Poster contest to bring light to overdoses

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This article was published 28/08/2023 (1168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A trio of young artists from Southern Chief Organization member nations will walk away with back to school shopping sprees thanks to a new poster contest to recognize International Overdose Day on Aug. 31.

“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) wants to uplift those who have lost friends, family members, and other loved ones to substance poisoning and let them know they are not alone,” Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said in a press release. “The grief that comes with losing someone we love to overdose can be overwhelming. It’s important we work together to reduce harm for our community members.”

SCO’s has a harm reduction program which they say aims to keep loved ones who are impacted by substance use safe, offer them love and support, minimize the harms associated with substance use, and support people on their healing journey.

“Overdoses create a ripple effect within our Nations. They encourage us to have tough conversations, build stronger relationships, and move forward on our healing journeys,” Daniels added. “It is our hope that encouraging First Nations youth to create artwork that recognizes the issue of overdosing will help encourage dialogue and spread awareness of this important issue.”

Southern First Nation youth between the ages of 15 and 30 are eligible. They are asked to submit a completed poster to media@scoinc.mb.ca by 4 pm on Aug. 29, to be eligible to win a prize.