Stories that Inspire
Working Together Towards Wellness
This report was prepared by Tricia Newport, Master of Public Health
student from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of
Toronto, during her practicum placement with the Government of Yukon,
Department of Health and Social Services.
Contact Us
Paula Pasquali
Executive Director, Wellness
(867) 393-6305
[email protected]
OR
Jan Langford
Wellness Policy Advisor
(867) 667-3674
[email protected]
Toll-free / long-distance
1-800-661-0408, extension 6305 or 3674
Website
www.yukonwellness.ca
Email
[email protected]
Mail
Pathways to Wellness, H-1
Health and Social Services
Government of Yukon
Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Cover photos credits
Top: Jane Koepke
Bottom left: Charles Jules, Teslin Tlingit Council
All photos © Government of Yukon, except where indicated
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What is wellness?
4
Collecting Inspirational Stories about Wellness in Yukon
6
What Works?
7
What Works: Program Strategies
17
Summary
18
How to improve well-being
23
Community stories that inspire
stories that inspire
Contents
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What is wellness?
Wellness is about much more than physical health,
or being free of illness. Wellness is about what we
do every day to feel good and function well in the
places where we live, learn, work and play.
Wellness grows in families where caregivers
provide safe, nurturing, loving environments;
brothers, sisters and cousins share and play fair;
and grandparents pass on family history, traditions,
and wisdom.
Wellness flourishes in communities that are safe
and inclusive, and provide access to healthy
food, safe workplaces and cultural, sport and
recreational opportunities for people of all ages
and abilities. Communities that promote wellness
celebrate diversity, encourage open debate and
ensure that people have a voice in decisions that
matter to them.
Wellness includes curiosity and life-long learning
that begins in the home, and is nurtured in
schools, workplaces and the community
at large.
Wellness is about resilience. It is about being able
to handle life’s ups and downs, finding meaning,
and living our values – love, compassion, patience,
tolerance, forgiveness, responsibility, harmony, and
concern for others.
Wellness is about the relationships we nurture
with family, friends, co-workers, neighbours
and others.
stories that inspire
Wellness is about
what we do every
day to feel good and
function well in the
places where we live,
learn, work and play.
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Collecting Inspirational Stories about
Wellness in Yukon
Why we collected stories
The Department of Health and Social Services wants to support
Yukon people, families and communities to be as healthy as possible.
Our goal is to promote health and encourage the well-being of
individuals, families and communities in Yukon.
As Pathways to Wellness prepares a wellness plan for Yukon’s
children and families, some critical questions remain. What is already
being done in the Yukon to support the well-being of Yukoners?
What works to support well-being in the Yukon? What can we, as
Yukoners, do together to create healthier communities?
Across the territory, people are busy creating, running and
participating in programs that successfully support or promote
the well-being of individuals and families in their community. The
creators, programmers and participants of these initiatives have
valuable insight into what works in successful wellness programs.
They are the experts on well-being in their community. Through
experience, they have learned valuable lessons, which cannot be
found in textbooks or journal articles.
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The goal of Stories that Inspire is to share ideas and stories about
great things being done in Yukon to support and promote well-being.
We want to share success stories as a way to learn from and be
inspired by each other. We want to share lessons and ideas that can
contribute to the health and well-being of Yukoners now and in the
future.
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How we collected stories
People have experience with what makes and
keeps them, their families and their communities
well. This experience creates valuable knowledge.
To tap into this knowledge, we asked people
across the territory, “What are great things in your
community that support well-being?” Answers
ranged from small, locally run programs to larger
scale projects, from programs that focus on a
specific group to those that focus on the entire
community, and from those that are fairly new to
those that have survived the test of time.
This report and the collection of stories are not
meant to be a “how-to guide” for developing
wellness programs. Instead, they are meant to
inspire discussions, ideas and actions about ways
to work together towards wellness.
At the root of each of these stories are people. It
takes many people to make an initiative successful.
Every story involves people who have the passion,
the dedication and the drive to make change.
Let’s celebrate the people, the groups and the
communities that have made them happen!
We used a strength-based approach, with a
positive lens to understand what works. We did
not set out to evaluate programs – we focused
only on the positive. We connected, by phone or
in person, with people involved in these programs,
and we engaged in conversations with them about
how the initiative supported the well-being of
people in the community.
This collection of stories is not exhaustive; on
the contrary, it is only the beginning. It provides
insight into some of the amazing things being
done by Yukoners to support the health and
well-being of their communities. More stories can
be found in the Arctic Institute of Community
Based Research’s project “Celebrating our Stories:
Building a Healthier Yukon Together” http://www.
yukonwellness.ca/pdf/celebratingourstories.pdf.
stories that inspire
Following these conversations, we attempted to
capture the positive impact on well-being in a
story. Stories were reviewed by those responsible
for the specific initiative, and each story and
photograph found in this report is being shared
with permission.
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What Works?
In Yukon, many people, organizations, businesses, communities and
all levels of government are looking for ways to develop and adapt
programs that will support and promote well-being.
There is no single solution, and no perfect program. Every child,
family and community is unique, and initiatives to support their
health and well-being need to reflect this.
The stories highlight key strategies that contributed to the programs’
effectiveness. They provide ideas about what works to support wellbeing in Yukon, and what attracts people and keeps them engaged.
These stories also highlight lessons learned about sustainability.
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The most common and effective program strategies are outlined
in the following section, and are illustrated by examples from the
stories. The strategies are listed in no particular order. Some of the
strategies, however, require more explanation than others.
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This diagram was developed during the Achieving Healthy Weights
for Children Deliberative Dialogue in 2011. The ideas represented are
similar to those found in this collection of stories.
What Works: Program Strategies
1. Volunteer involvement
2. Creating a fun
and supportive
environment
3.Food
4. Small steps towards
the bigger picture
5. Fitting into the bigger
picture
6. Having a champion
7. Making healthy
choices easier
8.Accessibility
9. Building capacity
- Partnerships
- Skill development
- Mentoring
- Employment
- Increasing positive
emotions
1. Volunteer
involvement
Volunteering positively impacts
the volunteer, the community,
and the program. Volunteering
can reduce program costs
and increase the potential for
program sustainability. Giving
time and energy freely, without
the expectation of remuneration
or reward, builds community
spirit and sense of belonging.
Example: Volunteers brought
Mount Lorne’s Stories and
Voices of the Valley project
to life. Stories about the
history and spirit of the area
were recorded and written by
volunteers. By using volunteers,
the project had minimal cost
and refreshed the community’s
spirit of volunteerism.
2. Creating a fun
and supportive
environment
Using fun and connection is
much more effective than using
fear or facts.
Example: Junior Canadian
Rangers promote traditional
cultures and lifestyles through
skill-developing activities. Fun
is a key ingredient to every
activity. This makes volunteering
and learning new skills exciting
and attractive. “Almost all of
our activities are outside. Even
when it is -40 at the Carbon
Hill race, we are all together,
working hard and having a
great time.” Having a great
time is what keeps participants
engaged in the program for
many years.
10.Consistency
stories that inspire
- Staffing
- Expectations
- Scheduling/routine
Photo credit: Duncan Johnstone
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3. Food
Food is a component of almost
every project described in
this report from growing
and harvesting, to preparing
and serving, to eating a
meal together. Food draws
people to programs, increases
program accessibility, provides
nourishment, and creates
opportunities to socialize.
Example: Every two weeks,
Carmacks’ Family Night
provides a free and healthy
meal to people in Carmacks.
It is more than just a time
for families to eat together.
Once the dinner is finished,
the program offers a space for
adults to socialize and a place
for kids to play.
4. Small steps towards the bigger picture
Big goals are never achieved overnight. Every project has to start
somewhere, and any starting point is a good starting point. Starting
small is often the only choice because of financial, staffing or
logistical constraints. Even if these constraints don’t exist, by taking
small steps forward, there is opportunity to learn, adjust, and adapt
to the needs of the community along the way. Growing slowly also
provides the time to find sustainable funding and gain community
support.
