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Becoming
Inummarik
Our Program & Our Partners
The Mandala Institute, in partnership with the Toronto Inuit Association, is proud to have been a 2020 recipient of a Community Investments Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to develop innovative, holistic mental health programs for Inuit communities in Ontario.
This funding has enable us to expand our reach and transform mental healthcare throughout Arctic Canada and beyond.
Collaborating with clients, non-profits, businesses, and government bodies, we are at the forefront of revolutionizing mental healthcare in Canada.
Cultivating wholeness through
Inuit-centred healing
Embarking on a journey toward holistic mental health, the Mandala Institute proudly presents "Becoming Inummarik," an Inuit-specific mental health training program.
In the spirit of the Inuktitut term for "a whole person who can act with wisdom," this initiative is a "heal the healer" program dedicated to fostering well-being within Inuit communities across Canada.
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2021 Pilot Program
In late 2021, we successfully completed the development and pilot of the curriculum for this introductory Inuit-specific mental health training program. This milestone marked a significant step forward in creating a culturally grounded framework designed to meet the unique needs of Inuit communities.
Becoming Inummarik focuses on Inuit-specific mental health education, normalizing conversations about mental health, skill building, and self-healing. This pilot program was made possible by Bryan Winters, then Executive Director of the Toronto Inuit Association, and with Seed Grant funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The 80-hour program involved 9 urban Inuit who found the initiative not only highly effective in improving their mental and emotional well-being, but also deeply resonant with their cultural identity and values.
Participants highlighted how the program's structure fostered a sense of community, allowing for collective healing and the sharing of personal stories in a culturally safe environment.
Moreover, the inclusion of traditional Inuit knowledge and practices ensured the training was not only practical but also empowering, instilling pride and confidence in their ability to support themselves and their communities.
By grounding the curriculum in Inuit culture, the program reinforced the importance of preserving and integrating traditional wisdom into modern approaches to mental health.
Inuit Cultural & Linguistic Alignment
During the pilot program, cultural and linguistic input was provided by the knowledge keepers who participated in the program:
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Susan Aglukark, originally from Arviat, Nunavut
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Ilisapie Gordon, originally from Iqaluit, Nunavut
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Hovak Johnston, originally from Cambridge Bay / Ikaluktutiak, Nunavut
2022 Program Delivery
In 2022 we expanded our work with our Inuit collaborators by presenting our work-to-date at the 2022 Inuit Studies Conference: Auviqsaqtut, held from June 19-22 in Winnipeg.
Along with our collaborators, Andrew Gentile presented a panel presentation entitled "Decolonizing Mental Health through Inuit-Specific Mental Health Training Programs".
In 2022, Andrew delivered the first portion of Becoming Inummarik to 15 Community Social Workers at the Mamisarvik Healing Centre in Ottawa, August 2022 (Days 1-5).
The training introduced participants to foundational concepts of Inuit-specific mental health, blending traditional knowledge with modern therapeutic techniques to create a culturally aligned framework for healing.
Participants praised the program for its practical tools and its ability to address the unique challenges faced by Inuit communities while fostering a deep understanding of their own roles as agents of change. This initial phase laid the groundwork for future sessions, sparking meaningful discussions about how to integrate this training into their ongoing work and inspire systemic change within their organisations.
Decolonizing Mental Health through Inuit-Specific Mental Health Training Programs
The presentation traces the journey behind the creation of the Inuit Mental Health Model, a groundbreaking white paper that consolidates Inuit-sourced perspectives on philosophy, concepts, and approaches to mental health, well-being, trauma, wounding, and healing. It offers a rich narrative of how these traditional insights were woven together to create a framework rooted in cultural authenticity and relevance.
Additionally, the presentation highlights the transformative 80-hour Becoming Inummarik "heal the healer" program, showcasing its structure and impact. Powerful testimonials from three participants further bring the program to life, illustrating its profound influence on mental and emotional well-being while celebrating its alignment with Inuit values and traditions.
Inuit Mental Health Model
Before developing the curriculum for this program, we undertook an in-depth research project to gain a nuanced understanding of Inuit perspectives on mental health, mental illness, woundedness, and healing. This foundational work was essential to ensure the program reflected and honoured Inuit knowledge and cultural frameworks.
The research culminated in the creation of the Inuit Mental Health Model: Consolidating Inuit Knowledge on Mental Health and Mapping a Path of Healing for the Future, a 53-page white paper. This document provided both the foundation and the Inuit-sourced mandate for the introductory curriculum delivered in 2021, as well as the vision for a comprehensive three-level Inuit-specific mental health certification training program.
