Ranch Ehrlo has long been a place where youth from the most eastern part of Canada have come to heal. Now, the Ranch has come to them.

Dr. Karl Mack, senior director of residential treatment, recently returned from a two-week trip to Sheshatchiu, Labrador, an Innu federal reserve located approximately 30 kilometres north of Goose Bay. During his time there, Karl shared knowledge and trained 15 staff from three separate community programs.

Painting sent back from Sheshatchiu, to be hung in a group home to remind Labrador youth of their home.

“The people from Sheshatchiu are concerned about the need to send children and adolescents all the way from Labrador to Saskatchewan for intervention programs,” Karl explained. “So they’re trying to build capacity within their home communities in order to keep these kids at home.”

During the two weeks Karl spent in Sheshatchiu, much of the time was spent leading intensive, contextual-based training, based on the needs in the community.

“It was a combination of training, program development, and some strategic planning,” Karl explained. “The feedback was very positive. They were asking for more training before I even left.”

Because of these requests, the Ranch is now looking at how they can expand on the training offered and build an ongoing supportive relationship so that we can learn from the community about their needs and we can adapt our program at Ranch Ehrlo to meet those needs.

But his time in Sheshatchiu wasn’t without challenges. Many of the residents speak Innu – a language that Karl isn’t familiar with. The barrier created a unique situation, because many English terms have no direct translation. By allowing plenty of time for those who are fluent in both languages to discuss the concepts, the barrier was broken down and the teaching was able to be applied to the Innu culture.

Karl feels privileged and honoured to have been given the opportunity to share knowledge with the people of Sheshatchiu but credits much of his expertise to Ranch Ehrlo staff that came before him.

“The challenge is rewarding. None of the knowledge belongs to me. I stand on the shoulders of many giants. These are all gifts that have been shared with me by people like Dr. Pawson, Jim Ennis, and Bob Bodner,” Karl explained. “Now it’s my turn to share those gifts with other people.”