Example: The Whitehorse Boys and Girls Club’s (BGC) From
Fresh / From Scratch program exemplifies the long-term benefits of
incremental growth. “Like all of BGC’s programs, From Fresh / From
Scratch grew slowly… BGC strives to do things that are sustainable,
which means taking small steps. As the years passed, the program
increased the amount of food that was made from scratch in the
club’s kitchen, and success just grew from there!”
Example: The Language Nest program at Burwash Landing’s
Kluane Day Care has great aspirations, but is starting small. Four
days a week elders and second language speakers spend time
teaching Southern Tutchone to the children in the daycare. The goal
is to increasingly integrate Southern Tutchone into the daycare’s
programming to the point that full language immersion is achieved.
Inch by Inch, Row by Row,
Gonna Make This Garden Grow!
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~ David Mallett, 1975
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Building healthy communities that support the
well-being of families and children is not a simple
task. It requires people to work together towards
change. No one program or project provides all of
the solutions. However, with many people, groups
and communities working together and taking
small steps, great things can happen.
Example: Every week, Porter Creek Secondary
School’s social justice club makes sandwiches for
the Outreach Van. While sandwich making does
not solve the problems of unaffordable housing
or food insecurity, it is a part of the solution. By
making sandwiches, students are contributing to
their community, creating strong social connections
and developing an awareness of community issues.
Example: Throughout the winter, Public Health
Nursing in Watson Lake rents the Northern Lights
Centre and shows documentaries and Hollywood
movies containing public health messages. Movies
are shown once a month, and are selected
according to monthly themes or concerns. The
program is an easy and attractive way of providing
people with information, entertainment and an
opportunity to socialize.
Example: Be the Change is about community
building through acceptance, tolerance, making
small change and celebrating diversity. Schools and
community members across Yukon are involved
in Be The Change in many ways, including doing
small acts of kindness. Small but meaningful
acts of kindness such as scraping a stranger’s
windshield, handing a flower to someone you
don’t know or giving a stranger a genuine
compliment might not change the world today,
but they do go a long way to support community
well-being and sense of belonging.
6. Having a champion
“Champions” make things happen because
of their vision, leadership and commitment to
change. The persistence and drive of a champion
greatly increases a program’s potential to start,
succeed, and be sustainable.
Champions are dedicated, passionate people who
are willing to overcome obstacles, challenges and
resistance to improve their community.
The stories introduce a number of champions
who made change happen through networking,
developing partnerships, creating allies and most
importantly, persisting. Most of the champions
featured in the stories worked towards their vision
by starting small and going step by step.
Example: Carmen Baker danced with the Tagish
First Nation Dancers when she was younger.
Knowing first-hand the positive impact singing
and dancing can have on a community inspired
her to form Pelly Crossing’s Selkirk Spirit Dancers
in 2004. Despite a number of obstacles along the
way, Carmen maintained her drive and her vision.
Community support grew over time, as did the
number of dancers. The Selkirk Spirit Dancers are
now a great source of community pride and wellbeing.
stories that inspire
5. Fitting into the bigger picture
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7. Making healthy choices easier
Changing behaviour, overcoming addictions, and
developing healthier habits are difficult. Part of
the solution is to change our surroundings so that
healthy choices are easier to make, and unhealthy
choices are more difficult. Making healthier
options available and limiting unhealthy choices
– at home, work and school – go a long way in
supporting individuals to make healthy changes.
It’s also easier to make healthier choices if the
people around you are making healthier choices.
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Example: Community greenhouses and
gardens in many Yukon communities make eating
healthy, locally grown vegetables easier for
people in the community. Many greenhouses and
community gardens donate some of their produce
to food banks, Meals on Wheels programs, or
pregnant women and nursing mothers.
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8. Accessibility
Barriers are obstacles, whether perceived or real,
that limit the ability of families or individuals to
participate in programs or services. Reducing
barriers increases accessibility. Actions that reduce
barriers to program attendance include providing
food, childcare and transportation, holding
programs in convenient locations and at accessible
times, and offering programs that are low or no
cost.
Example: Handle With Care actively reduced
barriers to their program as a means of increasing
participation. The free Whitehorse program
provided childcare and covered transportation
costs when necessary. When the program occurred
during a meal-time, a healthy meal was provided.
When a child is spotted biking with
their helmet on, the child is praised, and
rewarded with a coupon for a free fruit
slushie from the Yukon Motel. A child who
is not wearing a helmet gets a second
chance: they are told, ‘go home, get your
helmet, and come back to get a coupon’.
Capacity building is about
providing people with the
knowledge, skills, and
resources needed to feel
good and function well in the
places where they live, learn,
work and play. It is a broad,
but important, concept. By
strengthening the capacity of
individuals within a community,
the strengths, resources
and resilience of their entire
community increase. This in turn
strengthens the community’s
potential to create successful
and sustainable communitybased programs, and apply
these assets to new projects.
These stories illuminate five
effective and interdependent
ways capacity can be built
within programs:
- partnerships
- skills development
- mentoring
- employment
- increasing positive emotions
Partnerships
Partnerships are about people or groups working together in a
mutually beneficial way to achieve things that might not be possible
otherwise. They are effective when each partner draws on their
own specific or unique knowledge, strengths and resources to work
towards a shared and common goal.
Within a community, the numbers and types of partners can be
quite far reaching, and include individuals, groups, youth, the
school personnel, service providers, the RCMP, businesses, and
governments. Relationships and networks strengthen when groups
within a community work together in common cause.
Partnerships also develop a sense of community, support the
sustainability of projects and foster community engagement and
involvement.
The stories provide excellent examples of partners with clearly
defined roles and responsibilities from providing donations or
sponsorships to coordination and collaboration. This is beautifully
illustrated by the Bike Helmet project in Teslin and the Tombstone
Tuesday project in Dawson.
Example: By offering reduced prices on bike helmets, a Whitehorse
business made it possible for Teslin Tlingit Council to buy a bike
helmet for every child in the community. The Recreation and Parks
Association of the Yukon conducted a bike safety rodeo at the Teslin
school where the students learned how to properly adjust and wear
their new bike helmets. To further support and encourage children
to wear their helmets, the Yukon Motel and Teslin Tlingit Council
partnered to reward children for wearing their bike helmets. The
Teslin Tlingit Council chief, council members and staff handed out
coupons to children who were wearing their bike helmets. Coupons
could be reimbursed for free fruit slushies at the Yukon Motel. These
partnerships are an excellent example of the health, business and
education sectors working together to support the safety of children
in the community.
stories that inspire
9. Building capacity
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Example: Tombstone
Tuesdays is a program for
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizens.
It developed through a
partnership between Tr’ondëk
Hwëch’in First Nation and
the Yukon Department of
Environment that manages
the Tombstone Territorial Park.
Together, the two partners
collaborate in planning weekly
program themes based on
traditional practices, such as
fishing for grayling, collecting
soapberries, or hunting small
game. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
provides transportation for
their citizens – usually elders
and children, and the park staff
provide the stew, bannock
and tea.
Skill development
Capacity building can develop both “hard” and “soft” skills. Hard
skills are often developed through certification programs, ongoing
training opportunities and practice-based workshops. These activities
not only provide people with practical experience, they also develop
transferable life skills and assets for future employment.
Building soft-skill capacity includes providing opportunities to
develop skills needed to work in teams, solve problems and
negotiate conflicts. Many programs support both hard and soft skill
development.
Example: Whitehorse’s Bridges Café provides formal and
experiential skill training for people with cognitive disabilities. Formal
skill training at Bridges includes learning to use the cash register, or
prepare fresh food for customers. Experientially, working as part of a
team in a restaurant develops problem-solving and teamwork skills.
Example: The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Community Greenhouse in
Dawson City provides a space for community members to learn how
to grow vegetables, and some fruit. The greenhouse coordinator is
often present in the greenhouse to share ideas, tips and suggestions.
