Last Sunday, Aug. 31, marked International Drug Overdose Awareness Day, but it also marked the unveiling of Salmon Arm’s first memorial bench, honouring those who lost their lives to drug overdose and poisoning.
The unveiling took place at the Shuswap Family Centre, where Interior Health set up a booth, educating visitors of various types of overdoses and how to help someone who may be overdosing.
Kayla Belcher, the organizer of the event, said she is grateful to share this moment with friends, people who supported her during her recovery journey, as well as people who share lived experience.
“I feel like bringing awareness right now and just showing up for each other and everyone is really building our communities and support systems together.”
Belcher provided a speech during the unveiling, where drumming and smudging of the bench followed.
“I want to end the stigma and bring awareness by this community and bind together our strengths and not have to be in the shadows,” Belcher said.
According to Belcher, the City did not approve the installation of the bench, but the Shuswap Family Centre, Rise Up Indigenous Wellness, Moms Stop The Harm and local Interior Heath Mental Health and Substance Use team and Peer Engagement and Inclusion supported Belcher in achieving this project.
The bench is carved out of cedar, which Belcher said it is one of the sacred plants of the Indigenous peoples that brings life force energy as “it is the tree of life”. Next to the bench is a Howling Wolf Carving.
“I am also very happy to have came across my own own addictions and my own backstory of nearly losing my life and just being here to be the voice for the ones lost in active addiction right now,” Belcher added.
She said this unveiling was a soft launch, and the grand opening of the bench with its finishing touches will be in the near future.
