Maskwacis Young Spirit Winds Society

Maskwacis Young Spirit Winds Society is a community-based day treatment program in Maskwacis, Alberta, dedicated to supporting Indigenous youth aged 12 to 17 who are struggling with substance use. With a capacity of 10 young people, the program provides holistic, outpatient services that allow adolescents to receive intensive addiction support while remaining in their home community, connected to their families and cultural roots. Serving the four Cree nations of Maskwacis — Ermineskin, Louis Bull, Montana, and Samson — Young Spirit Winds is a vital local resource for youth who might otherwise have no locally accessible care.

Youth-Centred Outpatient Day Treatment

Young Spirit Winds operates as a day treatment program — meaning youth attend structured programming during the day and return home in the evenings. This community-based model is particularly important for adolescents, allowing them to maintain school attendance, family bonds, and cultural community connections while receiving the support they need. The outpatient format reduces the disruption that residential placement can cause for young people at a critical stage of development, keeping them grounded in the relationships and environment that ultimately sustain long-term wellness.

Holistic and Culturally Grounded Care

The Young Spirit Winds program takes a holistic approach that addresses the whole young person — body, mind, spirit, and culture. Programming integrates Indigenous cultural teachings, traditional knowledge, and ceremony alongside evidence-informed counselling and assessment. Individual counselling and group therapy help youth explore the root causes of their substance use, develop healthy coping skills, and build resilience. Aftercare support ensures that the connections and skills built during the program continue to support youth after they complete treatment.

Addressing Substance Use in Maskwacis Youth

Young Spirit Winds provides assessment and treatment support for youth dealing with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and opioid use. The small program size — a maximum of 10 participants — allows for close relationships between staff and youth, creating the kind of trusted, individualized support that adolescents responding to addiction need most. For Indigenous youth in Maskwacis navigating substance use, trauma, and the complex challenges of adolescence, Young Spirit Winds offers a culturally safe and uniquely accessible pathway to healing.