"Be the Buffalo"
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Music by Indigenous Rapper - WolfCastle
In this powerful episode, Kait sits down with Earl Thiessen, Executive Director of Oxford House (Calgary), to talk about recovery, culture, and coming home to who you are. Earl shares his journey from homelessness and addiction to leadership, how reconnection to Cree culture, ceremony, and community transformed his life and now anchors Oxford House’s peer- and culturally-supported recovery housing.
You’ll hear about:
The moment a judge offered Earl a window of opportunity, and how he took it
Why pretreatment housing fills a deadly gap between detox and treatment
The medicine wheel in practice: emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical healing
The power of sweat lodge and what it means to “send the spirits home”
Honouring MMIWG and opening Red Woman House on Earl’s mother’s birthday
Being gifted 10 braids of sweetgrass and the feeling of “coming home” to Cree community
“Be the buffalo”: moving into the storm with courage, vulnerability, and service
Why this matters:
Addiction isolates; culture connects. Oxford House’s Indigenous healing homes show why belonging, ceremony, and time (no arbitrary discharge dates) are essential to breaking cycles and restoring families.
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Website: https://www.oxfordhouse.ca/
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In this episode:
00:00 Introduction to Oxford House and Earl's Journey
03:07 The Evolution of Peer-Supported Recovery Housing
06:05 Cultural Reconnection and Healing
08:45 The Importance of Community and Connection
11:55 Indigenous Healing Practices and Their Impact
14:48 Holistic Healing: Balancing Mind, Body, and Spirit
17:44 Cultural Ceremonies and Their Significance
25:34 The Power of Vision and Connection
28:36 Strength Through Vulnerability
30:31 Honoring the Past and Healing
34:18 The Role of Women in Indigenous Culture
38:38 Reconnecting with Heritage
41:47 The Pursuit of Knowledge and Growth
45:13 Challenging Yourself for Others