salt river first nation five year wellness plan · nation community identified their priorities. it...

Salt River First Nation Five Year Wellness Plan 2018-2022

Momentum Training Services [email protected]

www.momentumtrainingservices.com Phone: 867.446.9421

FOREWARD

Community wellness is more than a group of healthy individuals. It is about the capacity and willingness of people to work together, during favorable or tragic circumstances, in promoting a healthy and productive lifestyle to each of its members.

This document describes the process of how the Salt River First Nation community identified their priorities. It also provides details and documentation from the health and wellness programming run in 2018 that plan to be carried forward into the rest of the five-year health and wellness plan.

SRFN Community Wellness Plan 2018-2022

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

PRIORITIES IDENTIFICATION PROCESS.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM PRIORITIES .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

1. Mental Wellness ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

2. Family Support ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

3. Traditional Knowledge and Skills ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

4. Building Community Capacity ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11

5. Healthy Living ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

6. Other .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

FEEDBACK, RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

PREFFERED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

FOLLOW THROUGH ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19

APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20

APPENDIX B ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21


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ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY Salt River First Nation (SRFN) is located in the Northernmost part of Alberta and the Southernmost part of the Northwest Territories. We are a mix of Cree and Chipewyan people. We have members in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Newfoundland. We also have members in the United States, Germany and Australia.


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INTRODUCTION

Salt River First Nation conducted interviews and consultations in order to update and enhance existing community health and wellness programming in Fort Smith. Together with Team Facilitator of Momentum Training Services, Stephanie van Pelt, members mapped out past, present, and potential future health and wellness programs for the Salt River First Nation five-year community health and wellness plan. In addition to the mapping, a list of key contacts for deepened consultations was also generated. Thereafter, continued consultations were coordinated with wellness surveys distributed to various members of Salt River First Nation, as well as to key institutions within Fort Smith, such as health services.

The goal of these consultations was to gain a current understanding of the ever-evolving health and wellness needs in the community. Combined, the information was used to develop this health and wellness report. The Salt River First Nation is pleased to share their priorities for future wellness programming in their community.


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PRIORITIES IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

The technique used to capture health and wellness priorities consisted of mapping past, present, and potential future programs in the community. Programs were categorized based on five main themes: mental wellness, family support, traditional knowledge and skills, building community capacity, and healthy living. These main categories were predetermined and based on the health and wellness programming already established in 2018.

Following the mapping, a list of key community members to be contacted for continued consultations was generated. Members of the community and various local organizations were contacted to assess both addressed and unaddressed health and wellness needs of the community. In addition, members feedback was also solicited during a SRFN Member Council Meeting. All consultations were guided by a Wellness Survey designed to collect important feedback and recommendations from members. These surveys can be found in Appendix B.

The comments and ideas collected through consultations ultimately provided the body of information needed to compile the SRFN Health and Wellness Report. This report focuses on the health and wellness needs, as well as the goals for SRFN currently and in the future.


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HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM PRIORITIES

The community has already implemented their first year of health and wellness planning (2018) and will continue a similar trajectory in 2019 through until the end of the five-year plan. In the first stage of the consultation process, the health and wellness programs previously implemented and potential programs for the future were mapped out (see image, right). In addition, the wellness coordinator/ consultant also provided recommendations on future activities based on her experience coordinating programs from previous years. For a full list of past SRFN health and wellness programming from 2018, please see Appendix A.

Of the thirty community members surveyed, twenty-six agreed that family support and traditional knowledge and skills were both categories of top priority. Twenty selected all five categories as being important for community wellness, showing the need and/or interest to have a diverse set of wellness priorities


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represented at the community level.

The most attended workshop on the survey was on grief, closely followed by the drum making workshop and Health Matters. The vast majority of those surveyed were “very satisfied” with the wellness programs previously offered by SRFN, while nearly all had suggestions and recommendations for future wellness programming.

