It's remote, a little rugged and quiet. It's the new On the Land Camp that the GNWT put together in response to a growing homelessness challenge across the territory.
On Dec. 17, NWT Integration and Community Services (ICS), the contractor hired by the territorial government to organize the camp, invited SA国际影视传媒 to pay a visit and see what the site is like before the holidays begin.
Though some of residents SA国际影视传媒� of which there are 10 in total right now SA国际影视传媒� either don't celebrate or don't yet have plans for Christmas, Eric Neba, executive director for ICS, explained staff have plans for the holiday, including a Christmas party.
"We have special Christmas gifts, karaoke, and we have a staff [member] who is very good with guitar, so he'll be doing live music as well," Neba said of the coordinated festivities.
He explained that staff have picked out gifts for some of the residents, though he wouldn't reveal what they are, as to not spoil any surprises, he laughed. Neba also stressed that everybody made it on to the 'nice' list this year.
"Everybody is looking forward to it," he said, adding that the residents can expect some turkey meals on Christmas day as well.
The total population of the camp, located an hour's drive from Yellowknife, can vary within weeks. Last week, for example, Neba said the location housed a total of 16 people, which is the highest number the camp has seen so far. The maximum capacity that the spot can accommodate is around 25 people, Robert Tordiff, assistant deputy minister for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, previously explained to SA国际影视传媒.
That's not to say there's little demand. ICS received dozens of applications when it first started circulating them in November. But, the requirements to be approved can be a challenge to some.
"Not everybody is ready at any given time," Neba explained, noting resident must be sober all the time here, and sober for three days prior to coming to the camp.
For William McAllister, staying sober for those few days was hard, he admitted, adding he had withdrawal symptoms while staying in shelters like the Salvation Army and waiting for his On the Land Camp application to get approved.
Now that he's at the camp, McAllister said he enjoys being away from the city, and knew most of the people at the site before coming here. One of the harder parts of being in the city, he said, was how easy it can be to access substances like drugs and alcohol.
He added that he plans to go back to the city soon, only this time with some added resources.
"Probably right after New Year's I'll be going back to work," he said. McAllister added that he'll keep up with counselling, and that the GNWT is providing avenues that can help him transition back into a healthier lifestyle.
The camp does provide counselling services and has 62掳 North providing an ambulance and medic on site, but it doesn't treat addictions the same way a safe injection site would, for instance. Still, people who struggle with addictions find this place to be quite the help.
Other folk at the camp echoed McAllister's positive words, including Louis Mutaradlaluk, another resident who's been staying at the camp for almost two weeks.
Like McAllister, he too wanted help with his addictions.
"That's the main reason I'm here," he said, "to help me heal."
Mutaradlaluk said his time at the camp has been awesome and enjoys the work he does, namely chopping firewood. Although the program is only intended to last 10 weeks, residents here agree they'd be happy for it to run longer, including Mutaradlaluk.
"I'd love for it to extend," he said. "I would stay until the end."
Tiffany Jennifer Thrasher SA国际影视传媒� another resident at the camp who also mentioned struggling with addictions SA国际影视传媒� expressed total support for the program to be extended. She also encouraged Premier R.J. Simpson to put as much funding as he can into programs like this.
"Don't clump it together," she advised. "Don't make one camp some luxury resort, keep it rugged. Keep it real, and I would say 'smarten up' because you don't know what it's like to be on the streets. You don't know what it's like to be an addict. You don't know what it's like to have your home taken from you."
Although the tour didn't include the living accommodations, the GNWT described them as insulated dorm-style cabins heated by wood stoves. There's heated outhouses and showers and a kitchen cabin for meals and community activities.
The estimated cost for this operation is $642,000. Counselling services are offered twice a week and cultural programming three days a week.
