
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.
