GETTING TO KNOW THE 7 STEPS

The 7 steps act as a guiding principles for our members as they navigate life. We are a non-denominational group, and our steps reflect that.

Using the steps, members of our group work on themselves, similarly to how step-work is incorporated in other 12-step support groups. Though we kept it short and sweet with only 7 steps to follow.

Below you can find the 7 Steps Pledge and the 7 Steps of Freedom in English & Mi'kmaq

The 7 Steps Pledge - English

Knowing that my freedom depends upon my thoughts and actions; I hereby pledge:

To face and accept the truth about myself, to maintain my freedom, to become a useful member of society, to help others as I am now being helped.

The 7 Steps Pledge - Mi'kmaq

Kejitu ta'n tel seyey wejiaq ta'n telita'si aqq tel-lukwey ni'n wesuwa'lsi ankaptmn aqq wkswa'tun taqoey teliaq ukjit ni'n siaw klo'tmn ta'n tel-seyey na' tal-lukwen mimajuaqniktuk apoqnmuan ktikik ta'n ni'n teli apoqnmuksiap

The 7 Steps Pledge - French

Engagement de la 7th Step

Sachant que ma liberté dépend de mes pensées et de mes actions, je m’engage par la présente à
Faire face à la vérité sur moi-même et l’accepter, conserver mon libre-arbitre, devenir un membre utile de la société et aider les autres comme on m’aide actuellement.

The 7 Steps of Freedom - English

1. Facing the truth about ourselves and the world around us, we decided we needed to change.

2. Realizing there is a Power from which we can gain strength, we decided to use that Power.

3. Evaluating ourselves by taking an honest self-appraisal, we examined both our strengths and our weaknesses.

4. Endeavouring to help ourselves overcome our weaknesses, we enlisted the aid of that Power to help us concentrate on our strengths.

5. Deciding that our FREEDOM is worth more than our resentments, we are using that Power to help free us from those resentments.

6. Observing that daily progress is necessary, we set an attainable goal, towards which we can work each day.

7. Maintaining our own FREEDOM, we pledge ourselves to help others as we have been helped.

The 7 Steps of Freedom - Mi'kmaq

Lluiknek te'siteskasikl ukjit seyeyimk

1. Ankaptmin teliaq ukjit kinu aqq wksitqamu ta'n kito'qikuksi'k kisita'sulti'k nutaykip sa'se'wa'lsultinew.
2. Mikusulti'k etek mlkikno'ti ukjit kinu ta'n kisi msntesnuk mlkikno'ti kisita'sulti'k ewe'mu'k na mlkikno'ti.
3. Ankamsulti'k ta'n tel tepawtulti'k ankaptmu'kipnl kitk mlkikno'timinal aqq menaqanaqeweyminal.
4.Altaqitayk apoqnmasultinew sapa'tunew menaqnaqewe'l wikutmekip apoqnmasuti ukjit mlkikno'ti apoqnmuksinen ankite'tminew ta'n telikna'ti'k.
5. Kisita'sultiek seyo'ltiek me' Naji tepawtik aqq ta'n telikna'ti'k.
6. iloqaptmin na'kwek ta'n tel-knekk pekisinn na nuta'q ika'tu'k natukoqoey ta'n kisa'tutesnuk te'sikiskek.
7. Kelo'tmu'k seyo'lti'k ika'lsukti'k apoqnmuanew ktikik ta'n teli apoqnmuksi'kip apoqnmasultinew.

The 7 Steps of Freedom - French

Sept étapes vers la liberté

1. Face à la vérité sur nous-mêmes et sur le monde qui nous entoure, nous avons décidé que nous devions changer.
2. En réalisant qu’il existe un pouvoir à partir duquel nous pouvons acquérir de la force, nous avons décidé d’utiliser ce pouvoir.
3. En nous évaluant de manière honnête, nous avons examiné nos forces et nos faiblesses.
4. En cherchant à nous aider à surmonter nos faiblesses, nous faisons appel à cette puissance pour nous aider à nous concentrer sur nos forces.
5. En décidant que notre LIBERTÉ vaut plus que nos ressentiments, nous utilisons ce pouvoir pour nous aider à nous libérer de ces ressentiments.
6. En constatant que des progrès quotidiens sont nécessaires, nous fixons des objectifs réalisables vers lesquels nous pouvons travailler chaque jour.
7. En conservant notre propre LIBERTÉ, nous nous engageons à aider les autres comme nous avons été aidés.

Poem by El Jones

Her version of the 7 Steps to Freedom

There are lessons we've learned that we let ourselves forget:

Before we could walk, first we crawled and we crept

Once we accepted we could move forward

That's when we leapt

And when we could hold ourselves up

Then we reached a hand back to help

As Martin Luther King Jr Said

You don't have to see the whole staircase

To take the first step.

We don't have to see. Our belief will grant it

When we're down on our knees and don't think we can stand it

In the dark we feel we're alone and stranded

We've reached out before and come back empty handed

And it seems like too much that the world has demanded

Our mistakes seem too deep and we feel like we're branded

But please understand there are always second chances.

Sometimes it feels like we can barley chase success

Some days we taste the failures that sit heavy on our chest

But when it seems like the stress makes it hard to take a breath

The pain that we feel it can barley let us rest

Healing seems too far and we don't know what's next

But facing the truth about ourselves

Is the very first step.

And maybe that truth can feel too frightening and ugly

We think if people saw the real me no one will love me

To cover it up maybe we've drunk or we've drugged

But we know the darkest things only grow when they're swept under the rug.

And when we see that truth

We know we have to change

Realizing there is a Power from which strength is gained

And when we use that power

We start breaking our chains

The second step is taken and five more remain.

It's a journey inside, not a journey of the feet

And being unafraid to see is how we reach step three.

Honesty of self is what we seek,

Examining our strengths and finding where we are weak.

Finding our weakness is nothing to be ashamed

Because our weaknesses become strengths when we give them a name

Through concentrating on our strength we find the power to aid

And so we take the fourth step on the path we have laid.

But let me say this: no journey is straight

Sometimes we find ourselves going backwards, or our courage might fade

Or our purpose gets swayed by the guilt or the hate

We despair and we wonder if maybe it's too late

That's when we reach out for help to place us back on the way.

Because we know we were meant for this flight and ascent

We decide that our freedom is worth more than what we resent

And we don't let negativity live in our heads without rent

In step five we continue unbowed and unbent.

From a place we were broken we make ourselves whole

You can call it will, mind, determination, spirit or soul

Every day we set freedom as an attainable goal

In step six we have grown and we know we're in control.

When we move to new things there are stumbles and slips

Progress isn't easy it never comes quick

And so many of our walls it's us who put in some bricks

But we know we can survive when we're taking those hits

Because there's no freedom for one until there's freedom for all

And somewhere in the dark there's someone else making that call

There's someone trying to stand who needs help not to fall

So in the seventh step, we reach back behind someone else's wall.

There's walls made of metal and locks without keys

But in the mind and the heart is how we get free

And from the first step we took in faith before we could see

That journey bears fruit when our me turns to we

When we give to others we find the strength to be.

We won't always be strong, we won't always be wise

Sometimes we shut down with our true self disguised

But from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs

When we journey together we know we all rise.