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NECHI 45 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 15, 16, 17, 2019
REGISTER TODAY. CALL FOR VENDORS.
Keynote speakers. Workshops on wellness/addictions.
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With expert speakers, continuing education units, and exhibitors .. this Canadian Conference will engage delegates in the collaborative practice of solution-focused care for people and their families, supported by paraprofessionals, peers, and mutual support systems.
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Recovery Capital Conference Alberta - Building on our Strengths
REGISTER TODAY – September 11th, 2019 Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre 1316 33 St NE Calgary, AB T2A 6B6 OVERCOMING ADDICTION IN CANADA Do you manage employees, work in h...CONRAD COOK
GRAD 2019 VALEDICTORIAN
Welcome to our Elders, Chiefs, CEO Marilyn Buffalo, members of the Board, Administrators, faculty, friends, family members, guests, and of course the graduating class of 2019. Welcome to the 2019 Nechi Institute Graduation.
It is such an honour to be here in front of you all tonight, to stand with an institution that represents so much to all of us. Every family member, friend, and loved one that has blessed us with their presence here tonight, may that pride, that sense of encouragement, and all of the emotional abundance that we all hold with us tonight - give us peace.
I pray that you have an overwhelming sense of joy in knowing that all of our graduates here tonight are leaving Nechi not just advocates of culture and social dynamics, but as well, students of social justice, healers of traditional ways of life, helpers and guides, paving a path to a new climate of social change. Through community, spirit, research, education, and the delivery of change, may it spark, within all of the graduates here tonight, an everlasting change of perspective, a refuelled faith in social dynamics, and a new awareness; one in which we may bring back to all of our communities and share for years to come.
Nechi has really provided me with the tools and skills necessary to utilize during the fundamental development stage of nurturing wellness amongst ourselves. I was given the opportunity to analyse the real me, hone and cultivate my counselling abilities; as well, nurture my own journey of healing in a highly supportive environment. The program has sparked a sense of motivation, ambition, and pride inside of me that I don’t ever remember feeling in my life before. I have just so much faith in all of the amazing people I had the opportunity to learn and grow beside.
I remember when I first arrived at Nechi I had absolutely no idea what I was signing up for. I think I had maybe a rough idea of what kind of material would be covered in class just from reading the website. However, I soon came to realize how much I did not know at the time. Nechi provides its students a culturally significant environment. The education and spiritual wisdom that was passed onto me by the trainers was absolutely a world class experience. If we can come and so to speak “rise from the ashes’ out of a culturally explicit demographic, an environment that is developing, and expanding, and changing, as fast as our modern world is, and then provide direction to all of those individuals in pursuit of social science, direct those individuals to a culturally significant organization such as Nechi, then how can we say, with all of the resource and prosperity that my fellow graduates and I have received, that spiritual bankruptcy of our communities exists at all? We are stronger together. We are stronger with institutions like Nechi in place. We are rich in life together. I think that it is safe to say that we are all citizens of this world, and there are things that we can build inside of ourselves that enhance our human spirit, some things that are easily enhanced and some things that require a great deal of integrity, courage, and strength. It is our human right to access those parts of our brain that enhance our human experience; Nechi offers a program that can help with that enhancement of its students character. Civility, respect, kindness, genuineness, control of our emotions: these are all feats that my fellow graduates and I were blessed enough to be guided down the path toward during our Nechi training. Being a part of that trail work like Nechi’s - has really cemented a spark of life inside of me that I hope all of my fellow classmates carry with them for years to come. I do not think that we should ever forget what Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”. Being a part of that group, to me, is one of the most special achievements I will ever carry.
One of the most profound developments I found within myself throughout my Nechi experience was being able to open up my mind. I don’t think that I was ever a culturally blind individual; however, becoming accepted into a different cultural dynamic that was outside of my norm was one of the most eye opening moments of my time at Nechi. Expanding my definition of the word acceptance; growing my spirit through an attitude of complete transparency; that was without a doubt the most significant piece of Nechi that I will carry with me. Being able to fully understand my emotions and reactions was never a character trait that came easily to me. Taking care of myself, becoming deeply comfortable being inside of my skin, and applying all of the concepts and tools Nechi has given me to change my life for the better, that is what I am going to take away.
I would love to just take a moment now to talk about addiction.
To be on the inside of alcoholism and drug addiction is quite simply “to lose control.” The essential skills of living that are taught here at Nechi are all based on the core principle, “to regain control.” To regain control of our culture, our traditional and fundamental guiding principles, our people, and our lives. To regain control is how addiction can be fought. If I can fight my addictions through power of control, then we can create a power of control over our communities, across our nation, and throughout our world. Perhaps the answer to addiction is not trying to find a cure. Perhaps the answer to addiction is research, and the development and education of human beings. Nechi is one. An institution that nurtures the core principles of life. A place to come to heal your soul.
Substance use affects people from all walks of life: brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. Odds are, even if you haven’t been subject to the damage and risks of substance abuse, you know someone who has lived through it or who has watched a loved one struggle. I really just hope that everybody here utilizes their strength and talents that God has been virtuous enough to grant us. If we can continue to grow and utilize our best selves, through things like education, community enrichment, radical means of self-development, then I truly believe that we can lower the statistics. Substance use disorders across Canada are crippling our entire nation. If unity and education is what it takes to stand up against addiction, then I am proud to say I am ready to do that.
We all have the capacity of doing something great. We have already proven that through our attendance here today. Don’t ever underestimate the power we have to be successful. And don’t ever take for granted all of the incredible opportunities we have been given. Nechi Class of 2019, lets show the world what it means to be united together.
LAST CHANCE, LIMITED ENROLMENT!!!! SIGN UP NOW!!!!APPLY NOW, CALL & REGISTER TODAY!!
STARTS JULY 8th, 2019
TESTIMONIAL FROM STUDENT WHO TOOK THIS TRAINING: "I really enjoyed what was being offered here. I have much to take back. I really am excited about getting this project going. I was given new tools to utilize and work with and I have a new sense of hope for my community. I am very thankful for all that was taught and I absorbed the teaching like a sponge. Now I believe I am ready to take a step in the right direction on helping my people back home. The way it was taught was meaningful and I learned more here than in any university class I sat in. Because here the connection was made and I really enjoyed it."
- Nechi Student Rebecca Head