Gardeners also learn from each other and a whiteboard at the
greenhouse’s entrance provides growing hints for the community
gardener who is working alone.
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Example: Every summer, the Little Salmon/Carmacks First
Nation’s Greenhouse provides employment and training
opportunities for local youth. For many of the summer youth
workers, this is not only their first paying job, but also the first time
they have seen celery or broccoli growing. Because youth trained
every summer, there are now many young people in Carmacks who
have a lot of gardening knowledge and skills.
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Mentoring
Mentorships aim to build the capacity and well-being of individuals
through the assistance of another person who has more skills,
experience or knowledge. Whether they are formal or informal,
mentorships provide both the mentor and the mentee with
opportunities for personal growth.
Mentoring is also a way of sustaining programs as skills and
knowledge are passed from one person to the next, one generation
to the next.
As demonstrated by the stories, mentorships can occur in a variety
of ways.
Example: An excellent example of informal mentoring is found
in Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s First Fish Camp. By returning to First Fish
year after year, youth have a chance to pass on the skills they have
learned in previous years. Older youth are often spotted teaching and
sharing experiences with younger participants. The mentored youth
can then mentor other youth the following year.
stories that inspire
Example: Mentorship, as a capacity-building tool, supports
program sustainability. The same woman has been running the
successful Carcross Pottery Program for the past 11 years. To
make sure children and families can continue to throw pots long
into the future, Claudia McPhee has begun mentoring a young local
woman to eventually run the program herself.
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Employment
Employment opportunities attract participants to programs. While
the possibility of making money can be enticing, employment has
the potential to provide much more than income. In many of the
initiatives highlighted in the stories, employment was the gateway
to a host of wellness-promoting and capacity building opportunities.
Employment provides an opportunity for skill development and
mentorship. It can also create social networks, a sense of purpose,
and a sense of accomplishment.
Example: The Single Track to Success Project in Carcross is an
excellent example of the capacity-building opportunities provided
through employment. Youth and young adults hired to build trails
for the Single Track to Success project in Carcross not only earned
money and gained skills in trail construction, First Aid, chainsaw
safety and basic carpentry. They also gained an appreciation of being
on the land. Crew members also developed social networks which
provided both social support and future employment possibilities.
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Example: For the past four summers, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in has hired
youth for their summer Heritage Site Maintenance Crew. Most
of the youth in the program apply because it gives them a job and
teaches them new skills. But, while the job description includes
site maintenance, cabin building and trail development, the youth
are involved in much more than that. Through the program, youth
develop self-confidence, valuable life skills such as working in a team
and social connections.
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Increasing positive
emotions
Positive emotions literally open
up our hearts and minds.
Pride, joy, hope, graditude,
amusement and other deeply
felt emotions allow us to be
more open, creative, productive
and tolerant. Positive emotions
also increase resilience and
the ability to cope with stress
and everyday challenges and
frustrations. Programs and
activities that increase positive
emotions build community
capacity because positive
emotions bring out the best in
all of us.
EXAMPLE: It’s just not possible
to pick out one example, or
even a couple of examples,
because every story in this
collection increased positive
emotions of the participants,
staff and volunteers who took
part in the activity. And, their
communities are stronger, and
more caring, as a result.
10. Consistency
The importance of consistency in staffing,
expectations and scheduling of a program cannot
be overstated. In many stories, consistency took
the form of clarity and assurance in knowing who
would do what, when and where. Consistency
nourished many dimensions of wellbeing,
particularly trusting relationships.
Consistency can be achieved in
- staffing
- expectations
Staffing
Consistency in program staff and volunteers
fosters the development of trusting relationships
and connections. It also helps create and support
consistency in expectations.
Example: Twice a week, every week for the
past 11 years, there has been pottery making
at the Ghùch Tlâ Community School in Carcross.
Through the pottery program, community
members, young and old, have developed long
standing relationships with the program staff, and
with each other.
stories that inspire
- scheduling and routines
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
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Expectations
Scheduling and routine
Having clear and consistent boundaries and
expectations helps create a safe, supportive
environment that fosters healthy behaviours and
trusting relationships. It can also assist in building
life skills such as patience, problem solving, and
responsibility.
When a program occurs on a consistent and
regular basis, people are able to anticipate and
plan for it. A regular schedule creates social norms,
routines and traditions, as well as environments
that are conducive to building relationships.
Example: On school days, the Pelly Crossing
Hot Lunch Program provides a hot, healthy
lunch to the community of Pelly Crossing. The
program sets out clear expectations related to
behaviour and respect. These expectations help
create a safe and nurturing environment where
community members model behaviours and values
they’d like their children and youth to learn.
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Example: Carmacks’ Family Night has a few
basic rules. Two of the rules are that adults can’t
show up without a child, and a child can’t show
up without an adult – but there are exceptions
to these rules. If parents aren’t able to attend the
dinner, it doesn’t mean their child can’t go – it just
frees the kids up for Family Night adoption! Lone
adults and children are paired together for the
evening, and in some cases adults who don’t want
to miss out on all the fun either bring along their
neighbour’s children, or just show up in hopes of
adopting a kid for the evening!
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Example: For the past eight years, Champagne
Aishihik First Nation has run a weekly Elders’
Tea and Fitness Lunch. The program occurs
every Wednesday afternoon. The regularity of
the program allows elders to plan their schedules
around the program.
Example: Community Markets across Yukon
are another great example of the power of
consistency and persistence. Many of the markets
had low attendance and received little attention
when they began; however, market pioneers
persisted. Every week they set up stalls, and with
time, many of those markets transitioned from
novelties to valued community traditions.
Example: Tumble Time playgroup happens in
Whitehorse every Thursday morning throughout
the school year. The value of the program and its
consistency are apparent – parents and caregivers
say they plan their work schedules around the
playgroup so that they are able to attend with
their children.
SUMMARY
What Works: Program Strategies
Volunteer involvement. Giving time and
Building capacity through
energy freely, without expectation of return or
reward, builds community spirit, and sense of
belonging.
• Partnerships. Each partner contributes unique
knowledge, strengths and resources towards
a common goal that can only be achieved by
working together.
effective than fear or facts alone when it comes to
making change and promoting well-being.
Food. Food draws people together, provides
nourishment, is a sign of caring, and provides
opportunities to socialize.
Small steps towards the bigger picture.
Taking small steps towards a bigger goal creates
the opportunity to learn, make mistakes, adjust,
and adapt along the way. In this way, taking small
steps builds for success.
Fitting into the bigger picture. Building
healthy communities is a long-term goal, and
no single project or program can do it all.
Understanding how an effort fits into the bigger
picture recognizes the value of all contributions,
and creates a sense of common purpose.
Having a champion. Champions provide
vision, leadership and commitment. They bring
others into the picture and make change happen
through networking, developing partnerships,
creating allies, and persisting!
Making healthy choices easier. Making
healthier options available and limiting unhealthy
choices supports individuals to make healthy
changes.
Accessibility. Reducing barriers increases
participation. It also signals to participants that
their circumstances are understood, and that
they are valued.
• Skill development. Practical experience,
transferable life skills, and assets for future
employment support individuals and build
community capacity.
• Mentoring. Capacity is built when skills and
knowledge are passed on from one individual to
the next, one generation to the next.
• Employment. Employment draws people
to projects, and can be gateway to further
education, employment, and other wellnesspromoting opportunities.
• Positive emotions. Positive emotions, like
pride, joy and curiousity, build capacity because
they allow individuals to be more open to new
ideas, more creative, more tolerant, and more
productive.
Consistency in
• Staffing. Having the same staff or volunteers
is a first step towards developing trusting
relationships.
• Expectations. Having clear and consistent
boundaries and expectations helps create a safe,
supportive environment that fosters healthy
behaviour and trusting relationships.
