An experiential workshop to help people better understand traditional Aboriginal ways and values will be held free of charge for the community next Friday, Aug. 23, at 9 a.m. at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall.
The workshop will be led by facilitator Kathi Camilleri, an Aboriginal child and youth mental health worker who is known for her gentle ways and her respect for all people.
There will be an in-depth discussion during the workshop about residential school and its affects on Aboriginal people, which may trigger unresolved grief and loss issues for some, project manager Eleonora Molnar noted.
Pre-registration is requested to ensure enough space for all who wish to attend. People can register by emailing [email protected].
The workshop is the latest in a series of free events for the public stemming from the Taking Care of Each Other Taking Care of Ourselves project or "?ayatawlh" in the Sechelt Nation language.
The project is funded through B.C.'s Community Action Initiative (CAI), which is meant to increase understanding and skills throughout the province around mental health, addictions and wellness issues.
A group of interested agencies got together and secured nine months of funding for the ?ayatawlh project through the CAI fund in March of this year. The Sechelt Nation was the lead proponent, joined by partners Vancouver Coastal Health, Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, the Arrowhead Society and School District No. 46.
"We've all come together because we recognize that we need to develop our understanding and skills set around these issues of mental health, addictions and wellness," Molnar said.
"So that's why we're offering all these training events that are completely free to the whole community and this opportunity will be over at the end of November [when the funding runs out] so we're really hoping as many people come out as possible so we have many people in our community trained in these areas."
In addition to the Aug. 23 event, Molnar said there is a Sept. 13 cross-cultural training session, a Sept. 25 to 27 crisis response training opportunity and a Nov. 5 to 9 LOVE (Leave Out Violence) Northern Visions workshop that interested people can register for and take part in free of charge.
The project also offers canoe journeys each month with one slated for Sept. 10 and one on Oct. 8.
Specific training opportunities for service providers through the ?ayatawlh project are also available.
Find out more by emailing Molnar at [email protected].
