Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care in Enoch Cree Nation

Moderator Ruben Buck Breaker, Dr Gabrielle Weasel head, Randal Bell Asiniy Maskwa (Stone Bear), Reagan Bartel

Panel 3 – Indigenous Health Stream – Indigenous Partnerships for healthy recovery communities

September 24th Day Two – Exhibition Hall C North Building 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

When communities heal, Nations rise.

Randall Bell Asiniy Maskwa (Stone Bear)

Session Description

Stone Bear Recovery Solutions is charting a bold new course for Indigenous recovery services. We are not here merely to raise the bar—we are here to set the standard, co-designing recovery solutions with Indigenous Nations so that services are delivered in ways that truly work for them.

Just as our ancestors understood that it takes a village to raise a child, we understand Indigenous recovery takes an entire community. That’s why Indigenous Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care must be built with communities, drawing on their strengths, mobilizing local resources, and building the recovery capital needed to sustain wellness—not only for individuals, but for whole Nations.

Our novel approach to Indigenous recovery is rooted in connection: to self, family, community, culture, ceremony, and purpose. Colonization sought to sever these sacred ties—separating Indigenous peoples from their language, lands, ways of knowing, ceremonies and cultural practices. The resulting intergenerational trauma still echoes through the generations today and can still be heard in the voices of those seeking recovery. We’ve all heard them.

The path forward begins with restoring these connections. Guided by a strength-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed philosophy, we honour both the resilience of Indigenous people and the realities of our shared history. This is recovery that affirms dignity, celebrates culture, and restores sacred connection.This presentation will share our vision for a renewed future in Indigenous recovery—one where healing is transformative, grounded in culture, and sustained by community. Participants will discover how Stone Bear Recovery Solutions is partnering with governments and Indigenous nations to create recovery systems that honour the past, respond to the present, and shape a thriving future

Learning Objectives

  • Describe Indigenous Recovery Oriented Systems of care
  • Explain the critical role of connection in Indigenous addiction and mental health treatment
  • Articulate the importance of service integration and service continuity in Indigenous addiction and mental health treatment
  • Explain how culture and ceremony are integral to sustained Indigenous recovery and resilience

References

Bell, R. (2017). The Indigenous Patient Journey Projects. Alberta Health Services.

Best, D., Irving, J., & Albertson, K. (2017). Recovery and desistance: What the emerging recovery movement in the alcohol and drug area can learn from models of desistance from offending. Addiction Research & Theory, 25(1), 1–10.

Coyhis, D., & Moore, D. (2010). The multicultural Wellbriety peer recovery support program: Two decades of community-based recovery. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 28(3), 273–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2010.488530

De Leon, G. (2000). The Therapeutic Community: Theory, Model, and Method. Springer Publishing Company.

Hari, J. (2015). Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs. Bloomsbury.

Rowan, M., Poole, N., & Dell, C. (2015). Honoring Indigenous culture-as-intervention: Toward transcultural knowledge translation. Families, Systems, & Health, 33(1), 15–26.

Yellow Bird, M. (2013). Neurodecolonization: Applying mindfulness research to decolonizing social work. In D. M. Zuberi & B. Ptashnick (Eds.), Transforming Social Work Education: The First Decade of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at First Nations University of Canada (pp. 105–120). Purich Publishing.

Bio

Randal’s Cree name is Asiniy Maskwa and he is a proud member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation in the Treaty 6 territory of Saskatchewan. Randal is a proud father, a husband, a son, and a brother. Randal is currently the executive director of Stone Bear Recovery Solutions, a subsidiary of the ROSC Solutions Group. Randal was previously the executive director of Apiwikamik Wellness Branch on the Enoch Cree Nation, where he built an end-to-end continuum of Indigenous Addiction and Mental Health services, initiating work on the $37 million Recovery Community Treatment Centre. Previously employed by Alberta Health Services, Randal managed multiple provincial projects exploring Indigenous Addiction and Mental Health service needs and lead the development of the Indigenous Addictions and Mental Wellness Strategy for Alberta.

Randal has held executive management positions in social care and health in Saskatchewan, Alberta, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Randal holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work, a Master’s of Public Health, and is currently completing his Doctorate in Public Health at the University of Alberta. Randal currently resides in Edmonton with his wife Liv, and their daughter MacKenzie.

Other Panel Members

Join us for the Alberta Recovery Summit, hosted by the 9th Annual Recovery Capital Conference taking place on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2025.

 Session Streams

  • Health Care and Recovery
  • Indigenous Health
  • Occupational Health and Safety

 Key Details

  • DAY ONE September 23rd – 5:30 pm 6:30: Early Badge Pick Up and Networking Reception, 6:30 pm to 8 pm Pre Conference Presentation
  • DAY TWO September 24th – 8:45 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions
  • DAY THREE September 25th – 9 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions

 Hotels

Book your hotel at one of our host hotels and save money. Click on the links for the discount rates and book early as rates will go up, and they always sell out.

Schedule

Speakers

Registration

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