• Scheduling and routine. Programs that occur
on a regular, consistent basis allow participants
to anticipate and plan, help create social norms,
and build new community traditions.
stories that inspire
Creating a fun and supportive
environment. Fun and connection are more
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How to improve well-being
Strategies such as developing partnerships, creating consistency
and having a champion, help programs attract and engage people,
and become sustainable. These are only some aspects of program
success. The stories provide examples of how programs are positively
impacting individual well-being. They highlight strategies, ideas and
activities that are successfully used to address the dimensions of
individual well-being. Some of these strategies are the same ones
that attract people to programs, keep them engaged and ensure
sustainability.
Pathways to Wellness has identified six dimensions of individual
well-being – social, physical, occupational, intellectual, spiritual and
emotional. These dimensions are interconnected and interdependent.
This means that the same factors that positively affect one dimension
will often affect other dimensions.
For example, a child who eats well is more likely to do well in school;
a person who volunteers their time in the community is more likely
to feel a sense of purpose; and someone who works in a positive
and healthy work environment is less likely to be stressed when they
are at home with their family. In this way, wellness
is holistic and
reflects the breadth and depth of our experience as individuals and
as members of families, workplaces and communities.
Every story in this report positively impacts individual well-being in
more than one way. The stories highlight interventions that create
ever-expanding ripples of wellness – positively affecting many
dimensions of well-being along the way.
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The stories provide tangible ideas that can be used and adapted to
positively impact the dimensions of well-being. The following pages
share some of these ideas and strategies – please use them, adapt
them, change them and see how their ripples flow into the many
dimensions of well-being.
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The six
dimensions of
well-being:
social,
physical,
occupational,
intellectual,
spiritual, and
emotional.
Social Wellness
Physical Wellness
What is it?
What is it?
The social dimension of wellness is about relating
and feeling connected to others; giving and
receiving support; having intimate and meaningful
relationships; being an active member of the
community and caring for and about others.
The physical dimension of wellness is about taking
good care of your physical body. Our bodies allow
us to work, rest, eat, and play – so we need to
properly nourish and support them! Physical
wellness is about being active, eating well, getting
enough sleep and being safe and secure.
What can you do?
• Create opportunities for socializing
What can you do?
• Model healthy relationships
• Provide outside time
• Be a mentor
• Model being active and eating healthy
• Introduce youth to community service
and volunteering
• Provide healthy snacks and meals
• Incorporate intergenerational interactions
into programs
• Integrate physical activity into programs
• Work on partnerships
• Make healthy food choices easily accessible
• Role-model being safe (e.g., wearing bike
helmets, seat belts or life jackets)
• Grow and distribute healthy food
stories that inspire
• Harvest food from the land
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
19
Occupational Wellness
Intellectual Wellness
What is it?
What is it?
Occupational wellness is not just about work.
It is about finding personal satisfaction and
enrichment in the way we spend our time.
Occupational wellness involves being creative,
contributing your skills and talents to work that
is personally meaningful and rewarding, making
good use of time, and volunteering. Occupational
wellness allows people to feel they are contributing
to their community.
Intellectual wellness is about expanding
knowledge, improving skills and experiencing
life more fully. Valuing and nurturing creativity,
curiosity and lifelong learning are all parts of
intellectual wellness.
What can you do?
• Provide and promote opportunities
to volunteer
What can you do?
• Teach new skills
• Encourage program participants to share
knowledge and experiences
• Provide on-going training and teaching
• Create positive work environments
• Recognize and use the strengths and
knowledge of others
• Provide job-skill training
• Create mentorship opportunities
• Provide opportunities to be creative
fall 2013
• Create employment opportunities
20
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
Spiritual Wellness
Emotional Wellness
What is it?
What is it?
Spiritual wellness is about finding meaning and
purpose in life, integrating your beliefs and values
into your actions, celebrating and being proud
of your cultural identity, practicing your faith and
experiencing connection with the land and nature.
Having a sense of community is an aspect of
spiritual well-being.
Emotional wellness is about having an awareness
and acceptance of one's feelings. Emotional
wellness involves having good coping skills, having
a positive outlook, being able to express and
manage feelings effectively. Emotional wellness
allows us to deal with conflict, manage stressful
situations and develop and maintain positive
relationships.
What can you do?
What can you do?
• Provide time in nature
• Engage in cultural activities
• Model an appreciation of nature
• Model healthy coping skills and
stress management
• Model pride in one’s culture
• Create opportunities to give and
receive support
• Incorporate intergenerational interactions
into programs
• Discuss feelings openly
• Promote self-care
stories that inspire
• Provide and promote opportunities to volunteer
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
Photo Credit: Child Development Centre
21
Final Thoughts
Personal Reflections on Positivity
Stories that Inspire is an example of a project that
fits well into a bigger picture of what works when
it comes to promoting individual and community
wellness. Strength-based, positive projects like this
one complement program evaluations, community
discussions and other projects that look at what
is needed to create the conditions for community
members to flourish. By taking a strengths-based
approach, projects like Stories that Inspire can
begin to unearth answers to questions such as
what tools, assets and resources do we have, and
how can they best be used to work towards the
bigger picture of a healthier community.
Positive emotions, such as pride, curiosity and
joy, are known to positively impact individual
and community well-being. But as a society, we
rarely focus on the positive. While collecting
and writing stories for this project, I witnessed
and experienced the ripple effect of cultivating
positivity through conversation and a strengthbased approach. The act of listening to and
writing about these stories filled me with joy,
piqued my curiosity to learn more and opened my
mind to the good all around me.
This project invited people to talk about
the positive things in their community. The
conversation began by focusing on one specific
initiative, but usually drifted towards other great
things being done in the community by fellow
community members. People regularly invited
others to join the discussions, and to collectively
celebrate and share in the positivity. Those I spoke
with frequently expressed joy and pride in their
community, and their personal contributions.
fall 2013
Positive emotions, such as pride, joy and curiosity,
help people flourish, not just in the moment of the
feeling, but in the long term as well. It is my hope
that the positivity cultivated during the process of
this project will continue to contribute to individual
and community well-being now and in the future.
22
Stories that Inspire
Burwash Landing
• The Language Nest
Carcross
• Single track to success
• Throwing pots in Carcross
Carmacks
• Family, food and fun nights
• Growing greens and gardeners
Dawson City
• First Fish in Dawson
• Home grown food security
• Preserving Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in heritage
• Tombstone Tuesdays
Haines Junction
• Food, fitness and fun for elders
Mount Lorne
• Stories and voices of the valley
Pelly Crossing
• Keeping the spirit alive
• Serving it up in Pelly Crossing
Teslin
• Dreams come true in Teslin
Whitehorse
• Be the Change
• Building bridges with food
• Feeding people, feeding minds
• Students pile on the food
• From Fresh, From Scratch
• Handle with Care
• Tumble Time
Yukon-wide
• Community markets: the place to be
• Junior Rangers, serious fun
stories that inspire
Watson Lake
• Going to the movies in Watson Lake
• Help, hope and the healing garden
23
The Language Nest
It was an exciting day at
Kluane Daycare when young
children, adults and elders alike
were enthusiastically shouting
“kwānsì ch’e, kwānsì ch’e.”
The screams let everyone
know there was a spider in
the daycare. The screams also
signaled that something really
important is happening in
Burwash Landing’s daycare.
The story of the Language Nest
at Kluane Daycare is about many
things – keeping a language
alive, learning as a community,
maintaining culture and building
connections. The laughter that
accompanied the screams of
“kwānsì ch’e” shows it is also
about having fun.
Four days a week elders and
second language speakers
spend time teaching Southern
Tutchone to the children in the
daycare. The time together
benefits the children, the elders
and the rest of the community.
fall 2013
Elders Peter Upton and Margaret
Johnson speak passionately
about how important the
program is for the community.
Many of the children and elders
did not know each other before
the start of the Language Nest.
Since the program began,
new relationships have formed
between the elders, the children
and their families.
