At VOA Northern Rockies, healing goes beyond treatment— it reconnects individuals with their culture and community. For Buddy, embracing his heritage through culturally grounded care was key to overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life. His journey from struggle to strength shows the power of culture, family, and faith in recovery.
Please read Buddy’s story below:
At VOA Northern Rockies, our programs do more than offer treatment—they build vital bridges to hope, healing, and cultural identity. For many of our clients from Native American communities, reconnecting with their tribal traditions is an essential part of recovery. Through culturally grounded approaches, tailored support, and respect for heritage, VOA Northern Rockies honors the profound role that culture plays in healing. For Buddy, a proud member of the Crow Nation, this integration of culture and care has been transformative—allowing him not only to reclaim his life but to rediscover the strength embedded in his roots.
For years, Buddy battled addiction—overcoming methamphetamine and alcohol dependency while facing the painful fractures it caused in his relationships. The toll was heavy: estranged from his children and grandchildren and haunted by the weight of missed moments and broken promises.
Yet, amid the darkness, a spark remained. Buddy’s fierce love for his family, especially his grandchildren, became a source of motivation to seek change. “I’ve got to do my part to get them back,” he says, acknowledging the pain of absence but holding hope for reunion.
“This place has helped me believe in myself and my culture again. It’s reconnecting with who I am—my roots, my language, my clan system.”
His path to healing led him to VOA Northern Rockies, where he was welcomed with respect, dignity, and support in a transformative space. Here, Buddy found more than treatment; he found community. He discovered a culture that honored his Crow heritage, incorporating traditions and teachings that deeply resonated and reconnected him to his identity. “I translate everything in Crow. If I want it bad enough, I find direction. I seek help,” he said. “My culture, that’s what it’s all about.”
Through culturally grounded White Bison Certified programs and structured by the Wellbriety, Buddy discovered a new way forward. Wellbriety is rooted in Indigenous wisdom and 12-step recovery principles, which gave him tools to understand his powerlessness and embrace honesty—the foundational steps to rebuilding his life. He found that translating these teachings into his Crow language helped reconnect him with his identity in a meaningful, authentic way.
Through immersive programs and peer support, Buddy embraced tools like “mind mapping,” blending Native wisdom and recovery principles to better understand powerlessness and honesty in his journey. “It’s about honesty… I’m having a hard time trying to mind map that, but it’s getting there,” he said. “I’m digging deeper.”
What makes Buddy’s story uniquely inspiring is the way he channels his recovery into service for others. He has become a mentor, teacher, and role model—not just within VOA Northern Rockies but in his community. Buddy adopted a young man from the program, giving him a Crow name and embracing him as family. He teaches youth how to rope and fish, passing down cultural knowledge and providing stability many had never known.
His commitment extends beyond his own healing—it’s a commitment to healing his community. He understands the tragic consequences when people lack safe, supportive environments, and he advocates for treatment centers that honor both culture and recovery. “Here, I’m learning how to be whole, to find myself, so that when I go back home, I can deal with it there,” he said. “I want to live a long time and do this—help my people—and share what I’ve learned
Buddy’s journey also embodies the profound impact of faith and gratitude. “This place has helped me believe in myself and my culture again,” he said. ” it’s reconnecting with who I am—my roots, my language, my clan system.” He credits his spiritual growth and the power of prayer as pillars in his transformation. Equipped now with humility, honesty, and renewed purpose, he is determined to live fully—to be a strong father, husband, grandfather, and community leader.
“I’ve learned how to take care of my health, my body, and to be thankful and humble,” he said. “Every day is too short not to use what I’ve been given.” His resilience is a testament to the power of second chances, the strength found in culture and community, and the healing that radical hospitality brings.
At VOA Northern Rockies, we are honored to walk alongside individuals like Buddy, whose stories inspire us all to lead with open hearts and serve with unwavering purpose. Through his courage and commitment, Buddy not only reclaims his own life but lights a path of hope for others ready to embrace transformation.