Tamara MacKinnon’s scientific contributions

There has been recent interest in Canada exploring the benefits of equine assisted interventions in the treatment of First Nations youth who misuse volatile substances. Using the richness of an exploratory case study involving the White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre and the Cartier Equine Learning Center, our community-based study examined the question of how an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program contributes to the wellbeing of First Nations female youth who misuse volatile substances. Both programs are grounded in a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework of healing. Our study shares how the EAL horses, facilitators and program content contributed to youths’ wellbeing in each area of the healing framework (bio-psycho-social-spiritual), with emphasis on the cultural significance of the horse and its helping role. The horse is a helper in the girls’ journeys toward improved wellbeing—the horse helps through its very nature as a highly instinctive animal, it helps the facilitators do their jobs, and it also helps put the treatment program activities into practice. In addition, the role of First Nations culture in the girls’ lives was enhanced through their encounters with the horses. The findings support the limited literature on equine assisted interventions and add important insights to the youth addictions treatment literature. Key implications to consider for EAL and volatile substance misuse policy, practice and research are identified.

1. Contributions: This article is a collaborative community-based effort of the identified authors, with Ernie Sauve representing Elders Herb, Gladys, and John (a pseudonym), staff and members of the Board of Directors of the White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre, and Tamara MacKinnon representing the staff of the Cartier Equine Learning Centre. Acknowledgement: Two of the authors of this article, Darlene and Colleen, were driving from Saskatoon to Sturgeon Lake First Nation to meet with two of the Elders who are trusted with providing spiritual and cultural guidance at the White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre. As they passed a road- side cross (referred to by Darlene as a shrine) to mark the passing of an individual(s) through a motor vehicle accident, they began a discussion that observed how these "shrines" would not exist to the extent they do if there were no vehicles, and, in place, horses were once again the primary mode of transportation. When their morning meeting with the Elders was coming to a close, a final thought was shared by one of the Elders, Herb. He said that the iron horse (i.e., automobile) has contributed its share to the illness (e.g., materialism) that plagues society today. Another of the Elders, Gladys, re- flected that all is interconnected in life, and everything (e.g., seasons) comes full circle. In many ways, this article represents a piece of the circle of life for each of the authors. We are happy to be able to share this with the reader, and are grateful for what we have learned in the process.