24
The children are learning about
their culture and their language
during their time with the
elders. The elders are quick to
add that they are learning
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
from the children and from
each other too. Peter learned
Southern Tutchone as an adult,
and says that he is constantly
learning from the other elders
working in the program, from
the children, and from the
teaching process itself.
Although the Language Nest
program at Kluane Daycare is
still young, those involved speak
with great passion about its
future. The goal is to gradually
integrate Southern Tutchone
into the daycare’s programming
so that eventually it is a full
immersion experience. There
are hopes that community
involvement will increase
and that all generations will
eventually become involved in
the project, with older children
and young adults sharing their
language skills in the daycare.
Peter, Margaret, and daycare
staff Sherry Massie speak with
enthusiasm and pride about
their dream that one day the
children in the daycare will start
school with such advanced
language skills that the territory’s
language curriculum will need to
be rewritten.
“People will say, look at those
kids from Burwash Landing,
they sure can speak Southern
Tutchone!”
Stories that inspire...
Stories
Single Track to that
Success inspire...
their community. “When Carcross youth go to
Whitehorse for high school, and are asked if they
have ever ridden the trails, they can say – ride
them? I helped build them!”
Montana Mountain in Carcross is quickly gaining
a reputation for some of the best mountain biking
trails in the world. And for good reason! The views
are spectacular. The terrain is challenging. And
the story of how the trails were created is truly
inspiring.
In 2005, Carcross Tagish First Nation (CTFN) was
looking for a way to promote community wellness
and get youth back on the land. They also wanted
to promote tourism in the area by creating a worldclass trail system. The Single Track to Success (S2S)
Project meets all of these goals, and more!
Jane Koepke, one of the project’s creators, says,
“The project’s vision was to create an extensive
network of trails on Montana Mountain. But the
process was as important as the product.” That
process includes hiring local youth to build the
trails.
Carcross resident Sheena Johns was 19 when she
started working on the S2S trail crew. She says
that working on the mountain was one of the
best jobs of her life – “but it was definitely the
hardest!”
Sheena found walking and building trails for 10
hours a day to be a constant challenge. “But
it was amazing, I discovered that I was able to
work that hard and that long. It let me get active
again.”
During the past seven years of trail construction,
Jane has seen S2S crewmembers develop a deep
sense of pride in the mountain, their work and
Sheena developed more than just long lasting
friendships on the trail. “Every job I have had
since being on the crew has come from people
I met through working on the mountain.” This
has been the case for many of the youth. One
former crewmember now works as a guide on the
mountain, and another as a ranger on the Chilkoot
Trail.
Former crewmembers have also been hired as
crew leaders, giving them a chance to pass on
their knowledge and mentor new workers.
The Single Track to Success Project not only
builds world class trails, it provides life changing
experiences to local youth. What are the keys
to this project’s amazing success? Jane refers to
Carcross Tagish First Nation’s vision of building a
healthy community. Those involved in the project
refer to the dedication of individuals who were the
driving force behind it, including not only Jane but
Carcross/Tagish Management Corporation CEO
Justin Ferbey and trail builders Wayne Roberts and
Derek Crowe. Sheena and Jane both mention that
while the work is challenging, crewmembers get
a lot of support and there is always a lot of fun to
be had.
After seven years of hard work, S2S is taking
the year off to plan future trail development and
maintenance. At the same time, other Yukon
communities are interested in building trails, and
are looking to S2S for guidance and suggestions.
It is clear that this project is not gearing down
anytime soon!
stories that inspire
Photo Credit: Jane Koepke
While on the trail, crewmembers gain skills in trail
construction, First Aid, chainsaw safety and basic
carpentry. They also gain an appreciation of being
on the land. “I grew up around this mountain, but
I never realized how amazing it was until I spent
day after day on it. I love it here,” says Sheena.
25
Throwing pots in Carcross
What is more than 11 years old, and has touched
almost every kid’s life in Carcross? You would be
right if you guessed the afterschool and adult
pottery programs that are run out of the Ghuch
Tia Community School.
house, socialize and do something with the kids.
For many kids, the pottery program is their first
introduction to the school – some of those kids
start attending the program before they are even
born!
Eleven years is a long time to keep a program
running! When you ask people what the key to the
program’s success and longevity is, a lot of fingers
point to Claudia McPhee. Over twelve years ago
Claudia noticed students curiously watching her
whenever she used the pottery equipment at the
school. She asked the school’s principal if she
could run a free after school pottery program –
and pretty much from the moment the “yes” was
given, the program was an instant success.
The pottery program isn’t just a social activity;
it is also a therapeutic one. Claudia has seen
the power of pottery. Clay can soak up tears,
be pounded by an angry child, or be reworked
over and over. “It is perfect for people who are
afraid of falling,” she says. When someone makes
something they are not happy with, it is simply a
learning experience, and the piece of clay can be
pounded down and reworked.
The free afterschool program runs twice a week
all year round, and is always well attended by
students and parents alike. A program just for
adults, which is held immediately following the
after school program, is equally well attended.
Even on a sunny summer day in June, the everexpanding pottery room at the school is so full of
people it is hard to hear Claudia over the sound of
children playing and women talking. Over the din
she asks, “How does our pottery program support
well-being?”
Between running around, playing and molding clay
into different shapes, none of the children have
time to answer, beyond a breathless, “It’s fun.”
That much is obvious.
The pottery program is a success because it is a
great partnership with the school and a number of
long-term funding sources, including the Carcross
Recreation Board, the Youth Leadership Activity
Program and the Youth Investment Fund.
Beyond the space and money, however, one
person has been the heart of the program for
more than a decade – Claudia. She understands
how important it is to provide a welcoming and
creative learning experience for children and adults
week after week. Thinking ahead to the future,
Claudia is mentoring a local young woman to fill
her extremely big shoes – so that the program can
continue for at least another 11 years!
fall 2013
“I get my life lessons here… the pottery program
will make me wise,” responds 19-year-old Leah
Russell. Leah is referring to the weekly discussions
that take place around the pottery table, which are
filled with life lessons by women of all ages.
26
Everyone in the room agrees the pottery program
creates a strong sense of community. “It defines
that old concept of community, with people sitting
around and doing things together,” Claudia says.
For many, pottery is a time to get out of the
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
Stories that inspire...
Stories
inspire...
Family, food andthat
fun nights
The word on the street in Carmacks is that when
Family Night at the recreation centre is serving
pizza, you had better go early to avoid a line up!
This is only one of the telltale signs that Family
Night has grown into a huge success story.
George Kontogonis, Carmacks’ recreation assistant
for the past 13 years, created Family Night as
a way to bring adults into the town’s recreation
centre. The idea was simple – provide a free and
healthy meal, a time for families to eat together,
and once the dinner is finished, offer a space for
adults to socialize and a place for kids to play.
When the dinners first started, only 10 to 15
people attended, but word quickly spread about
George’s culinary excellence, and the program’s
great social environment. The dinner now hosts
between 70 to 80 people!
Another great thing about Family Night is its three
basic rules. The first two rules are that adults can’t
show up without a child, and a child can’t show
up without an adult. This doesn’t leave kids out
of the fun if their parents aren’t able to attend
the dinner – it just frees them up for Family Night
adoption! Lone adults and children are paired
together for the evening, and in some cases adults
who don’t want to miss out on all the fun either
bring along their neighbour’s children, or just show
up in hopes of adopting a kid for the evening!
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
The third rule is that everyone has to work a little
bit for his or her dinner. For instance on pizza
night, George hand-makes pizza crusts before the
dinner, and prepares the toppings. Families create
their pizza together, and then hang out while the
meal cooks.
With people calling Family Night “the greatest
win/win program,” and bragging about it to
their friends in other communities, it seems that
Carmacks has found the right ingredients for family
fun and building connections between people of
all ages.
stories that inspire
Cory Bellmore and Kelly Skookum regularly bring
their families to Family Night, and they both rave
about all the great things Family Night offers.