Members included their health and wellness program recommendations based on the five overarching categories identified as being key health and wellness priorities within the community:

1. Mental Wellness

• Addictions, counselling and trauma programs • Grief and loss • Grieving workshop (Aline) • Drugs Mask Pain workshop • Trauma and resiliency for youth and adults • Drug education • Lateral violence education and the history of lateral violence in

indigenous communities and how to prevent it • I would love to see the on the land mobile addictions program to

be offered again.


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• Aftercare programs are also important for people to maintain their recovery—returning to the community after going to treatment is challenging because things in the person’s environment may not have changed but they have, and the support with solid aftercare will help the person maintain the recovery they planned for in treatment.

• I like that you brought Poundmakers here – it made treatment accessible for more people.

• Programs that support aftercare (after treatment programs). • Healing anger program • Trauma treatment • How to help people understand that addictions are treatable

and achievable.

Past programs to adapt/continue in the future:

• Soup and Bannock for the Soul • Honouring Unresolved Grief • Mental Health Awareness (2018) • Community Based Mobile Addictions Treatment (2018)

2. Family Support

• Childcare


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• Youth events: dance workshops and events for younger children (ages 5-9)

• Gifts for xmas • Day Care program • Bring back Our Babies, Our Future • Parenting skills course • Family treatment option

o There is no family treatment option here or down South for our community members. Is there a way to offer some on the land treatment days for families so that healing [can] occur at the family level?

• Family programs around attachment o Many people in this community struggle with parenting and

healthy family life. • Family treatment options

o On the land mobile treatment options can support short term family treatment so this has been positive for the community.

• Full time dietician in the community o Currently the health center is without this position as it is

an unfunded position in the community but a much needed a utilized service for those with diabetes and other issues. It was a need that has been recognized by the community


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in the last health and social services needs assessment in 2012.

• Family support types of programming would be appreciated. • As many opportunities presented to families to spend quality

time with each other and with the Elders. • Sessions for families on understanding addictions/support/

trauma.


• Heal the Heartache (2018) • Honouring Unresolved Grief • Community Based Mobile Addictions Treatment (2018)

3. Traditional Knowledge and Skills

• Moose hide tanning for youth • Free dry meat/dry fish • Dry meat and bannock making workshop • Traditional sewing • More on the land programs • Boat Safety • Snowshoe making • Birchbark and beading


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• Youth drummers • Traditional healing (medicine) • Moose hide tanning • Hunting and trapping • Cultural teachings/medicine picking/traditional healing • Pow wow • Proper skinning and tanning techniques • Teaching ceremony • Language immersion programs • More about traditional way of healing • Sharing stories about healing • Cultural programs: beading, making dry meat and drum dancing • Learning the Dene language (especially for children) • On the land healing • Traditional aboriginal medicines (knowledge and harvesting and

doing it) • More activities like a hike, being on the land, etc., Sweat lodge,

pow-wows and pipe ceremonies. • Traditional arts and crafts • Learning more of aboriginal history past and present • Traditional healing • Native ceremonies (pow wow, etc.)


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• Traditional dances, ceremonies, and feasts


• Drum Making (2018) • Creating wellness through Dene culture • Community Based Mobile Addictions Treatment (2018)

4. Building Community Capacity

• Hoping that our members would work together instead of fighting

• Handyman course – those with houses are responsible for looking after them.

• Programs to leave our youth to work together • Understanding signs of drug addiction • Team work session (could do things like build a teepee, prepare

a feast for elders) • Chainsaw course • Moccasin, mitts, and parka workshops • Programs that connect youth and Elders • Anger management (extensive work on this program) • Learn to turn impatience to patience • Learn how to express your feelings without hurting someone


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• Storytelling for the Elder to share their lives

Past programs to continue in the future:

• My Health Matters • Community Based Mobile Addictions Treatment (2018)

5. Healthy Living

• More programs for the youth – examples: basketball and floor hockey

• Detox, 28 day program • After Care • Anti-bullying • Workshops on the value of sleep, regular attendance at school,

exercising and being outdoors rather than on technology, eating healthful meals).

