is funded by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada.

Kainai Healing Lodge (formerly St. Paul Treatment Centre) was established in 1977 to address the problems of alcohol and drug abuse on the Blood Reserve and other Reserves in the Treaty 7 Area. Since its inception the services of the Centre has expanded to points across Canada.

The Centre began operations at the St. Paul Indian Residential School. The old boarding school, with a heritage of its own, was the home of the first comprehensive alcohol treatment program of its kind on the Blood Reserve. During the first few years of operations, the program went through a period of development where the community and individual needs were being assessed. This later became the basis for the present module used today. During this developmental stage, more and more individuals were entering the program. Five years after the doors were opened the facility could no longer accommodate the program and its clients. The school, built in 1924, was too old and became too costly to operate. In 1982, the Board of Directors and management made a request to the NNADAP for assistance to build a new Centre. After a lengthy process of planning and negotiating with various government agencies and private sectors, the new Centre became a reality. The new Centre opened in 1986.

It was a dream come true for individuals that were seeking help in combating the disease of alcohol and drug addiction. The new facility was designed with great detail for the Native culture. Which included a tipi-like assembly room. The housing unit was built for double semi-private occupancy. There is more than ample room for group sessions and one-to-one counseling.

Since moving into our new building, Kainai Healing Lodge has developed a highly recognized alcohol and substance abuse treatment program. It has become an important part of the social and cultural well-being of Aboriginal communities in Canada.