“I’ve never seen addiction without an underlying cause — it’s always about something deeper.”

— Shontelle Prokipcak

In this episode of Mino Bimaadiziwin, host Carol Hopkins sits down with Shontelle Prokipcak, a social worker, psychotherapist, and registered addiction specialist with Mental Health and Addiction Services Ottawa. Shontelle shares powerful insights into the deep connection between trauma and addiction, explaining how healing means addressing the root causes beneath behavior. She discusses using schema therapy to separate colonial-imposed shame from cultural identity and to rebuild self-worth through empowerment and connection.

Together, Carol and Shontelle explore harm reduction, SMART Recovery, and the importance of safe spaces for community healing. At the heart of Shontelle’s work is a belief that culture is medicine and that everyone deserves wellness, belonging, and the chance to live a good life.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by David McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca  ​

Additional Production assistance by Graham McGuffin and Clare McGuffin.

In this latest episode of Mino Bimaadiziwin, host Carol Hopkins is joined by Theresa Crow Spreading His Wings, founder of Gathering Our Bundles. They delve into the important topic of how to decolonize leadership in organizations and life. Theresa shares her perspective on understanding and dismantling colonial practices, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, cultural identity, and leading with love. She recounts her personal healing journey as a Sixties scoop thriver, her experiences growing up, and how connecting with her Blackfoot roots has influenced her leadership style. Theresa also discusses the significance of integrating indigenous values and ceremony into leadership and the challenges of navigating and transforming mainstream organizational structures. Her insights offer a profound and heartfelt reflection on leadership, cultural safety, and the power of community and relationships.

Theresa Crow Spreading His Wings is the founder of Gathering Our Bundles, a leadership and healing platform rooted in love, truth, and cultural safety. A survivor of the Sixties scoop, Theresa specializes in trauma-informed care, decolonizing leadership, and system navigation for Indigenous communities. She is a Blackfoot First Nations woman from the Blood Tribe in Treaty 7 Territory in Standoff, Alberta. Her work is grounded in Blackfoot values and teachings.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by David McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca  ​

Additional Production by Graham McGuffin and Clare McGuffin.

In this episode of Mino Bimaadiziwin, host Carol Hopkins welcomes Koral Hamilton, program manager with Feathers of Hope in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an Indigenous youth advocacy organization. Koral shares her inspiring journey from addiction and trauma to advocacy and leadership in Indigenous youth support and addiction recovery. Koral, a proud Metis woman with roots in Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, has lived experience with addiction, incarceration, sex trafficking, and criminalization. She discusses the transformative power of reconnecting with Indigenous culture and the integration of dialectic behavioral therapy with Indigenous practices. Highlighting her efforts in developing harm reduction tools and leading the creation of a stabilization facility in Thunder Bay, Hamilton emphasizes the need for support structures that bridge the gap between detox and long-term treatment. Her approach centers on cultural healing, emotional regulation, and life skills, underscoring the critical role of Indigenous identity and community in the recovery process. Hamilton’s story is a testament to the impact of compassion, non-judgment, and cultural connection in fostering lasting recovery.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by David McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca  ​

In this episode of Mino Bimaadiziwin, Carol Hopkins, CEO of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, welcomes Dr. Peter Butt, an expert in wholistic recovery from addictions. They delve into the concept of wholistic recovery, especially in the context of First Nations communities dealing with substance use disorders. Dr. Butt discusses the importance of addressing the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical domains of individuals for effective recovery. He emphasizes the need for culturally grounded, compassionate care and the necessity of linkage to community services like housing and cultural activities. The conversation highlights the challenges and potential of creating supportive, wholistic care environments that are attuned to both the individual needs and cultural contexts of the people they serve.

Dr. Butt is a retired Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.

He served for 24 years as a consultant in Addiction Medicine in the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

He’s perhaps best known nationally for his work leading the development of Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines, co-chairing the Canadian Guidelines on Alcohol Use Disorder Among Older Adults, and most recently, co-chairing the 2023 Canadian Guidance on Alcohol and Health with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Indigenous health has also been an important part of his career. 

His wife and children are members of the Saddle Lake Cree First Nation. He served as Director of Northern Medical Services for 14 years, coordinating medical care to predominantly Indigenous communities both on and off reserve.

These days, he’s also a retired bison rancher—but his passion for advancing wholistic recovery and compassionate, culturally grounded care is still very much alive.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.  

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Peter Butt and the Podcast

01:55 Dr. Butt's Career and Contributions

03:33 Understanding Wholistic Recovery

06:16 Challenges in Substance Use Treatment

10:29 First Nations' Perspective on Treatment

13:44 Wholistic Recovery Options and Approaches

29:11 The Role of Housing in Recovery

32:55 Breaking Down Silos in Healthcare

34:54 Introduction to Sanctum Care Group

35:30 Evolving Models of Care

35:57 Healthcare Funding and Support

36:48 Cultural Interventions and Identity

37:57 Sanctum 1.5: Supporting Pregnant Women

40:17 Decolonization and Health Promotion

42:04 Role of Culture in Recovery

44:50 Challenges in Indigenous Healthcare

45:43 Impact of TRC Calls to Action

49:27 Community-Based Recovery Approaches

55:32 Wholistic Healing and Family Support

01:05:46 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Carol is thrilled to welcome Cecile McKay to the podcast. Cecile is the Saskatchewan Director of the Talking Stick program, a new digital, Indigenous led peer support tool that has been used by tens of thousands of people since launching less than two years ago. Cecile joins Carol to talk about how the Talking Stick program is helping to fill crucial gaps by allowing quick and anonymous access to a safe place, providing emotional support, while empowering Indigenous voices, and creating jobs for Indigenous people. 