• On the land 2 or 3 day programs • Kombucha workshop • How to ferment veggies • Addictions awareness • A walking program • How to eat healthy


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• My Health Matters • Craving Change (2018) • Walk a New Path • Community Based Mobile Addictions Treatment (2018) • Making connections between healing and wellness

6. Other • Housing – Many of our clients struggle with transitional housing

and homelessness, both after treatment and just in general. Is there a way to support these people somehow so that they can get back on their feet?

• Life skills • Basic Quilting (and use old clothes to do this, so there is less

waste in the dump)

FEEDBACK, RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS • I heard great things about the On the Land Mobile Addictions

program and the drum making workshop. • I heard mixed things about Walk a New Path. Those who were

religious absolutely loved it, and others did not like it at all.


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Perhaps it can be disclosed that it is religious so that you attract the right audience.

• The Mobile addictions program seemed to reach our members. It would be good to continue with that program.

• It would have been nice to see parents participate with their children—not to make a drum, but to assist them and help them when they were struggling. It would have given them the opportunity to bond with the child, as well.

• Call directly to people when you are looking for volunteers. • Better advertising strategies so that people are aware. There

were some workshops on the handout that I did not know about. • Opening all programs to all members (understanding that

sometimes only band members get first seats, but still opening it up).

• Thank you for all you offer to our community. • Organize and meet with the Members. Take suggestions. • Let others speak their minds. • Good advertising in advance is always helpful to get more and

participants. • Unable to attend workshops due to work commitments. • Having traditional healing options for people is positive so it has

been very good having these workshops in the community. In particular, tapping into the on the land mobile treatment for


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those wanting to address mental health and addiction issues within the community has been very good.

• More workshops accessible to staff and students. Most cannot attend during the school day. After school or on weekends is preferable.

• Advertising – I have not heard of most of the listed workshops, wish I had – awesome list. Would be great for PD.

• SRFN family activities/workshops are greatly needed where ALL family members can be together to benefit.

• The programs that were organized over the last few years for community families could have been more widely advertised here through the school.

• Also, putting the offer to SRFN to use our school facilities (as a meeting place for families for some of the planned programs).

• While I did not attend your programs, I was aware of the “on the land mobile addictions” program which I think has been very helpful for people in the community. It is a difficult decision to decide to attend treatment, it is unknown, travelling out of the community to a program down south adds to the unease that comes with the unknown. Having access to a treatment option here in our community is helping people to eliminate some of the barriers that a person may face when they think about going to treatment.


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• Learning the Dene language is especially important for the children. Perhaps this could be incorporated into a children’s daycare program. Even an hour of playtime in the Dene language would benefit children.

• I think the inclusive way SRFN offers their workshops to the community is an excellent approach. We need more efforts like this in Fort Smith.

• For the mobile treatment program with PML I advise a 6-8 week program instead of the 3 week program. I think working more on grief and loss, trauma and anger issues and how to deal with effectively, letting go in a good way. I have been sober for 6 months due to the PML mobile treatment Sept. 2018. I really love the traditional aboriginal healing program with smudging, pipe ceremony. I would love to attend a pow wow. Incorporating more traditional crafts ceremonies, etc. Bring this program back in the 2019 summer.

• The programs I did with SRFN was amazing I really enjoyed myself, felt welcomed and got lots of information and help.

• The programs were very well run (My Health Matters, Dealing with Grief, Walk a New Path). Snacks were great and the food was excellent. The people who ran the programs were so helpful, trust worthy.


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PREFFERED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES • SRFN Surveys (like the one used during consultations) • Facebook • Phone • SRFN website • I think the best way to reach people is by going to them instead

of relying on people to seek out your social media and websites for information.

• Post on community Facebook groups, post around town, email contacts at bands/GNWT/Justice/Town, etc. and spread the word to everyone.

FOLLOW THROUGH

Without continuous communication, community members can lose touch with their goals and objectives. Over time, members and groups can veer off course.

