Eldridge highlights personal recovery journey while managing grief & trauma
Eleena Eldridge speaks at the annual Waapi Kani grief conference on
March 17.
By YVONNE WARJACK
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — On day two of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Waapi Kani Mental Wellness and Recovery Healing With Water Grief Conference March 17, Eleena Eldridge focused on her recovery journey.
She talked about the relationship between grief, trauma and substance abuse. She described alcohol use beginning in adolescence and continuing into adulthood, eventually escalating alongside family separation, housing instability, and legal involvement. A custody change involving her oldest son marked a major turning point, followed by increased substance use and separation from her children.
She also recounted a 2014 vehicle crash that resulted in severe injuries and the death of her partner, Isaiah. The event became central to her healing process. After continued struggles and relapse, Eldridge described entering recovery, participating in Alcoholics Anonymous, and rebuilding stability through structured support.
She identified August 17, 2016, as her sobriety date and noted that April 17 marks 11 years since the crash. During her presentation, Eldridge said, “Grief is real and it’s there, and we have to go through the stages to make it to where we are today.” After returning home, Eldridge completed recovery coach training, began volunteering, entered counseling, and started speaking in formal settings.
She was later hired full-time as a recovery coach, where she now supports others through lived experience.
Her presentation also addressed grief as part of an ongoing journey and its connection to recovery. She described how those perspectives shaped her response to the passing of Donna Honena, a former program manager and coordinator, and emphasized continuing her work through service to others. The conference highlighted connections between grief, healing, and community support through presentations, cultural elements, and shared experiences.
The 23rd Annual Grief Conference concluded Tuesday afternoon with closing prayer, marking two days of reflection and recovery-centered gathering under the theme, “Healing With Water.”
