'That tiny bit of hope, it goes a long way': Peer support program aims to help Lethbridge's most vulnerable
Melissa Many Fingers-Healy and Cody Fox have spent a large portion of their lives struggling with addiction.
They've both spent time living on the streets while struggling with alcohol and drugs.
Many Fingers-Healy said that at one point, she was certain she wasn't going to make it.
"I didn't think I'd live to see five years, I didn't even think I'd live to see another year," she told CTV.
"My family told me that they did, at one point, get themselves ready for my passing because they thought I was going to die on the streets."
Fox said there were times where he was ready to give up altogether, especially following the deaths of his father, brother and cousin.
"I could've gave up. I could've said what's the point of me not being here too, you know?"
Fortunately, thanks to Alvin Mills, founder of the Kii Maa Pii Pii Tsin Renewal and Healing Centre, they were able to get the help they needed through the Kainai Wellness and Detox Centre.
According to Mills, Kii maa pii pii tsin is a Blackfoot word that he holds very dear to his heart.
"When you translate it, it means kindness to others, caring for others," said Mills.
"Kii maa pii pii tsin is a way of life for the Blackfoot people."
Mills has been helping people get clean and off the streets for years and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.
"It's always been our mandate to support and advocate for the at-risk and vulnerable population here in Lethbridge."
PEER SUPPORT
Now that they're clean, Fox and Many Fingers-Healy are helping Mills in the fight against drugs and homelessness by becoming peer support workers themselves.
Alvin Mills, Melissa Many Fingers-Healy, Cody Fox
They believe that if they can come back from where they were, anybody can.
"I'm thankful and grateful to be able to tell my story," said Fox.
"I'm hoping people will be able to realize that you can put that bottle down, put that pill down, put that pipe down. There's a life out there and you don't have to do that."
They also believe that the biggest way to get through to those struggling is by offering them just a little bit of hope.
"I'm just trying to give people hope because that's that one thing that everybody lacks, is that tiny bit of hope," said Many Fingers-Healy.
"That tiny bit of hope, it goes a long way. It really does."
Mills, his amazing peer support mentors and others with the Kii Maa Pii Pii Tsin Renewal and Healing Centre will be out most weekends handing out food and drink while spreading their messages of hope, determination and perseverance to those in need.
When asked, Mills said he couldn't have gotten two more inspiring people to help him help others.
"What they went through, you can't learn that," he said.
"You can't get a degree from what they went through. Their degree is from life itself."
To find out how you can help Mills and his peer support program, you can contact the Blackfoot Lodge in Lethbridge.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.