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Meet
Our Collaborators
Our work in Inuit communities began with a series of conversations with Inuit wisdom-keeper, activist, and Officer of the Order of Canada (OC), Aaju Peter. After participating in a Mandala Institute training, Aaju recognized the resonance between the content of our Holistic Mental Health teachings and the teachings and philosophies of traditional Inuit culture.
Going from
Vision to Impact
Inuit Elders, activists and advocates have long called for Inuit-specific mental health training programs to be developed and made available to Inuit across Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homelands). Decolonized mental health programming to address the mental health crisis within these communities is a need that has largely gone unaddressed for decades.
From our early conversations with Aaju, we began a series of ongoing collaborations with Inuit leaders in mental health and healing with the aim of benefiting Inuit in Inuit Nunangat as well as in Southern Canada.
Along with Aaju, we count among our advisers and collaborators: the Juno Award winning performer, Officer of the Order of Canada, and founder of the Arctic Rose Foundation, Susan Aglukark; the Deputy Premier of the Territory of Nunavut Pamela Gross; Founder of the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project Hovak Johnston; and Bryan Winters, Ordinary Member and Speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly.
Bryan Winters
Ordinary Member for the Canadian Constituency
Speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly
The Becoming Inummarik program grew out of a recognized need for Inuit to work through our emotions and traumas with other Inuit. The program has given us the opportunity to sit with one another and discuss our shared experiences to help us feel more connected, seen and heard in a culturally congruent way.
This work grew organically from a partnership with the Mandala Institute of Holistic Mental Health, experienced mental health practitioners who helped guide the research and creation of this program and its methods.
The membership of our cohorts come from a variety of backgrounds and fields but often repeat a similar experience of having never asked themselves the questions our program presents, nor had the opportunity to discuss these questions and benefit from sharing their answers amongst other Inuit in a safe, understanding environment.
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Karen Aglukark
BA Psychology
Facilitator of Becoming Inummarik
Participating in the training was an incredible experience, one that truly opened my eyes to the incredible power of connecting with fellow community members in a warm and supportive environment.
As I've delved deeper into my studies, it's become increasingly clear how Western perspectives and methods often don't fully resonate with our communities. Being part of the pilot program for Becoming Inummarik has been a game-changer for me. It's shown me that Inuit communities have the potential to shape how mental health services are delivered to us.
Watching the transformation in the participants during this program has not only shown me what's possible for community healing but also helped me understand the role I can play in that healing process. A role that contributes to my own wellbeing and fits within my vision for healthy, thriving Inuk communities.Since the pilot program, I've been fortunate enough to become a co-facilitator and an advocate for the program, and I'm excited about carving a path for other Inuit who, like me, aspire to make a meaningful contribution in the field of Inuit mental wellness.
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