A First Nation in B.C.’s Fraser Valley has launched a substance-use treatment program specifically for young adults that combines Indigenous knowledge and clinical care.
Led by Seabird Island through a partnership with Fraser Health and the government of B.C., the Thíytelh Wellness Program will soon accept Indigenous applicants between 19 and 26 for its six spot 90-day program.
Alexis Grace, chief administrative officer of Seabird Island, about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver, said the program is an opportunity to approach addictions care in a new way.
“We have our transformer origin stories that give us teachings that guide us, that come along when things aren’t quite right,” said Grace at the program’s opening ceremony, Tuesday.
“I think we can see in all of these systems things aren’t quite right and we need to stand up something. We need to do something differently.”
While overdose deaths due to the toxic drug supply decreased from 2024 to 2025, First Nations people continue to be disproportionately affected by the toxic drug crisis.
According to data by the First Nations Health Authority, nearly half of drug overdose deaths of First Nations people in 2025 were among adults under 40.
Cyril Paul, elder at Telmexwawtexw Healing Centre in Sts’ailes, said since the toxic drug crisis, he’s attended “many funerals of young people.”
“Times are changing, at the same time so are the drugs getting stronger. We’ve lost a number of loved ones not only in Sts’ailes, Seabird, just about every nation,” said Paul.