Akwesasne Family Wellness Program Hosts the 19th Annual Celebration of Life Conference

Last Wednesday and Thursday (November 9th and 10th), the Akwesasne Family Wellness Program hosted their nineteenth annual Celebration of Life Conference in the winter ballroom at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort. This years theme was Enabling and Helping the Addicted. This two day event was filled with various presentations by different speakers. The first day speakers Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry, co-author's of the addiction memoir "The Lost Years: Surviving A Mother & Daughter's Worst Nightmare." They discussed their book and stories involving their addiction journey.

Kristina Wandzilak is the founder of Full Circle Intervention, a private intervention practice, and then went on to become the co-founder of Full Circle Addiction and Recovery Services, and Full Circle Living which offers long-term recovery mentoring and coaching. Kristina felt by telling her story and discussing her struggle with addiction, she could help others gain the support, resources, and knowledge necessary to get help with their own addiction struggles. Constance Curry, mother of Kristina Wandzilak, discussed her struggles being in codependent relationships within her lifetime, and how she aided her daughter to become the individual she is today. "We have learned so much by letting it go," Constance said to the audience in response to her and her daughter's story.

The second day of the conference included presentations from St. Joseph's Addiction & Treatment Center Family Services Program, which offered tools to aid families who have dealt with the damage of addiction. There was also a panel of Akwesasne and surrounding area agencies that conducted a question and answer session with an open floor for people to address their own questions and concerns. Gift bags were handed out that included a variety of pamphlets and contact numbers for local addiction resources.

The Akwesasne Family Wellness Program hosted this event to provide assistance and support for those dealing with issues with drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other forms of addiction, and also to provide resources for the families as well. Always remember that you are not alone, and to seek help if you or anyone you know is struggling with issues such as addiction.