Blood Tribe Recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day 2023
Story & Photos by Blaire Russell, Communications Officer
Blood Tribe Communications & Community Engagement
The Blood Tribe Police Service and the Blood Tribe Drug Harm Reduction Project held a two-day event to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day 2023. August 31, 2023, was marked International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual campaign to end overdose and to remember those who have died from drug overdose and honour the families they have left behind.
“We have all lost loved ones [to drug poisoning] – they have helped us connect and have brought everyone together for a bigger reason, for a bigger purpose other than ourselves,” Blake Tailfeathers, Blood Tribe Drug Harm Reduction Project Administrative Support Technician said. He also encouraged persons in recovery to “keep prayer because we come from spiritual people, anything is possible.”
The ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ events were held on August 30th & 31st, 2023, in the Moses Lake, Levern, and Standoff communities of the Blood Reserve to recognize those people who go unseen and acknowledging people in our communities who are affected by overdose.
If you or your loved ones need help, the Blood Tribe Opioids Response Update & Service Directory pamphlet is available on the bloodtribe.org website. The resource pamphlet gives vital information such as: naloxone pick-up sites, on and off reserve services and information, overdose information and prevention, emergency contact phone numbers, and more. You can pick up a physical copy of the pamphlet at the Shot Both Sides building in Standoff, AB.
“Let’s work together as a community.”
Lost Horse Singers at the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Moses Lake, AB, on August 30, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
A Kainai youth at the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Moses Lake, AB, on August 30, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
A Blood Tribe elder providing a prayer before the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Blood Tribe youth taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Blood Tribe youth taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
A young Blood Tribe member taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Members of the Blood Tribe Drug Harm Reduction Project taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
A Blood Tribe member taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Members of the Blood Tribe taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Members of the Blood Tribe taking part in the ‘A Walk for Overdose Awareness’ event in Standoff, AB, on August 31, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
