PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Akinoo'amaadiwaad ji nookidiziyang
They who teach each other with/on the land to live a tender life
Sexual violence requires a very specific knowledge and set of trauma informed approaches, braided together with Indigenous healing methodologies for work with Indigenous people.
Our 5-year-long project, empowers Indigenous youth to create a new model of healing in which mainstream and Indigenous agencies can work together to create accessible and culturally informed trauma and mental health support services for healing from colonial and sexual violence.
We have begun by creating a Youth Advisory Board of Indigenous youth ages 16-29 that meet monthly to begin the process of visioning new pathways for healing.
Led by Project Coordinators Kara Wanoth and Mikhaela Antoine. Reach out if you would like to learn more about the program!
Program Outline
Year 1 focused on relationship building with our youth board through land-based gatherings, connection, and trust building activities.
Year 2 focused on planning and engagement. During this phase, we conducted focus groups with rural and urban Indigenous youth to better understand the barriers they face when accessing mental health, sexual assault and related support services.
Year 3 is our Implementation Phase. We are bringing service providers together through these circles to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and explore ways to make services more accessible, culturally safer, and more responsive to the needs of Indigenous youth.
2026-27 Schedule
1 / Virtual Gathering with Service Providers
September 9, 2026
2 / In-person Gathering with Service Providers
October 7, 2026
• Meeting the team
• Wampum belt teachings
3 / Virtual Gathering with Service Providers
November 4 & 5, 2026
• Trauma training with Executive Director, Lauren, MPSSAS
• Anti-racist, anti-oppressive, culturally-safer, decolonial, feminist-based trauma and violence informed support
4 / Virtual Circle with Service Providers
December 2, 2026
5 / In-person Gathering with Service Providers and Youth
February 2027 (tentatively, Feb. 3 to Feb. 6)
Funded by the Youth System Innovation Fund of the Ontario Trillium Foundation