Having the program every other Thursday builds
anticipation – families look forward to going. It
is often the only time in the month that some
community members see each other, and while
the adults socialize, the kids can play in the gym.
Both women like that Family Night changes
with the season – at Hallowe’en, families carve
pumpkins together, and in the summer there is a
swimming night with a BBQ dinner. The menu and
social activities are endless – and George is always
open to people providing suggestions.
27
Growing greens and gardeners
The greenhouse has provided youth with
summer work opportunities since it started. That
means there are many young people in Carmacks
now who have a lot of gardening knowledge and
skill! But knowledge isn’t the only thing youth
gain from working in the greenhouse. Alice and
other greenhouse staff say the youth quickly
learn that gardening is physically demanding
work that requires patience.
Photo Credit: Alice Boland
Since it began operations in 2002, the Little
Salmon Carmacks First Nation’s Greenhouse has
been an inspiration to many communities and
organizations. Despite the northern climate,
bounties of healthy, locally grown vegetables are
produced in the greenhouse and shared with the
community. And that’s not all! Every summer the
greenhouse provides employment and training
opportunities for local youth.
fall 2013
When the youth start working at the greenhouse,
supervisor Alice Boland gives them the grand tour.
It begins with meeting their fellow greenhouse
staff, and ends with being introduced to each
type of plant growing in the amazingly successful
greenhouse. For many of the summer youth
workers, this is not only their first paying job, but
also the first time they have seen celery or broccoli
growing.
28
Youth are often extremely shy when they arrive,
but as the weeks pass Alice sees them open up,
joke with other staff, and show pride in their
work. The youth workers have been known to
pass their knowledge on to others and even brag
about the great work that they do.
The youth take fresh vegetables home all
summer long, giving their families a chance
to share in the healthy harvest and see what
their kids have helped produce. In the fall, the
greenhouse donates vegetables to Carmacks’
Tantalus School for the school’s breakfast and
lunch program. Youth have been overheard
proudly telling other students how they helped
grow the vegetables that are in the in the salad
or soup, or explaining how a certain vegetable
grows.
They have many reasons to be proud! Along
with the entire team involved in the greenhouse
operations, the youth are supporting the healthy
eating habits of people of all ages in Carmacks.
It might also be the first time they have been
around people who are absolutely passionate
about growing food! When Alice speaks, her
love for gardening is contagious. Not only does
Alice pass her love of gardening on to many
of the youth, she also passes on her wealth of
knowledge. This must be one of the reasons that
many of the former youth workers have built their
own small gardens to help feed their families.
Stories that inspire...
Stories
that inspire...
First Fish in Dawson
Photo Credit: Trondek Hwech’in First Nation
It seems that every young person in Dawson has a story about Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s First Fish camp. In
fact, most adults have a story about First Fish – and the stories always come with a big smile. Those
smiles are a telltale sign that First Fish is all about fun, learning, culture, creating good memories and
sharing good food.
Salmon has always been important to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. The respect and handling of the salmon
have traditionally been passed from one generation to the next – and the First Fish camp is an ideal time
to carry on this tradition.
First Fish is for any kid in Dawson aged 10-15, but everyone in the community takes part. Elders and
other community members run programs or just come to visit. Conservation officers teach about bear
safety. Younger kids can come if they bring their families along with them, and older youth can be staff or
helpers. Everyone gets in on the act, and the fun!
The camp’s themes are catching, handling, cleaning and smoking salmon – and for many of the youth it is
their first time doing any of these things. Kids get a chance to set up smoke shacks and set fry traps.
Han language is incorporated into many of these programs. There are also language lessons where
everyone at the camp learns together.
When asked how long First Fish camp has been running, Erika Scheffen, a heritage assistant with Trond’ek
Hwech’in First Nation responds, “Oh, at least since I was a kid!” Many people in the streets of Dawson
repeat this response. That is because the successful program has been around for a long time. First Fish
formally began in 2003, but it had been considered a part of culture camp and fish camp for many years
before that.
Just because the program has run for many years doesn’t mean it is always the same. Every year new
programs are introduced, or changed. This year, participants made spruce sap salves and did sewing
projects. Next year it might be different. What stays the same is that it is always fun; it is always a
community event; and it is always memorable for everyone involved.
stories that inspire
Most youth don’t just attend the camp once. By returning to First Fish for a number of years, youth have a
chance to rekindle friendships, learn new things and pass on the skills they have previously learned. Older
youth are often spotted teaching and sharing experiences with younger participants.
29
Home grown food security
people fresh cucumbers or corn
on the cob, and saying “See
what you can grow! See how
good it is!”
Kids are also becoming involved
in the greenhouse. This summer
the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in daycamp
took trips to the greenhouse to
help out, learn and nibble on
healthy, local produce. Two of
the beds in the greenhouse are
for the daycare and the Tr’ondëk
Hwëch’in First Nation hopes to
eventually get the kids in the
daycare involved in growing the
food that the daycare serves.
Photo Credit: Lynn Rear
At the best of times, it can be
extremely challenging to eat a
healthy diet. Dawson’s northern
environment only adds to this
challenge.
Dawson’s food supply, like that
of other Yukon communities,
is primarily dependent on food
trucked up the highway. Food
that arrives by truck is expensive
and the quality suffers as a
result of the long journey.
fall 2013
It’s no wonder that many Yukon
communities are investing in
greenhouse operations. The
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Community
Greenhouse in Dawson City is a
great example of a community
project that is cultivating a
growing interest in local food
security.
30
“The goal of the project is to
try and get our people back into
healthy eating,” says Lynn Rear,
the greenhouse coordinator. In
its three years of operations, the
greenhouse has already done
a lot to achieve that goal. The
greenhouse provides a space for
community members to learn
how to grow vegetables, and
some fruit.
The greenhouse is a constant
flurry of community activity. It
has 15 raised beds – some of
which are used by families and
individuals to grow food for
their personal use. The Tr’ondëk
Hwëch’in Support Centre
uses five of the bigger beds to
grow food for the First Nation’s
prenatal nutrition program,
community kitchen, Meals on
Wheels and elder’s program.
Since the greenhouse project
began three years ago, Lynn
has seen community members
slowly becoming more interested
in local foods. She constantly
encourages interest by giving
The greenhouse has been a
community project from the
start. It was erected by the
Yukon Youth Conservation
Corps in 2010, and has been
supported by funding from the
Dawson Climate Adaptation
Plan and Growing Forward.
Dreams of growing bigger
and better are definitely in the
works. With the passion and
commitment of community
members in Dawson, there is
no doubt those dreams will
come true!
Stories that inspire...
Stories
thatHwëch’in
inspire...
Preserving Tr'ondëk
heritage
Recently, when Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Heritage
staff entered the old Taylor and Drury store at
Fort Selkirk, they heard some eerie noises. At
first it sounded like someone moving in the old
building’s basement. Then it sounded like knocking
coming from the floorboards. The heritage staff
exchanged relieved smiles when they realized that
the noise was the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Heritage
Department’s youth work crew hard at it.
While the youth construct and restore buildings
at some of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s heritage sites,
they learn new skills, and at the same time work
towards a high school credit. Thanks to a great
partnership between Dawson’s Robert Service
high school and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation,
the skills the youth gain during their summer jobs
can earn them up to 20 per cent of their Technical
Education high school credit.
For the past four summers, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
has hired youth for their summer Heritage Site
maintenance crew. Most of the youth in the
program applied because it gives them a job and
teaches them new skills. While the job description
includes site maintenance, cabin building and trail
development, the youth are involved in much
more than that.
According to Alex, the youth involved in the
maintenance crew gain much more than technical
skills. Self-confidence and the ability to work in a
team also increase over the course of the summer.
Working on the maintenance crew addresses
the three C’s of positive youth development:
competence, confidence and connection!
