Voices In Recovery Podcast

This week Darcy and I examine the constant racism within law enforcement and the government as G7 approaches us all. We examine the trauma of disconnecting from systems once becoming a part of them. The doubt, fear, confusion, and uncertainty of resisting the systems in power based on history. We have been shown time and time again what happens when people stand up against government powers and the henchmen they employ to protect THEIR interests only. I share about my own struggles with knowing police officers and refusing to talk to them in any capacity. As I mentioned to one or two of them this past week, I will be talking about them and at them, but not with them. I point out the obvious privilege that I carry being able to yell at the poe poe the way I do. We aren't sure if it's run of the mill nepotism and white privilege that protects me or if there are individuals within the police service watching out for me? I haven't been beaten up by members of the service yet so I'm thinking someone is watching my back in there and for that, we thank you, as I'm old and fragile.

This week's guest, Agnes, stops by and shares a bit of their journey and how it led them to starting Starlings Community. She was a nurse working within the broken system and as her life journey progressed she knew she needed to move into a different compassionate place to be of use to other humans. Thank you Agnes, we appreciate you and all that you do.

This week our guest, Sonny stops by with his husband, Wes and we hear about their individual and sometimes collective journeys together. They are a part of the Gay Druze Community, which has members from all over the world. We talk about shedding the different, and similar dogmas we were hampered with from childhood. As we become more and more ourselves, dogma often simply slides off of us. Other times there is a need for directed effort to rid ourselves of the consequences of said dogmas. Thank you Sonny and thank you Wes for being there and supporting our conversation with kindness and love.

Since the recording of this episode, myself and other folks involved in the pro Palestine, end the Genocide movement have been approached by members of police intelligence officers from both the Calgary Police Service and the RCMP. They've approached most of us under the guise of "building community". Due to the RCMP's continued violence against indigenous people of Canada and the world, I refused to speak with them. If you're wondering whether you have to speak with them, you do not. No matter how nice they seem to be. It's always your choice in this country. This week, our friend and regular guest, Wesam stops by and we talk about the continuous genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestine, ongoing exploitation of African countries, protesting even though it might feel overwhelming, police violence in the name of state security, and many other subjects. We talk about the bogus charges the Calgary Police Service laid against him. How through constant pressure and fighting in court, he has had some conditions removed while awaiting trial. The Calgary Police Service has unlimited funds to punish anyone standing up against oppression. In the end we know the police service are performing for the cameras as they always do - as we approach the one year anniversary of the brutal attacks by both Calgary and Edmonton police services on unarmed students and supporters, including women and children. These departments have sold out the people of Alberta. Thank you for coming back on my friend. We appreciate all of the your work and presence in the community. The people united, will never be defeated.

This week, Lia stops by and shares her incredible journey as a young, 14 year old entering into the volatile world of politics. We talk about her discovery of alcohol as a coping mechanism. She talks about her understanding of alcohol as a problematic part of her and her partner's life a few months into their collective journey years ago. She talks about living life and continuing to grown and evolve. Thank you for taking the time Lia, we appreciate you.

This week Darcy and I sit down to chat about the complicated task of maintaining empathy in a world where it's seen and treated as a weakness and a defect. We talk about government tactics to destroy morale, connectivity, and solidarity of protestors. The obvious and unapologetic imbalance in police response to Black, Indigenous and People of Color protesting in our cities. The audacity of local law enforcement as we approach the one year anniversary of the attack by police on peaceful protestors at the University of Calgary. Ordered by the school administration and our provincial government.

This week, Darcy and I sit down and chat about millennial scoop and the continued use of the child welfare system to enforce racist and colonial control over indigenous peoples of turtle Island. We talk about the foster care system which continues the policy of "killing the indigenous" within every indigenous child in order to assimilate them to colonial kkkanada. We also discuss the continued genocide in Palestine, Congo, Syria, etc. We talk about forced incarceration in Alberta, which is dressed up as treatment.

This week's guest, Steve from Stonewall Recovery Centre here in Calgary stops by and shares portions of his journey. He talks about not only his life in active addiction, but through his coming out as a queer man in a fuller recovery for himself. I won't share too much, we have a great conversation and it is always lovely sitting down with members of the queer communityWe are full of love for Steve and of course Stonewall Recovery Centre as the first 2SLGBTQi+ treatment centre in Canada. We at Freedom’s Path Recovery Society are so pleased to announce that we have been working closely with Steve and could not be more excited about the present and future.

This week artist, frontline worker, activist, and advocate; Nikk Goodswimmer also known as PunkIndigenous (they/she 2S) is Stoney Nakota and Cree from Treaty 8 Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. They share their incredible, painful and harrowing journey starting with the millennial scoop of 2000's. Where the federal government continued its awful practice of removing indigenous children from their families. Now it isn't to send away to residential schools, but into the very same system under the guise of foster care. Then to be placed in white, Christian foster care where as recently as ten years ago they held Nikk down and cut their hair. Our governments are apologetic about abuse and genocide, all the while committing atrocities under different names and guises. https://www.interruptingcriminalization.com/defundpolice-toolkithttps://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/End genocide 💔***If you are interested in coming on the podcast please direct inquiries to david@davidlewry.com******If you are interested in making a donation to Freedom's Path Recovery Society please visit our website*** www.freedomspathrecoverysociety.ca*Produced by Darcy Robinson

This week's guest, Kyle, stops by and shares his journey through addiction into recovery. Kyle essentially grew up working in the restaurant and bar industry while working and studying finance. There were times when working in the bar industry when his alcoholism simply took over after multiple times of sobriety. Kyle's story is an illustration of how what once was fun and exciting can quickly turn into darkness. I won't spoil it for you, thank you Kyle!