Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) initiative to assist each Indigenous 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 in the community

• 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

Provides individual, group and family counselling on the following issues:

• Domestic violence
• Relationship issues
• Child abuse
• Suicide prevention
• Drug and alcohol addiction

Offers the following cultural services:

• Cultural teachings
• Naming ceremonies
• Sweat lodge ceremonies

• Promotes growth and healing for Indigenous people through culturally-specific services
• Reduces family violence and promotes healthy lifestyles

Provides the following services:

• Applying to healing lodges
• Elder visits
• Supportive peer counselling
• Traditional peer counselling

Programs provided:

• Anger solutions
• Weekly sewing circle
• Traditional health program

Provides culturally appropriate programs that promote a drug and alcohol free lifestyle through the following services:

• Aftercare support
• Assistance applying to treatment programs
• Referrals to other agencies
• Self-help groups
• Sharing circles
• Substance abuse education
• Supportive counselling

Provides community-based, holistic and culturally relevant programs and services aimed at prenatal and postnatal Indigenous mothers, their infants and families
Offers the following services:

• Baby and Me Yoga
• Baby drop-in
• Breastfeeding support
• Child birth classes
• Craft classes
• Cultural teachings
• Doula coaching
• Emergency food and supplies such as breast pads, baby formula and diapers
• Home/hospital visits
• Pregnancy tests
• Prenatal nutrition
• Prenatal yoga
• Referrals to elders
• Soups On
• Lactation consulting
• Medical transportation to and from appointments
• Various fitness classes

Operates as a program under the Healing and Wellness Branch

• Promotes healthy lifestyles through culturally based programs and healing
• Aims to reduce family violence

Provides assistance for individuals to identify areas of concern and to develop action plans to address concerns through the following:

• Sharing of appropriate information with related health and social agencies and providing referrals
• Crisis intervention education and workshops
• Illness prevention and wellness planning, information and education
• Traditional sharing circles
• Community outreach education to promote cultural awareness

Also provides:

• Assistance with completing forms of any kind
• Accessing existing programs and services
• Peer counselling for any identified concerns

Serves as a recognized alternative for youth justice program

• Strives to help youth become self-aware and attain the skills to live a more holistic lifestyle
• Focuses on culturally-sensitive services
• Provides case management to youth and their families who are involved with the youth justice system and youth who are at-risk of becoming involved with the law

Addresses the following areas:

• Anger management
• Family and community relationships
• Pro-social skills
• Substance abuse

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:

• 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 community members with cultural awareness and traditional teachings

• Teaches and assists community members in the art of regalia making
• Offers the traditional teachings behind the different regalia
• Provides workshops for skilled crafts such as traditional pipes, drums, rattles, moccasins, baskets and beading
• Provides services of skilled medicine people who teach how to identify local medicines used for minor ailments

Provides the health modalities of:

• Sweat lodge ceremonies
• Traditional cedar baths
• Traditional stress management
• Traditional healer services

Provides direct services to individuals in need of mental health and addictions support

• Provides individual and group traditional counselling
• Provides referrals to treatment centres
• Offers drug and alcohol assessments
• Offers educational programs

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

Provides community members with cultural awareness and traditional teachings

• Teaches and assists community members in the art of regalia making
• Offers the traditional teachings behind the different regalia
• Provides workshops for skilled crafts such as traditional pipes, drums, rattles, moccasins, baskets and beading
• Provides services of skilled medicine people who teach how to identify local medicines used for minor ailments

Provides the health modalities of:

• Medicine walks
• Seasonal ceremonies
• Sweat lodge ceremonies
• Talking circles
• Traditional cedar baths
• Traditional stress management
• Traditional healer services