Esketemc First Nations Health Service

Esk’etemc First Nations Health Service provides community-based addiction and wellness services to the Esk’etemc (Secwépemc Nation) community in Alkali Lake, British Columbia’s Cariboo region. Rooted in the nation’s deep cultural heritage and guided by the values of balanced living, environmental stewardship, and ancestral tradition, the health service offers outpatient addiction counselling and holistic therapy for community members dealing with alcohol, drug, and substance use challenges. Alkali Lake holds a remarkable place in the history of Indigenous community recovery in Canada — a story of collective healing that continues to inspire.

Community-Based Outpatient Addiction Services

Esk’etemc Health Service delivers outpatient addiction counselling from within the community at 1022 Esk’et Drive, Alkali Lake. The community-based model is fundamental to the approach: services are delivered where people live, reducing the isolation and cultural disconnection that can come with leaving home for treatment. Individual counselling sessions and group support help community members address substance use — including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids — within a framework of community accountability and cultural grounding.

Holistic Healing Rooted in Secwépemc Culture

The Esk’etemc approach to healing is inseparable from culture. Holistic therapies integrate physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness — reflecting the Secwépemc worldview that true health requires balance across all dimensions of a person’s life. Traditional knowledge, land-based practices, and Elder guidance complement professional counselling services, creating a healing environment that is both clinically sound and deeply connected to who Esk’etemc people are. This integration of culture and care is at the heart of the health service’s approach.

A Community with a Legacy of Recovery

Alkali Lake’s community has a celebrated history of collective healing — the “Alkali Lake Story” has been widely recognized as a model of Indigenous-led community recovery, demonstrating how an entire community can transform its relationship with alcohol through shared commitment, cultural revitalization, and mutual support. Esk’etemc First Nations Health Service continues that legacy today, providing accessible, culturally grounded addiction support that honours the past while building healthier futures for community members and their families.