On Aug. 31, members of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation gathered to remember those in their community who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses. Charlene Sterling-Owl lost her daughter, Charisse who overdosed on Nov. 24, 2020 and is now raising Charisse’s daughter. She decided this year for International Overdose Awareness Day to reach out to friends and family to help organize a gathering to raise awareness of just how prevalent the tragedy of drug overdose has affected their own community of Sagamok.

“It was a busy week preparing for the day from start to finish,” she said, “and gatherings like this are successful because of people with huge hearts who contribute in ways they can. This was not a gathering through Sagamok administration but a gathering by Sagamok community members.”

See Full Page