© The Biidaaban Healing Lodge 2016

Healing today brings a better tomorrow. . .for our families, our communities, our nation.

Biidaaban Healing Lodge

Who We Are? Introduction The Biidaaban Healing Lodge is a 12 unit facility that provides the Aboriginal population in the Robinson-Superior Area with Residential and Community-based Programming. We are located in the Ojibways of Pic River First Nation on the shores of Lake Superior.  Pic River is approximately a three hour drive east of Thunder Bay and three and one-half hour drive west of Sault Ste. Marie on Hwy 17.   Our History In the early 1980's, the disease of Alcoholism was the primary problem faced by many of the First Nation families and communities.  There was a movement of aboriginal people accessing drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities that failed to acknowledge our different approaches to life. Native people were checking into different treatment centers across Ontario for the fifth and sixth time; and were experiencing very little in terms of long term sobriety.    During stays in these rehabilitation facilities issues such as Sexual Abuse, Grief and Abandonment, Childhood Emotional, Physical and Physical Abuse, Family Violence, Childhood Trauma and other related matters were surfacing.  People would deal with their Alcoholism, but would obtain very little in terms of tools to assist them in maintaining sobriety and healing.   After spending time within a family, community or society that didn't change; these individuals paths led down one of two roads--the familiar path of alcohol or drug use OR they simply would continue to maintain sobriety at the cost of picking up a secondary addiction such as gambling, abusive relationships and prescription drug addiction.   Pic River submitted a proposal in 1992 on behalf of the Robinson-Superior Area to target at that time what were referred to as "Secondary Problems".  This proposal addressed seven areas:  Compulsive Overeating, Self-Parenting, Family Violence, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Sexual Abuse and Unresolved Anger stemming from Childhood Issues.   In early 1993, we began delivering mini-programs at First Nation and community levels in the seven areas listed above.  During this time, we also developed our ten day residential treatment programs.   To date, Biidaaban delivers 10 day treatment programs in Grief and Abandonment, Sexual Abuse and Anger Management on a rotational basis. We also have 5 day programs which are listed on the program dates page, and will add descriptions shortly. We have programs developed that can be facilitated in the areas of Adult Children of Alcoholics, Compulsive Overeating and Self-Parenting that can be ran on a need be basis.

Welcome