Searching for Traditional Indigenous Healing And Wellness

Provides services and support for individuals and families struggling with addiction issues

• Offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings when required
• Provides transportation to all meetings and workshops upon request

Prevention

• Provides public seminars/meetings to raise community awareness of alcohol, drug abuse and gambling addictions
• Holds educational sessions in schools
• Coordinates cultural and spiritual events

Intervention

• Facilitates recreational activities and social events
• Provides individual and group discussions
• Offers cultural and spiritual gatherings

Aftercare provided for preventing reoccurrence includes:

• Counselling, sharing circles and support groups
• Regular phone calls and home visits
• Referrals to band services, social services, detoxification and treatment centres and medical assistance

• Promotes the development of good mental health and provides services for individuals with mental health issues
• Provides both culturally appropriate traditional and contemporary mental health services

Services include but are not limited to:

• Individual, family and group counselling to address specific issues and concerns directly related to mental illness and well-being
• A variety of counselling services and educational workshops for issues such as addictions, depression, family violence and stress management
• Cultural activities and crafts

Promotes healthy individuals, families and communities

• Supports reduction or prevention of family and community violence
• Provides culturally appropriate support services, resources, educational materials, and workshops to address community wellness needs
• Participates in and assists to organize community events such as Winter Carnival, Aboriginal Day, Family Fun Weekend and National Addictions Awareness Week
• Promotes a culturally appropriate approach to healing and wellness
• Partners with Noojmowin Teg Health Centre and Manitoulin Central Family Health Team

Cultural activities and events include:

• Drum teaching circles
• Monthly Healer visits
• Opening and closing ceremonies
• Quarterly sweat lodges
• Seasonal Medicine walks
• Spring Fast
• Strengthening Families sessions

Prevention activities offered include:

• Automated External Defibrillator training
• Certified Water Safety Swimming lessons
• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training
• First Aid training
• Fitness Gym management and promotion
• Health Care provider training
• Swim Instructor Certificate program

Provides an educational initiative for the healthy development of high-risk youth in Aboriginal communities

• Offers a ten-week course to youth from Grade 4-8 to promote self-worth, self-esteem and respect for others
• Delivers the program through cultural teachings, healing circles, role models and community awareness
• Uses a team approach involving police officers, teachers, principals, social workers, health care providers and Aboriginal Elders
• Provides a community graduation ceremony for student participants including a feast, ceremony, prizes and certificate

Weekly lesson plans include:

• Cultural Teachings
• Medicine Wheel Teachings
• History of Aboriginal People
• Finding our Strengths
• Painting the Mask
• Healing Circle and Discussion
• Self Esteem
• History of Native People
• Community Awareness

• Delivers prevention and awareness programs/services to community families
• Promotes overall health and wellness of families, youth leadership, social development and physical fitness
• Promotes cultural and traditional teachings with a focus on ensuring the continuation of Anishinabemowin (Native language)
• Cultural activities include beading workshops, traditional feasts, smoking wild meat, maple syrup harvesting, traditional medicine making, harvest bingos, regalia making, hand drumming workshops and traditional dance workshops
• Coordinates many annual events, cultural programs, educational activities, parenting programs, and recreational activities

Community Awareness programs can include but are not limited to:

• After School Program activities
• Community Fun Days
• Community Socials
• Fitness Classes
• Land-based programs including Children's Summer Camps
• Little Serpents Children's Club
• Medicine Walks
• Movie Nights
• Seasonal Craft/Baking workshops
• Special Celebrations for all special occasions
• Talking Circles
• Traditional Family Services such as traditional parenting and family planning
• Youth Development

Operates a residential (4-week) and out-patient alcohol and drug treatment program

• Treats the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of those affected by the abuse of alcohol and drugs
• Assists individuals develop the skills to deal with the effects of substance abuse
• Assists individuals, families and the community to understand the impact that alcohol and drugs have on their lives through a public information system
• Works with youth to develop problem solving and social skills as well as culturally related self-esteem goals in order to assist them in living a drug free life
• Enhances the understanding of the community of the way in which traditional values and beliefs can help build a healthy family and a stronger community
• Encourages individuals, agencies and community groups to actively work together to define and implement programs in the community which lead to healthier families and communities
• Encourages the continued health of individuals through creation of an after-care and follow-up program

Also administers:

• Partner Assault Response Program (PAR)

Provides a broad set of services that address the health and cultural needs of Indigenous people through the use of traditional practices and medicines

• Treats patients and families with a range of traditional medicines
• Maintains client files and provides referrals to doctors/nurses if required
• Makes use of sacred traditional medicines harvested from spring to autumn in healing ceremonies
• Provides a Traditional Ceremonial Medicine Lodge for celebrating healing and sharing ceremonies

• Operates a 59 bed long term care facility offering a variety of programs, services and amenities
• Provides holistic, quality care based on the Seven Grandfather Teachings

Coordinates and delivers the following programs to residents:

