About the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (WAHRS)
WAHRS is a group that first started in 2002 as a subgroup of VANDU. The idea was first thought up by the current WAHRS president, Chris Livingstone, who recognized the need for an all-aboriginal group run by and decisions made by aboriginal people.
Statistics have shown that in the downtown eastside area that the epidemics (HepC, HIV/AIDS) have hit the native population harder than any other ethnic group. Alcoholism is another major problem amongst the aboriginals as well, not only with hard liquor and beer but with rubbing alcohol, mouthwash and Lysol to name a few, and this is causing a lot more health problems as well as mental health related difficulties.
WAHRS has recognized another problem in this area and that is a need for warm and proper footwear. Shoes and boots can be expensive for persons on limited incomes to purchase; or to have people donate. Socks are inexpensive and not so hard to donate, so this prompted the board of directors of WAHRS to agree on canvassing several companies and organizations for funding or donations of socks to give to the people as they are in need, especially in the winter months (the rainy season in Vancouver). Wet feet can lead to a number of foot problems that could later get much, much worse.
Another of WAHRS initiatives is an alcohol maintenance program. Because of the deadly effects that rubbing alcohol and mouthwash have on a person's system, WAHRS has said that it needed to help the persons drinking this poison by not letting them go 'cold turkey' but by weaning them off by substituting beer. Once they are on this maintenance program, the next step would be a detox or a treatment centre. These initiatives are what this community needs to better the lives of people here, the sicker the people are the more taxing it gets on the entire health system, and it's dollars which is actually is the average Joe's tax dollars.
Although WAHRS is a group of aboriginals trying to help themselves and the people of their community, progress is slow as funding and donations are in short supply.
For more information on WAHRS, please feel free to contact us at (604) 683-8595 or one of our spokespeople at livingstonechris@yahoo.com
By Tony
WAHRS Bylaws
Part 1 – Interpretation
1. (1) In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) “Directors” means directors of the society for the time being
(b) “Society Act” means the Society Act of the Province of British Columbia from time to time in force and all amendments to it
(c) “Registered Adress” of a member means his address as recorded in the register of members.
(2) The definitions in the Society Act, if the date of these bylaws become effective, apply to these bylaws.
1. Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa; and words importing a male person include a female person and corporation.
Part 2 – Membership
2.
(1) There shall be three types of membership;
(a) A full member shall be a person who is Aboriginal who has formerly or is presently using illicit drugs and shall have both voice and vote at all meetings.
(b) A supporting member shall be a person who is Aboriginal who has not formerly and is not presently using illicit drugs and shall have voice but no vote at all meetings.
(c) A supporting member shall be a person who is not Aboriginal and shall have voice but no vote at all meetings.
(2) The number of supporting members shall not exceed ten percent of the full membership.
1. A person may apply to the directors for membership in the society and on acceptance by the directors shall be a full member.
2. Every member shall uphold the constitution and comply with these bylaws.
WAHRS Constitution
1. The name of the society is:WESTERN ABORIGINAL HARM REDUCTION SOCIETY
2. The purposes of the society are:
(a) To celebrate our inherent strengths as indigenous peoples that has allowed us to resist extinction
(b) To recover a holistic traditional philosophy, to reconnect with our spirituality and culture, and to infuse our politics and our relationships with traditional values
(c) To create sound communities, individual empowerment and the re-establishment of relationships based on traditional Native values
(d) To improve the quality of life for people who are Aboriginal who use illicit drugs by encouraging the development of support, education and training programs that reflect values of Aboriginal people
(e) To develop networks and coalitions of informed and empowered people who work to improve the health of Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs and illicit alcohol
(f) To ensure that a voice for people who are Aboriginal who use illicit drugs is empowered, strengthened and heard by policy makers, service providers and the public concerning societal, economic, health and treatment issues related to the use of illicit drugs and illicit alcohol
(g) To purchase, sell and/or lease property, equipment and materials that are deemed necessary to accomplish the society’s purposes.
1. WINDING UP OR DISSOLUTION
In the event of winding up and dissolution of the society, the funds of the society remaining after the satisfaction of its debts and liabilities shall be distributed among other organizations promoting the same purpose, and which are duly qualified as charitable organizations by Revenue Canada, according to a motion adopted by the majority of the society’s members at the time of winding up and dissolution. This provision is unalterable.
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