We Will Recover Society - Merchandise

The Government of Canada’s commitment to address, through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the systemic oppression of Indigenous Peoples has occurred alongside an overdose crisis that disproportionately affects the same population. Far too many First Nations, Métis and Inuit (Indigenous) people who use drugs are dying from drug overdoses, and Canada must pursue Indigenous-specific solutions to address this growing crisis.

Dozens of members of the nationwide support, bereavement, and advocacy group, Moms Stop The Harm (MSTH), gathered with members of the Piikani Nation to honor their loved ones who have been lost to Canada's other pandemic - opioids. “We have issues such as residential schools and trauma resulting from them, Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by the overdose crisis," said Petra Schultz, founder of MSTH.

“‘Social worker’ are two of the most horrifying words in the English language for Indigenous people.” In the early 1970s, Don Philpot was working at a church gearing up to host about 30 Indigenous children, ages 4-6, overnight—all were en route to Lejac Residential School in British Columbia. The kids, taken from their parents by force, didn’t know where they were—or where they were going. They spent the night crying.