• Community Special Events
• Facility Tours
• Guest Speakers
• Intergenerational Programs
• Memorial Services
• Outdoor Gardens/Horticultural Activities
• Pet Visitation/Therapy
• Volunteer Appreciation Events
• Voting Day Polling Station

Provides residents with the following services:

• 24-hour Nursing Care and Supervision
• 24-hour On Call Physician
• Care Conferences
• Exercise and weight training
• Foot Care
• Hairdressing/Barber Services
• Laundry Services
• Meals
• Medication administration
• Palliative care
• Peritoneal dialysis
• Physician Visits
• Social Work Services/Family Services Coordinator
• Spiritual Programs and Pastoral Care
• Various recreational programs and social events

Offers the following amenities:

• Air Conditioning
• Alarms on Exit Doors
• Animals on-site
• Common television room
• Private and semi-private rooms with 2-piece washroom (toilet and sink)
• Shared shower/bathing rooms
• Secure Building Exits
• Secure Units

Promotes the development of good mental health and provides mental health services

• Provides individual, family and group mental health/wellness counselling for issues such as but not limited to: addictions, anger management, anxiety disorders, depression, family violence, grief and loss
• Provides medical assisted treatment for Opioid Replacement Therapy, stimulants and alcohol
• Offers treatment services using both traditional and contemporary health care practices
• Coordinates services of a visiting psychologist
• Provides educational seminars and workshops to community members about various mental health and addiction issues

Naandwe Noojimowin (formerly Beauty from Ashes) Program

• Provides a voluntary five-day residential program for individuals struggling with childhood trauma issues
• Offers counselling, traditional talking and healing circles as well as cultural healing practices
• Partners with Benbowopka Treatment Centre in Blind River and the Dan Pine Healing Lodge in Garden River First Nation to offer the program

• Provides traditional healing services and resources for community members
• Provides cultural workshops on health issues
• Promotes access to traditional healers and elders

Services can include:

• Healing and sharing circles
• Medicine walks
• Sweat lodges
• Traditional herbs and medicines

Provides services and support for individuals and families struggling with addiction issues

• Offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings when required
• Provides transportation to all meetings and workshops upon request

Prevention

• Provides public seminars/meetings to raise community awareness of alcohol, drug abuse and gambling addictions
• Holds educational sessions
• Coordinates cultural and spiritual events

Intervention

• Facilitates recreational activities and social events
• Provides individual and group discussions
• Offers cultural and spiritual gatherings

Aftercare provided for preventing reoccurrence:

• Counselling, sharing circles and support groups
• Regular phone calls and home visits
• Referrals to Band services, social services, detoxification and treatment centres and medical assistance

• Delivers prevention and early intervention services to high-risk children and families of the community
• Administers child welfare prevention services in collaboration with Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services located in Wikwemikong
• Promotes overall health and wellness of children, families and community members
• Promotes cultural and traditional teachings, Anishinabemowin, sweat lodges, traditional parenting and parent support circles
• Provides annual events, case management, cultural programs, parenting programs, and recreational activities
• Focus is on children and families at-risk of becoming involved with a Children's Aid Society (CAS)

Community Support services include:

• Advocacy and referral
• Community education and promotion of healthy lifestyles
• Counselling services
• Cultural awareness
• Family and parent education
• Life skills

Family Support services include:

• Advocacy and liaison services
• After hours services relating to child welfare matters
• Assessment and service planning for individuals and families
• Education and skills development as it relates to child welfare prevention

• Provides voluntary support and services to assist individuals who are struggling with mental health issues and/or addictions issues
• Implements policies and procedures established by the Mnaamodzawin Health Services Mental Health Team

Services offered but not limited to, include the following:

Addictions

• Alcohol, drug and gambling assessments
• Counselling for individuals, couples and families
• Smoking cessation
• Relapse prevention and aftercare
• Community based treatment services
• Referrals to residential treatment

Health Promotion

• Presentations and workshops related to mental health and addictions
• Support groups
• Educational resources
• Community activities and events
• Liaison to other resources
• Referrals

Mental Health

• Assessments as deemed appropriate
• Counselling for individuals, couples and families
• Referrals to psychiatry

Provides services and support for individuals and families struggling with addiction issues

• Offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings when required
• Provides transportation to all meetings and workshops upon request

Prevention

• Provides public seminars/meetings to raise community awareness of alcohol, drug abuse and gambling addictions
• Holds educational sessions in schools
• Coordinates cultural and spiritual events

Intervention

• Facilitates recreational activities and social events
• Provides individual and group discussions
• Offers cultural and spiritual gatherings

Aftercare Services

Provides the following services aimed at preventing alcohol and drug abuse problems from reoccurring:

• Counselling, sharing circles and support groups
• Regular phone calls and home visits
• Referrals to band services, social services, detoxification and treatment centres and medical assistance

• Provides traditional teachings and workshops for individuals and families to meet specific life's needs in areas such as pre/postnatal, parenting, children and adolescent, adult life skills, elder care and holistic health promotion
• Provides traditional healing services through Traditional Healers, cultural ceremonies and herbal prescriptions
• Coordinates the healing services on an individual or community request

Services include:

