Pubdate: Fri, 27 Apr 2001
Source:  Peninsula News Review (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Peninsula News Review
Contact:  http://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/
Author: Phil Jensen

ORDER OF CANADA RECIPIENT RETIRES

After more than 30 years as a drug and alcohol counselor, Samuel Sam of the 
Tsartlip Nation is retiring. Sam holds an honorary Doctor of laws degree 
from the  University of Victoria, and is a Recipient of the Order of 
Canada. He's also an alcoholic.

"I almost destroyed my life and marriage," Sam said. "But I had a wonderful 
wife who stuck with me."

After sobering up in 1959, he's worked hard to make up for those early 
years. Through regular counseling activities, Sam has helped many who 
suffer from alcoholism and drug abuse. And as Chairman of the Regional 
Advisory Board for First Nations at Health and Welfare Canada, he  was 
instrumental in establishing the Round Lake Treatment Centre in Armstrong, 
and the Tsowtunlelum Treatment Centre at Nanoose Bay.

Recently Sam has been working to help create a Victoria Centre for people 
apprehended while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"It's no good just handcuffing them and locking them up," he said. "We have 
to recognize that they have a disease."

He spoke of a history of 150 years of policemen who didn't care about 
aboriginal people. "It's changed" he said. "I rode in one of those 1940s 
paddy wagons. Under much difference circumstances than today."

Sam, and two retiring Victoria City policemen, Gary Green and John Smith, 
were honoured in a joint ceremony at the Songhees Nation on Saturday. "It's 
probably the first time in history that native people [have honoured] 
retiring policeman," he said, describing Green and Smith as a "couple of 
good guys".

Sam's best advice to young First Nations people is to learn their language, 
their culture and their spiritual teachings. He also thinks it's time for 
native people to seek a greater involvement in the political processes of 
the country.

"We call ourselves First Nations, because it's important to us to be 
recognized as the first people here," he said. "But there has to be some 
kind of unity across Canada. The more we learn and get involved, the better 
for our people."
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