Pubdate: Friday, September 17, 1999
Source: Penticton Herald (Canada)
Copyright: 1999 - Horizon Operations (B.C.) Ltd.
Contact:  101-186 Naniamo Ave. West Penticton, B.C., Canada, V2A 1N4
Fax: 1-250-492-2403
Website: http://www.ok.bc.ca/PH/index.htm
Author: Dave Duncan

LAW TALK HITS ON TOUGH ISSUES UP FRONT

Henry Michel, left and Jamie Marshall, both members of the Law Talk
Committee, invite the public to attend this year's free Law Talk Series,
which will focus on Addictions, Law and Community Health. It will start
Sept. 29.

Community empowerment has been a strong undercurrent behind the last two Law
Talk series and that successful theme will continue with this year's series.

"Two years ago we looked at the agitation between the aboriginal and
non-aboriginal communities," said Law Talk committee member Henry Michel,
who is race relations co-ordinator for En'Owkin Centre.

"Last year we looked at environmental issues and this year we wanted to look
at social issues more closely. Addiction seems to be a big issue in society."

Addictions, Law and Community Health is the title for the Law Talk 1999
series, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 in the Okanagan
Room at the Penticton Sandman Hotel.

"There seem to be a lot of legal issues connected to social problems - in
particular around addictions," said fellow committee member Jamie Marshall,
director of Pathways Addictions Resource Centre.

Marshall noted addiction crosses almost all cultures.

"We want to spark healthy conversation that will lead to a healthier
community. It's important to have community discussion," he said.

Michel said Law Talk 1999 will explore current trends in drug and alcohol
addiction and see "whether society is going in the right direction."

He noted addiction is a timely topic, with greatly expanded gambling coming
to Penticton.

Some of the most innovative work in healing addictions is coming from the
aboriginal community, which Michel said combines culture and healing into a
wholistic experience.

The native community has moved away from conventional treatment programs and
is utilizing sweat lodges and healing circles, along with looking at
generational issues of which addictions are symptomatic.

"A lot of the innovation you see coming from our community encompasses many
dysfunctions," he said.

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