Cecile is a Cree woman from Buffalo Narrows and a proud member of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, in Northern Saskatchewan. She has over a decade of leadership experience in Indigenous organizations.

Talking Stick was developed by TryCycle, a Canadian digital health company focused on improving community well-being through safe, accessible technology and human connection.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.   

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

"This drug is designed and made to be addictive. It's designed and made to replace your dopamine. It's entire purpose as a chemical is to cause these actions and reactions."

Carol welcomes Barbara Ann Horner back to Mino Bimaadiziwin for an important conversation about methamphetamines, crystal meth, what they are, their effects and strategies to address the meth crisis. Barbara Ann is Thunderbird’s regional mental wellness Coordinator for British Columbia. Barbara Ann was also recent guest on this podcast talking about the dangers of xylazine. Definitely check that out if you haven’t already.

Barbara Ann's post-secondary studies include Women and Genders trauma-based addiction counseling. Her training along with a passion for harm reduction resulted in tenured expertise in frontline crisis intervention. Barbara-Ann is also a strong advocate for safer spaces and unbiased inclusion. Living off the land and holistic healing are close to Barbara-Ann’s heart and inform her existence and practice. This has resulted in her special relationship with saging and land-body healing methods. In her private life, Barbara-Ann is proud to be known as a mother, grandmother, auntie and friend.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.   

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

On this episode Carol welcomes Barbara Michel to Mino Bimaadiziwin to talk about Saskatchewan's crystal meth crisis and the rapidly worsening impact it is having on children in many First Nations communities. Barbara Michel is Thunderbird’s Regional Coordinator for Saskatchewan. Barbara is Cree from the northern Saskatchewan community of Deschambault Lake and is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. She speaks her language fluently and lives a traditional lifestyle with a passion for learning about her culture. She hopes one day to hold the title of Elder. Barbara has worked in the social services field for more than 20 years, and previously held the positions of Supervisor for a receiving home, Manager for a family wellness centre, Manager for a land-based crystal meth treatment facility and Treatment Director for the Prince Albert Grand Council.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.  

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. 

Xylazine is a large animal tranquilizer that is being mixed in with an increasing number of illicit drugs and is being detected in a growing number of overdose deaths, including in First Nations Communities.

Today on the Mino Bimaadiziwin, Carol Hopkins is joined for a frank and informative conversation about the impacts of Xlazine by Barbara Ann Horner.

Barbara Ann is Thunderbird’s regional mental wellness Coordinator for British Columbia. Her post-secondary studies include Women and Genders trauma-based addiction counseling. Her training along with a passion for harm reduction resulted in tenured expertise in frontline crisis intervention. Barbara-Ann is also a strong advocate for safer spaces and unbiased inclusion. Living off the land and holistic healing are close to Barbara-Ann’s heart and inform her existence and practice. This has resulted in her special relationship with saging and land-body healing methods. In her private life, Barbara-Ann is proud to be known as a mother, grandmother, auntie and friend.

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.  

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

"If we took control of our own health, and if we took control of our programs, our services, our funding and redistributed the way we see fit and works with our people, our health outcomes for our people would be much better."

Carol Hopkins is thrilled to be joined on this important episode on First Nations health transformation by two experts, Loretta Nootchai and John Scherebnyj.

Loretta is a Health Transformation Project Manager with the Anishinabek Nation.

John is President of White Rock Consulting, and has decades of experience in finance and management in the health sector, with a particular focus with First Nations.

They are helping lead the health transformation that has been ongoing in the Anishinabek Nation since 2016, with the aim to gain greater control over their health and wellness, consistent with the inherent right to self-determination. 

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.  

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

Dr Andrea Sereda is Carol Hopkin's guest discussing safer opioid supply, addiction and recovery on this episode of Mino Bimaadiziwin.

Dr Sereda is the lead physician at the London, Ontario Intercommunity Health Centre’s Health Outreach program and she is the founding physician for Safer Opioid Supply, which provides pharmaceutical grade opioids to people dependent on unregulated street fentanyl. In her work, Dr. Sereda focuses on caring for people who use drugs, people deprived of housing, women in the survival sex trade, as well as medical street outreach and care in non-traditional settings such as shelters and jails.

Her program, Safer Opioid Supply, is a Health Canada recognized and funded, Substance Use and Addiction Program.

It is considered a pillar of the Federal government’s approach to the overdose crisis.

To learn more about safer supply, please visit the National Safer Supply Community of Practice website at https://www.nss-aps.ca/

For more on the work of Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, please visit our website at www.thunderbirdpf.org

You can find us on social media by searching for ThunderbirdPF  

Mino Bimaadiziwin is produced by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.  

Our theme music is by Courtney Riley, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.