When I sobered up I started to learn about my native culture and traditions such as the sacred medicines: tobacco, sage, cedar and sweet grass, and the seven grandfather teachings: honesty, love, humility, courage, respect, wisdom and truth. These are the same principles as in AA. Today I want these traditions to be a part of my life.

God made the universe in a way that didn’t leave things to be a secret. Everything is either in harmony or out of harmony with the principles, laws and values of natural law. Inside every human being is the innate knowledge of your own well-being – knowledge of how to be a well human being. You inherently know what to do. The only thing remaining is choice.

The Aboriginal way of treating alcohol and substance abuse encompasses more than the biological and experiential explanation provided by mainstream medicine. Traditional healers perceive alcohol as a spirit that has been destructive to Aboriginal ways of life. It is believed that the alcohol “spirits” continually wage war within the spiritual arena and this is where the healing needs to start.