To ensure that the entire Salt River First Nation community keeps in sync with their plans, the SRFN Band Office plans to continue to canvass community members for their feedback. Ideal spaces to


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accomplish this will be at community events such as the Town/Chamber of Commerce Spring Tradeshow in April, the Land Claim celebrations in June around Aboriginal Day, and various Band Membership Meetings happening throughout the year. This strategy will be used to inform members of ongoing wellness activities and programming, as well as provide an opportunity to receive ongoing feedback from members about new and improved wellness initiatives they would like to see in the community.

Ongoing consultations throughout the life of this plan will ensure wellness programs stay relevant to community members and are addressing their wellness needs. SRFN will use feedback to adapt previously run programs, as well as to develop new programming relevant to community wellness needs. In order to disseminate wellness programs and activities more widely, SRFN plans to use both familiar and new communication methods with the goal of reaching a wider community base. Additional financial or human resources available during the life of the plan can also be incorporated to enhance the wellness programs offered by SRFN for the benefit of the community.


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to our staff, Allen Stanzell, and community member and wellness program coordinator/consultant, Lorraine Tordiff, for supporting the development of this report through coordination and consultation meetings. Also, with great appreciation to the GNWT Community Development and Wellness Planner for North/South Slave, Rachel Oystrek, for supporting SRFN in our Health and Wellness Plan, including the development of the Wellness Survey that was used to guide consultations within our community.


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APPENDIX A – LIST OF WORKSHOPS – 2017-2018

Workshop Presenters Dates 1. My Health Matters Dene Wellness Warriors,

Jean Cardinal and Sapna Cohan

January 17 – 19, 2017

2. Honouring Unresolved Grief Dene Wellness Warriors Jean Cardinal and Sapna Cohan

February 22 – 24, 2017

3. Addictions Awareness - Walk A New Path Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI

March 6 -7, 2017

4. Community Based Mobile Addictions Treatment Program - With an On The Land Component Phase 1 Orientation to Addictions Treatment Phase 2 Increased Therapeutic Intensity Phase 3 Creating Ongoing Support Systems

Poundmakers Lodge Brad Cardinal, Executive Director Darlene Marchuk, Clinical Manager Several members of their treatment team including Elders and Youth

August 22 – September 2, 2017 September 19 – 23, 2017 October 16 – 28, 2017

5. Mental Health Awareness Kathy Tuccaro February 18, 2018

6. Craving Change Sapna Cohan May 1 – 2, 2018

7. Heal the Heartache Sapna Cohan May 4 – 5, 2018

8. Still Green and Growing

Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI June 2 – 3, 2018

9. Drum Making Aline LaFlamme June 21 – 23, 2018

10. Mobile Addictions Program

Poundmakers Lodge Treatment Centers September 12 – 26, 2018

APPENDIX B – WELLNESS SURVEYS


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1. What other activities and/ or programs would you like us to organize?

___Having traditional healing options for people is positive so it has been very good

having these workshops in the community. In particular taping into the on the land

mobile treatment for those wanting to address mental health and addiction issues

within the community has been very good. Many people express the desire for family

treatment options; on the land mobile treatment options can support short term family

treatment so this has been positive for the community.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. What programs do you think are needed by other community members?

It would also be beneficial to have a full time dietician in the community. Currently

the health centre is without this position as it is an unfunded position in the

community but a much needed a utilized service particular for those with diabetes and

other issues _It was a need that has been recognized by the community in the last

health and social services needs assessment in 2012.

___________________________________

3. What community wellness areas you think are most important?

Mental wellness □ □ □ □ □

Family support □ □ □ □ □

Traditional knowledge and skills □ □ □ □ □

Building community capacity □ □ □ □ □

Healthy Living □ □ □ □ □ Other ……………The survey does not indicate which box reflects most

important versus least important. I feel all of the areas above are very

important…………. □ □ □ □ □

4. What is the best way to reach you?

Our Facebook page □ □ □ □ □

Our website □ □ □ □ □

Surveys like this one □x □ □ □ □

Other ………………………. □ □ □ □ □

Salt River First Nation

Wellness Survey

Community Wellness Plan

✓ The federal government funds wellness programs in the NWT on a five years cycle.