The Inuit Mental Health Model is available for researchers on Academia.edu and can also be downloaded as a PDF by the general public
In 2023, our training manual was translated into Inuktitut, a significant milestone in ensuring accessibility and cultural relevance. During our trainings in Montreal, the inclusion of simultaneous interpretation into Inuktitut proved invaluable, allowing Inuktitut speakers to fully engage with the material and discussions.
This year also underscored the importance of involving Inuit knowledge keepers in the program's implementation to maximise its cultural resonance and impact.
While we were privileged to collaborate with exceptional knowledge keepers in some sessions, we also recognised the challenges: healthy and experienced knowledge keepers are in high demand, making their availability and scheduling a complex yet vital aspect of our work.
This realisation has reinforced our commitment to supporting and uplifting knowledge keepers as integral pillars of the program.
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Becoming Inummarik training team (Bryan Winters, Kelly Michelin-Morrissey, Andrew Gentile, Karen Aglukark) with coordinators from Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (Nunavik School Board)'s Department of Compassionate Services, and knowledge keeper supporting the program, Iola Metuq. Montreal, January 2023.
2024-2025 Program Delivery
As we broaden the reach of Becoming Inummarik to more Inuit organizations, we are simultaneously advancing the development of the next levels of training.
Our vision is to continue to expand Becoming Inummarik into a comprehensive, three-level mental health training program that cultivates Inuit mental health practitioners, equipped with Inuit-specific approaches to effectively serve Inuit communities wherever they reside.
We are excited to build new partnerships with Inuit organizations and to secure the funding necessary to expand Becoming Inummarik and future programming.
This expansion enables us to bring transformative, culturally grounded mental health initiatives to even more Inuit across Canada, with a particular focus on reaching communities in the North.
We are actively engaging with the following Inuit organizations to explore opportunities for delivering our trainings to their staff and the communities they serve:
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YWCA Agvik - Iqaluit Women's Shelter, Iqaluit, NU
2024
In 2024, we successfully delivered Inuit-specific mental health trainings to the following organizations:
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Ilitaqsiniq (formerly Nunavut Literacy Council), Rankin Inlet, NU
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Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, Rankin Inlet, NU
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Kivalliq Inuit Association's Youth Council, Rankin Inlet, NU
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Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Pisiksik Justice Department, Ottawa, ON
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Makivvik Justice Department in Montreal
2025
Our 2025 training calendar is already taking shape, featuring collaborations with the following organizations confirmed:
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Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre, Kuujjuaq, QC
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Tunngasugit, Winnipeg, MB
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Ilisaqsivik, Clyde River, NU
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Staff of the Office of Lori Idlout, Member of Parliament for Nunavut
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Makivvik Justice Department in Montreal expanded program.
Positive Impact on Communities
What Our Participants Are Saying
Feedback from participants in the Becoming Inummarik program has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its transformative impact on both Inuit and non-Inuit attendees.
Inuit participants have expressed that the program made them feel seen, heard, respected, supported, and validated, while also contributing meaningfully to their personal healing journeys. The training’s cultural alignment has been praised for honouring Inuit identity and fostering a safe space for growth and connection.
Non-Inuit participants have reported a deeper respect, understanding, and appreciation for Inuit culture and ways of being. They’ve shared that the training has better equipped them to serve Inuit communities with greater compassion, cultural competency, and confidence.
Many participants have called for the program to be expanded and made more widely accessible, particularly for both adults and youth in Northern communities, where the need for such culturally specific training is most urgent.
"Great job at making the training a positive, non-judgemental safe space."
"The entire training was powerful, interesting, and educational. Thank you for a great week."
"The Elders sharing knowledge and people’s experiences were what really made this a healing and life changing experience and training."
"I found the conversations on identity were the most powerful, and realizing many thing through it."
"The most powerful conversation was about Inuit identity. It gives you a different perspective about the Inuit community, which is beneficial for the job."
"Everything was just amazing!! Thank you so much. This training changed some perspectives around some things in my life."
"I found Reflection Exercise #9 really valuable. Being able to visually see the areas in my life where I’m fulfilled and stressed helped me understand where I need to focus on positive change."
"I just finished the Inuit Mental Health Training: Becoming Inummarik. I've never learned so much valuable information. It amazes me how helpful this workshop is. Everyone in Nunavut should have access to this, especially since Nunavut has the highest suicide rate in Canada."