Programs & Services

Kanaweyimik holds annual cultural camps. Originally it was intended to hold four camps but the Elder's Council advised that community Elders and families have strongly indicated they want these camps to be held on an annual basis.The Elder's Council is requesting the member communities to join together to enhance the outcome of the cultural camps.

Each community has various forms of wellness activities in areas identified by the community. Follow up counseling is provided by the counselors. Some communities have sessions every second week, some have them monthly. Attendance ranges anywhere from 10 to over 50 participants in activities. Not all sessions are workshops or healing circles, other activities such as physical fitness, crafts and recreation have been started. Some communities cost share activities with Kanaweyimik depending on community priorities.

The evening youth program continues in each community. The original intent was to provide the children and youths with positive choices for recreation and leisure activities. Feedback from the communities indicates this is not meeting the needs of the youth. Requests for more structured activities such as workshops in areas of conflict resolution, anger management, parenting, peer pressure, self-esteem, affects of alcohol and drug abuse, and gambling addictions from the youth and parents were received.

The youth intervention position has been filled. The worker is part of the prevention program. This worker will work with youth ages 13 to 25 years. The Elders have recommended that priority should be given to this age group as they are the next generation of parents and leaders of our communities. Workshops are being provided in each of the community schools.

The annual round dance is held by Kanaweyimik to initiate new staff and committee members to the organization. The appropriate ceremony is conducted during the round dance. This strengthens Kanaweyimik's ability to provide services to our families and children. Kanaweyimik's belief in traditional practices and ceremonies has been the backbone of the organization and we have followed these practices since opening our doors. The round dance is accompanied by a pipe ceremony and feast.

The LAC's have been responsible for providing activities for the Elders in each community. Activities consisted of lunches for Elders, transportation to and from sun dances, ceremonies, round dances, feasts and community functions.

The Elders Council continues to participate in feasts, sweat lodges and sun dances on behalf of Kanaweyimik. The purpose of their involvement is to ask the Creator to guide the staff, the committees and board in working to ensure the safety of children.

Clients are guided and assisted by the Elders when they request involvement in sweats and other ceremonies. This provides opportunities for Kanaweyimik to promote traditional practices and re-introduce traditional family systems to our families.

Staff participates in seasonal sweats. This helps with their own personal wellness as the responsibilities in child welfare are extremely difficult and stressful.