✓ All communities can apply for funding, including Salt River First Nation.

✓ To receive the funding, we have to develop a Community Wellness Plan.

✓ We want this Plan to be made by you and your fellow community members. That is

why we ask you to respond to the questions below.

Between 2013 and 2017 the Salt River First Nation offered several wellness programs

you may have been able to attend:

1. What program(s) did you and/ or your child(ren) attend last year?

Drum making workshop □ □ □ □ □ Dealing with Grief □ □ □ □ □

Awaken the Spirit □ □ □ □ □ Walk a New Path □ □ □ □ □

My Health Matters □ □ □ □ □ On the Land Mobile □ □ □ □ □

Addictions

2. How happy are you with our programs?

Very □ □ □ □ □ Somewhat □ □ □ □ □ Not at all □ □ □ □ □

3. What can we do better? Suggestions? Comments?

_____________________________________________________________________________

______________Unable to attend the workshops due to work commitments. Good

advertising in advance is always helpful to get more and participants

_______________________________________________________________


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Wellness Survey










Drum making workshop □ □ □ □ □ Dealing with Grief □ □ □ □ □


My Health Matters □ □ □ □ □ On the Land Mobile □ □ □ □ □

Addictions


Very □ □ □ □ □ Somewhat □ □ □ □ □ Not at all □ □ □ □ □

I heard great things about the On the Land Mobile Addictions program and the drum

making workshop. I heard mixed things about Walk a New Path. Those who were religious

absolutely loved it, and others did not like it at all. Perhaps it can be disclosed that it is

fairly religious so that you attract the right audience.


• Better advertising strategies so that people are aware. There were some

workshops on the handout that I did not know about.

• Opening up all programs to all members (understanding that sometimes only

band members get first seats, but still opening it up)

• Thank you for all you offer to our community


• This community is lacking two things that are significant factors to wellness. I’m

not sure if these are possible but perhaps items to consider:

o 1. We do not have a family treatment option here or down South for our

community members. Is there a way to offer some on the land treatment

days for families so that healing that occur at the family level?

o 2. Many of our clients struggle with transitional housing and homelessness,

both after treatment and just in general. Is there a way to support these

people somehow so that they can get back on their feet?


• Cultural teachings/medicine picking/traditional healing.

• Family programs around attachment. Many people in this community struggle

with parenting and healthy family life.


Mental wellness □ □ □ □ □

Family support □ □ □ □ □ 1.

Traditional knowledge and skills □ □ □ □ □ 2.


Healthy Living □ □ □ □ □

Other ………………………. □ □ □ □ □ 3. Housing




Surveys like this one □ □ □ □ □

Other ………………………. □ □ □ □ □


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I think the best way to reach people is by going to them instead of relying

on people to seek out your social media and websites for information. Post

on community facebook groups, post around town, email contacts at

bands/GNWT/Justice/Town, etc. and spread the word to everyone.

MAHSI CHO for your time!


PO Box 960, 9 Franklin Ave. | Fort Smith, NT, X0E 0P0 | Tel: 867-872-2986 | Fax: 867-872-3550


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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________


Mental wellness □ □ □ □ x

Family support □ □ □ □ □

Traditional knowledge and skills □ □ □ □ □


Healthy Living □ □ □ □ x

Other ………………………. □ □ □ □ □




Surveys like this one □ □ □ □ x

Other ………………………. □ □ □ □ □

MAHSI CHO for your time!


PO Box 960, 9 Franklin Ave. | Fort Smith, NT, X0E 0P0 | Tel: 867-872-2986 | Fax: 867-872-3550


Wellness Survey










Drum making workshop □ □ □ □ □ Dealing with Grief □ □ □ □ x


My Health Matters □ □ □ □ □ On the Land Mobile □ □ □ □ x

Addictions


Very □ □ □ □ x Somewhat □ □ □ □ □ Not at all □ □ □ □ □


The Mobile addictions program seemed to reach our members. It would be good to

continue with that program.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________


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