• Case management
• Filling of herbal prescriptions
• Supportive counselling
• Referrals to Traditional Healers and other health care providers
• Follow-up appointments

Assists community to design and deliver their own holistic, prevention-focused services/programs and cultural supports to promote a healthy community and support families as needed

• Focus is on improving the overall health and well-being of communities and to empower families to build healthy relationships
• Works to eliminate family violence, the number of youth involved in the justice system and the number of children in care

Activities and programs provided can include but are not limited to the following:

• Activities that revitalize Native language
• Alcohol and drug abuse prevention and intervention
• Community events such as feasts
• Family circles, counselling and child/youth support groups
• Referrals to other programs and services
• School programs
• Traditional land-based healing events

Supports reduction and prevention of mental health issues and family and community violence

• Provides culturally appropriate support services, resources, educational materials, and workshops to address community wellness needs
• Coordinates men's and women's wellness sessions such as breakfasts and guest speakers
• Provides victim service referrals and emergency support for family violence and mental health crises
• Works one-on-one with families experiencing family violence to develop a plan of action for identified concerns
• Provides referrals to counselling, legal services, and treatment centres and other needed supports
• Organizes and facilitates community events in schools, powwows, and health fairs to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevention of family violence
• Develops programs, workshops, promotions, and prevention education campaigns dealing with family-based violence awareness

Provides services and support for individuals and families struggling with addiction issues

• Offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings when required
• Provides transportation to all meetings and workshops upon request

Prevention

• Provides public seminars/meetings to raise community awareness of alcohol, drug abuse and gambling addictions
• Holds educational sessions in schools
• Coordinates cultural and spiritual events

Intervention

• Facilitates recreational activities and social events
• Provides individual and group discussions
• Offers cultural and spiritual gatherings

Aftercare Services

Provides the following services aimed at preventing alcohol and drug abuse problems from reoccurring:

• Counselling, sharing circles and support groups
• Regular phone calls and home visits
• Referrals to Band services, social services, detoxification and treatment centres and medical assistance

Provides services and support for individuals and families struggling with addiction issues

• Offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings when required
• Administers the community needle exchange and safe inhalation kit program
• Provides transportation to all meetings and workshops upon request

Prevention

• Provides public seminars/meetings to raise community awareness of alcohol, drug abuse and gambling addictions
• Holds educational sessions in schools
• Coordinates cultural and spiritual events

Intervention

• Facilitates recreational activities and social events
• Provides individual and group discussions
• Offers cultural and spiritual gatherings

Aftercare provided for preventing reoccurrence:

• Counselling, sharing circles and support groups
• Regular phone calls and home visits
• Referrals to Band services, social services, detoxification and treatment centres and medical assistance

Promotes the development of good mental health and provides services for individuals with mental health issues to enrich their quality of life

Provides counselling, information and awareness activities including but not limited to:

• Addictions and substance abuse
• Anger management
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Family violence
• Grief and loss
• Parenting issues
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Self-esteem
• Sexual abuse
• Stress management

Services include:

• Counselling services for stress management and crisis intervention
• Prevention services
• Referrals to appropriate supports
• Workshops

• Ensures traditional healing alternatives are available for community members
• Coordinates healing programs for individuals on a healing journey
• Promotes and plans traditional customs and ceremonies for individuals, families and community

Healing alternatives and traditional ceremonies can include:

• Traditional Native healers
• Healing circles
• Talking/sharing circles
• Sweat lodges
• Smudging ceremonies

Delivers prevention and early intervention services to high-risk children and families of the community

• Administers child welfare prevention services in collaboration with Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services located in Wiikwemkoong
• Evaluates short and long-term programs and workplans with individuals and families for adequacy and effectiveness
• Partners with community police officers and local nursing staff to identify and support troubled families

Prevention Services

• Teaches parenting skills and assisting children through difficult times
• Develops and administers healthy social and recreational programs for families such as after-school programs and babysitting courses
• Hosts community forums to address issues such as youth drug abuse, inadequate housing, and schooling problems
• Organizes elders meetings that address traditional child rearing methods
• Provides information sessions about understanding substance dependency and resulting family violence, and overcoming oppression by understanding cultural realities

• Serves as a victim impact/empathy program for adult Indigenous offenders who are in the justice system

Provides mind, body and spirit healing opportunities through Anishinabek teachings and ceremonies through the following services:

• Delivers weekly healing sessions separately for men and women
• Facilitates all sessions through a Traditional Knowledge Keeper/Elder and the Program Worker
• Teaches Anishinabek principles and approaches to build a healthier community
• Strives to improve decision-making skills of participants
• Offers free transportation to sessions

Activities and healing sessions are based upon the 4 seasons and can include (but not limited to):

• Fall harvest and hunt
• Fall and spring fasting
• Traditional fire keeping and Shkaabewis teachings
• Monthly full moon ceremonies
• Buffalo teachings
• Sharing circles
• Beading and regalia making
• Sweat lodges and cedar baths
• Medicine picking (Summer harvest)
• Mental, emotional, spiritual and physical self-care