“One of the main goals is to get the youth
outside, on the land, and developing a sense
of place, pride, appreciation and awareness of
cultural sites,” explains Alex Brook, the Heritage
Sites coordinator. The crew’s work isn’t just limited
to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s heritage sites. Recently
the crew travelled to Fort Selkirk to gain an
appreciation of Selkirk First Nation’s heritage site.
As the crew, and their supervisor Spruce, emerged
giggling from the basement of the Taylor and
Drury store, it was clear that fun is also a big part
of the program’s success.
“A big part of the program is about mentoring
and developing new skills,” says Spruce
Gerberding. As a journeyperson carpenter, and
someone who grew up in Dawson, Spruce is well
equipped to be both a mentor and an instructor.
Photo Credit: Tricia Newport
stories that inspire
During their time at Fort Selkirk, the crew did
more than just hide in basements scaring people.
As they wandered around the impressively restored
buildings, they discussed how to apply ideas
and techniques used at Fort Selkirk to change
or improve the way they restore and maintain
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s heritage sites, such as Forty
Mile.
31
Tombstone Tuesdays
Photo credit: Trondek Hwechin Heritage Deparment
Tombstone Territorial Park has become an
international destination. People from around
the world are travelling to the park and attending
programs like guided hikes and campfire talks
at the interpretive centre. But on Tombstone
Tuesdays, the programs are very different. That’s
the time when the programming is specifically for
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizens.
fall 2013
Tombstone Tuesdays is a great partnership
between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and the
Yukon Department of Environment that manages
the Tombstone Territorial Park. Together, the two
partners collaborate in planning weekly themes
based on traditional practices. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
provides transportation for their citizens, and the
park staff provide the stew, bannock and tea.
32
The program’s themes vary according to what
is in season. But seasons in the Yukon are never
predictable, so the program is extremely flexible,
adaptable, and changes even throughout the
summer.
Whether the weekly theme is grayling fishing,
soapberry collecting, making Indian ice cream or
small game hunting – the goals are always the
same: spending time on the land, learning and
being together, and, of course, having fun.
The program has been so successful that
Tombstone Tuesdays now includes the Tr’ondëk
Hwëch’in summer day camp. Every Tuesday the
kids in the day camp spend their afternoon with
elders at the park. Together they share stew and
bannock, take part in traditional activities and
spend time around the campfire.
The bannock and stew may bring people together,
but it’s only a starting point. Erika Scheffen, a
heritage assistant for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in says the
program is really successful in bringing everyone
together to socialize and develop skills. Children
learn about their heritage from the elders, and the
elders help keep their culture and traditions alive.
Stories that inspire...
Stories
that
Food, fitness and
fun forinspire...
elders
While lunch is cooking, Darlene Blair drives
around Haines Junction picking up elders’. As
the elders program coordinator for Champagne
Aishikik First Nation, she says that making the
program accessible is important to its success.
Transportation is always available, and there is no
obligation to stay for the entire program. While
some elders stay for the whole afternoon, others
simply come to eat.
“In a community that doesn’t have a grocery store,
it is really important to make sure that people have
access to healthy food,” says Darlene. The elders’
lunch certainly does that, and much more.
The weekly four-course meal includes fresh fruit
and vegetables – many of which aren’t readily
available in Haines Junction. Traditional foods
are often on the menu, thanks to community
members who generously donate wild meat, fish
and berries.
Whether it is duck soup, moose ribs or baked
salmon, there is always lots of food. Elders are
encouraged to take leftovers home, ensuring they
will have healthy, delicious food for a number of
meals to come.
The lunch is not just about the great food. “I come
here to have a good meal, and to visit,” says Lois
Roberts. Around the lunch table, stories are told,
and weekly updates are shared. There’s always lots
of laughter, and the good times spread beyond
Haines Junction – elders from Burwash Landing
join in on the lunch and activities on occasion.
When the meal is finished, Lia Fox, a certified
fitness instructor, guides the group through
some gentle exercises. Some weeks the group
is encouraged to do shoulder shrugs and arm
raises, other times the exercises are slightly more
vigorous. “We exercise according to where the
group is at,” she says.
An informal sewing and craft circle follows the
exercises. While watching a movie, Lia, Darlene
and the elders share stories, trade beading ideas,
and suggest new crafting ideas.
Lia says that keeping elders healthy and active
also keeps them involved in the community. The
elder’s lunch and fitness tea has been helping
keep elders healthy and active for over eight years,
and thankfully there are no plans to stop anytime
soon!
stories that inspire
Wednesday afternoons are a busy time at
Nats`ehk i Ku, Champagne Aishihik First Nation’s
Wellness Place in Haines Junction. With sewing,
socializing, eating, laughing and exercising on
the agenda, there is little time for rest during
Champagne Aishihik First Nation’s weekly elder’s
tea and fitness lunch.
33
Stories and voices of the valley
The Hamlet of Mount Lorne is
home to many interesting and
amazing people and programs. Talk
with someone who lives there and
you will almost always hear what a
great place it is to live.
Thanks to the Stories and Voices of
the Valley project, you might also
hear about who and what makes it
such a great place to live.
The Lorne Mountain Community
Centre was built by volunteers
25 years ago. Agnes Seitz, the
centre’s Executive Director, says
the vibrant centre is at the heart
of the community. It has always
had lots of programs for children,
youth, and families – but not many
for seniors. Two years ago a group
of local seniors wanted to change
this.
Christel Percival, along with other
local seniors, had a dream of
capturing the memories, stories
and spirit of the Mount Lorne
area. With assistance from the
community centre and funding
from the Government of Canada’s
New Horizons for Seniors Program
and Government of Yukon’s
Community Development Fund,
they did just that!
fall 2013
Christel says everyone living in the
Hamlet of Mount Lorne has a story
about the area, whether they have
just arrived or have been there for
a long time. The project set about
collecting many of these stories.
34
Preparing for the project was a
community affair. Locals were
consulted about the right recording
equipment to buy, and a local
youth was hired to help with
the project. As well, a workshop
was facilitated by Midnight Arts
heritage consultants to teach
interested seniors and youth about
recording and interviewing.
From there, the story collection
process began. The original
project included examining four
organizations, primarily involving
volunteers, and recognizing the
contributions the volunteers make
to the quality of life and safety
of the Mount Lorne community.
Once stories were collected
about the volunteer groups
in the community: the Lorne
Mountain Community Association
(LMCA), Mount Lorne Voluntary
Fire Department (MLVFD), Lorne
Mountain Transformation Society,
and Hamlet of Mount Lorne
Advisory Council, curiosity about
the area spread.
Volunteers began looking for more
stories. Stories were told about
the valley’s infrastructure, early
dwellers and long-term residents.
Bill and Millie Thomson, longtime residents in the area, shared
stories about the mail run from
Carcross to Atlin, B.C. that they
coordinated for thirty years. Tale
by tale, the history of the area was
documented.
Christel says the project, run
entirely by volunteers, got people
involved in the community in a
different way, and encouraged
a curiosity about the area.
Neighbours asked neighbours
about the neighbourhood’s
stories. Volunteers collected stories
about volunteering. Youth wrote
stories, seniors wrote stories. And
everything came together in a
beautiful 24-page newsletter which
was emailed to everyone in the
community.
The newsletter received great
praise. Some community members
even asked for hard copies for their
outhouse, because that is where
the best things get read!
In April 2013, a final event was
held to celebrate the project.
Story tellers, story writers, and
community members past and
present were invited. The evening
was full of laughter and people
sharing stories about their
connection to the community.
“People talked about how they
made things happen through
volunteering because they wanted
community. They wanted it,
and they made it happen,”
Agnes said.
The Stories and Voices of the Valley
Project has helped keep that spirit
of volunteering alive. Since the
project ended, a number of seniors
have become involved with the
community centre again. Some
have even rejoined the board.
