| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to understand the perceived effects of Indigenous
spirituality on healing from substance use in Northwestern Ontario. This study was based on the
work of Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, a Thunder Bay organization actively involved in
addiction treatment using Anishnawbe culture and spirituality. Semi-structured interviews were
conducted with nine Indigenous participants to understand the perceived benefits of spirituality
in addictions recovery. These participants were either currently using substances, or had a history
of substance use but were in recovery and had taken part in treatment at Dilico. Recruitment
utilized advertisements and a snowball sampling method. Traditional spirituality was perceived
to be important in healing from substance use. This importance was predominantly relational, as
participants described building connections to the self, to the Creator, and others. Additionally,
participants identified the COVID-19 pandemic and housing instability as significant barriers to
practicing their spirituality and thus, carrying out their recovery plans. Participants also described
that living off-reserve limited their ability to access certain ceremonies, medicines, or practices.
These findings have implications for considering tailored treatment for Indigenous adults seeking
treatment for substance use difficulties. | en_US |
