Grief and Loss Sharing Circles Offer Supportive Space for Blood Tribe Community Members
by Blood Tribe Communications
In the wake of the ongoing opioid crisis, many families on the Blood Reserve are challenged by the impacts of addictions and its related traumas. The Blood Tribe Opioid Response program is working to make a space for that.
Through its Grief and Loss Sharing Circles, community members are invited to join their support groups to talk and listen to one another in a safe and confidential environment.
Organizers say the sessions were created to address a current gap in services. They recognize that while much needed resources are available for individuals’ recoveries, families are sometimes left caring for their own pain without support.
“There are many families silently carrying grief. From loss of life or the emotional toll of supporting a loved one. These sessions were inspired by the need to create a space where that grief could be acknowledged and honored,” said Leslie Wells, Blood Tribe Opioid Response Coordinator.
Grief and Loss Sharing Circles are currently hosted by Blood Tribe Opioid Response Outreach Workers Tammy Buckskin and Freddy Stabs Down. With their backgrounds in social work, they stress the importance of a trauma-informed approach.
“The root problem is grief and how we don’t know how to grieve properly. So that’s what we’re also teaching, how to grieve properly, and hopefully it helps with our addiction problems,” said Buckskin.
Grief tied to addiction or loss can look different for everyone. Stress, worry, guilt, or the sense of losing a loved one even while they are still here are just a few examples. However, the Outreach Team reminds us that these are shared experiences, and we are never alone in these struggles.
“I think there’s just that fear of letting those feelings go because they themselves, I feel, know that they’re holding onto something. And once they feel or see how it’s run and how others share, there’s a sense of community in that,” said Stabs Down.
“There’s just common things that we all go through. When we’re grieving or we’ve suffered loss, you know, it’s kind of like this shared thing. They’re not in it alone.”
Held in a sharing circle format, the sessions provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals and families to come together and share their stories. The Outreach Team hopes these efforts can play a vital role in community members’ own healing journeys.
Blackfoot ways of knowing are important to each sharing circle. Every session begins with a smudge and a prayer, followed by a chance to visit over a snack or meal. So far, sessions have been held in communities of Levern, Standoff, Moses Lake, and Old Agency.
In addition to peer support, elders from each community are present to guide the circle and share their knowledge. The groups also act as a hub to access other resources provided by Blood Tribe Opioid Response.
On occasion, guest facilitators have joined to help deliver programming. The Outreach Team values their collaboration with other Blood Tribe Departments and Entities. The team is also exploring art therapy during sharing circles. One of their upcoming sessions, April 30, 2026, will focus on self-care and creativity and will feature Raquel Healy, Good Movement Associate.
Facilitators say the community’s response has been positive overall. Still, they acknowledge that it can be hard for people to take that first step due to stigmas or other barriers.
“It can be really hard for them to share just because of the oppression that we’ve all gone through. I also think there’s that fear of being vulnerable,” said Buckskin.
“We try to make them feel comfortable when we’re talking to them, and that they don’t need to talk, but just to come and see what we’re doing, to get the feel of it and maybe the next round they’ll talk. I think it makes them feel safer when they see how we approach everybody that shares in our circle.”
Facilitators recognize the strength it takes for those that may be afraid to share their experiences. Participants are invited but never pressured speak during the circles. Sometimes listening is enough.
“We encourage individuals to come and just see how the process is, everything that goes on. And, you know, if they’re comfortable with it, then they can come to the next session. And that’s why we provide three per community,” said Stabs Down.
The sharing circles are open to anyone in the community who is supporting a loved one through addictions or is dealing with grief and loss. The Outreach Team emphasizes that no one must navigate feelings of bereavement alone.
“Building trust takes time, especially when people are unsure about opening up in a group setting,” said Wells.
“[But] even small breakthroughs, like helping someone feel less alone or more hopeful after a session, feels like a big win. Those moments remind everyone why these sessions matter.”
The next round of sharing circles will start again this month on April 16, 23, and 30, 2026, at the Multi-Purpose Building in Standoff, AB., from 5 to 8 PM. The last session will focus on selfcare and creativity.
The outreach team also hosts grief and loss support group sessions on a drop-in basis at the Moses Lake shelter in Moses Lake, AB. For more information or to connect with the Outreach Team regarding other supports/ resources, please contact Tammy Buckskin at 403-360-9169 or Freddy Stabs Down at 403-393-0736.
