Hotıì ts’eeda was pleased to be the first funder for the NWT Recreation and Parks Association's (NWTRPA) Support Wellbeing project. The project funded the development of a curriculum with six modules dedicated to supporting on-the-land program leaders in handling mental health challenges during their programs on the land. A pilot training was conducted at Reindeer Station in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region with 15 leaders, 13 of whom are Indigenous. The curriculum covers issues such as:

• Consent, boundaries and community values in relation to the land
• Facilitating health interpersonal and community relationships
• Appropriate and respectful approaches to confidentiality and safety
• Setting up camp in a trauma-informed and culturally respectful way
• Intergenerational trauma and the importance of support and responsiveness
• Conflict resolution and communication skills
• Suicide intervention
• Supporting wellbeing when the program ends

This program blends Indigenous and western approaches to wellbeing and is guided by a volunteer steering committee of primarily Indigenous land-based leaders. 

This two-year project is being administered by the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, guided by a steering committee of on-the-land leaders from Dehcho First Nations, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Dene Nahjo, Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę̨ Government / Hotıì ts’eeda, and Fireweed Counselling. To learn more, visit nwtrpa.org/supporting-wellbeing. 

Hotıì ts'eeda is pleased to continue funding this project into the 2023/2024 season.