Agnes and Christel say the project
has been great for the community
today and will continue to be
well into the future. Story telling
is about wellness, and curiosity
is contagious. Now that the
recording equipment has been
bought, people have been trained
and curiosity has been created,
neighbours will continue to record
and share their neighbours’ stories
for a long time to come.
Stories that inspire...
Stories
that
Keeping the spirit
alive inspire...
Photo credit: Gina Gill
The tale begins with Carmen Baker who danced with
the Tagish Nation Dancers when she was younger, and
knows the positive impact singing and dancing can
have on a community. She noticed that people in Pelly
Crossing played lots of traditional hand games and
spent a lot of time on the land. This inspired her to form
the Selkirk Spirit Dancers in 2004.
The dance group started performing in 2006 and
continued for a number of years. The group stopped
dancing when the young people outgrew their regalia,
but that didn’t stop Carmen from dreaming.
In 2012, she and Teri Lee Isaac applied to Selkirk First
Nation for funding to make new regalia for the group.
Elders and professional dressmakers shared their skills
with parents and others, and soon the entire dance
group was wearing beautiful traditional regalia.
The dance group remained small until music psychology
student Arla Good arrived in Pelly. She worked with the
community to bring traditional dance and music to the
Eliza Van Bibber school in the fall of 2012. Carmen and
a number of local elders taught students the traditional
songs and dances from Fort Selkirk. Students worked
hard to prepare for a gala in December, and community
members worked equally hard sewing regalia for all of
the students.
The whole community attended the gala. People
danced. People cried. A sense of pride was felt
throughout the community. Now everyone wanted to
get involved in the dance group.
After that, the Selkirk Spirit Dancers grew from 10
people to 28 people of all ages. When the babies
in the group are set down, they dance the way they
see everyone else in the group dance. “It just seems
so natural to them,” says Carmen. The kids get the
limelight, but they learn from the adults and elders.
“It’s important that the drummers and song leaders
keep the group in tune. We started with three
drummers and today we have six.” Carmen adds.
Charlene Baker, Carmen’s sister, says the dance group
has been life changing for families and the community
as a whole. Children are singing their traditional songs
at home, youth have more confidence, and parents are
proud of their children. The entire community is proud
of who they are and where they come from.
The dancers are busy sharing that pride, and their skills
and knowledge, around the territory. Despite a hectic
performance schedule, Charlene says the dancers are so
present when they dance, so caught up in the moment,
that they don’t realize the energy they are giving when
they’re dancing and singing.
Those watching a performance can certainly feel that
energy! When they perform, people in the audience are
often moved to tears.
The Spirit Dancers have garnered great praise from
other dance groups. With the performance requests
continuing to roll in, the Selkirk Spirit Dancers’ tale of
community wellness is bound to inspire others for a
long time to come!
stories that inspire
When they dance, the Selkirk Spirit Dancers share
traditional Northern Tutchone songs and dances and an
amazing tale of community wellness.
35
Serving it up in Pelly Crossing
and eat, community members
have a chance to connect, and
children can spend time with
elders. It is also an ideal time to
make announcements so that
everyone is up-to-date on what’s
happening in the community.
Photo credit: Marty Morberg
fall 2013
The streets in Pelly Crossing are
extremely quiet at lunchtime on
a school day. That is because
almost everyone, including all of
the students from the Eliza Van
Bibber School, are in the Old
Community Hall taking part in
Selkirk First Nation’s hot lunch
program.
36
The hot lunch program provides
a free hot meal to anyone in
Pelly Crossing, and the food is
incredibly good! “The meals
are awesome – full of fruits and
vegetables that you can’t buy
in Pelly,” says Melanie Hackett,
Selkirk First Nation’s recreation
coordinator. The meals are
always nutritious, and the cooks
use their creative forces to create
a variety of meals including
stew and oven bannock, pizza
and lasagna. The two cooks
also work hard to make sure
everyone can eat – they always
provide options for vegetarians
and people with diabetes.
Traditional and local foods are
included in the menu. Thanks to
community members generously
donating wild game and fish,
the menu often includes locally
hunted meats. Selkirk First
Nation’s community garden
provides fresh and canned
locally grown vegetables to the
program!
The program also provides
kids and staff at the Eliza Van
Bibber School a chance to walk
together to the Old Community
Hall. Rain or shine, spring or
winter, students and teachers
make the short trek together
from the school to the lunch
program, and back.
While the hot lunch program
makes sure that every
community member has access
to at least one hot, healthy meal
a day, the program nourishes the
community with more than just
a hot meal. With attendance
ranging from 50 to 90 people,
families have time to sit together
Charlene Silverfox, the
coordinator of the Hot Lunch
program, says the program is a
great time for children to learn
respect for elders, the food
they eat and the environment.
Simple rules are posted on
the wall, such as “elders and
children eat first,” “eat what
you take,” “no swearing,”
“no littering,” “think of the
next person to eat,” and “no
alcohol or drugs at the lunch.”
The program reminds people of
what’s important and gives kids
a chance to learn from adults
who model positive and healthy
behaviors.
The hot lunch program
constantly impresses out-oftown guests, and for good
reason – it is no simple feat to
provide a hot healthy lunch for
the whole community every
day! With the ongoing support
of Selkirk First Nation, and the
generous donations of wild
game and fish by community
members, the hot lunch
program will continue to nourish
the community – physically,
socially and emotionally – for
years to come!
Photo, from left to right: Lucy Carriere,
Charlene Silverfox, and Margaret Isaac.
Stories that inspire...
Stories
that
inspire...
Dreams come true
in Teslin
In the village of Teslin it is hard to find a kid
riding a bike without wearing a helmet. And it’s
downright impossible to find a kid in the village
who doesn’t own a bike helmet. But it is very easy
to find a kid drinking a fruit slushy.
Biking is how kids in Teslin get around. Almost
every kid owns a bike, but until a few years
ago, very few owned a bike helmet. As an avid
mountain biker, Kyle Keenan, Health Director for
Teslin Tlingit Council and a concerned community
member wanted to change this.
Kyle had a dream that every kid in Teslin would
own, and wear, a bike helmet. With the support
of others in the community, the dream began to
take form. Kyle needed to know the number of
children in the village. Dennis Darling, the principal
of the Teslin School gave him the numbers and
reminded him to make sure Teslin’s homeschoolers
were also included in the helmet dream. Jonah
Adams, owner of Icycle Sport in Whitehorse,
offered discounted prices on bike helmets.
Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon
(RPAY) offered to run a bike rodeo at the school to
teach kids bike safety.
Special helmet reward coupons were created and
distributed to the Teslin Tlingit Council chief and
staff. Now, when a child is spotted biking with
their helmet on, the child is praised, and rewarded
with a coupon for a free fruit slushie from the
Yukon Motel. A child who is not wearing a helmet
gets a second chance – they are told go home, get
their helmet, and come back to get a coupon.
The amazing thing is that every child has a helmet
to go home and get! So now, with the coupon
system in place, it is rare to find any kid in Teslin
biking without wearing their helmet.
What has been the key to the program’s success?
While many in Teslin refer to Kyle’s passion and
persistence as the driving force of the program,
Kyle points back towards the community. “It could
have never happened without partnerships –
Teslin is an amazing community for partnerships.
It is easy to do great things when you have great
people to work with.”
With funding from Teslin Tlingit Council, Kyle
bought a bike helmet for every child in Teslin. No
one was left out. Kids were so proud of their new
helmets that the kindergarteners refused to take
their helmets off in class, and other kids began
wearing their helmets to bed.
But one problem remained – kids weren’t always
wearing their helmets when riding their bikes.
Photo Credit: Charles Jules, Teslin Tlingit Council
stories that inspire
Rather than focusing on what the kids weren’t
doing, Kyle decided to reward the kids who
were wearing their bike helmets while riding.
In partnership with the Yukon Motel’s owner
Juanita Kramer, the great helmet coupon plan
was developed.
37
Going to the movies in Watson Lake
What do the movies Supersize Me, Thank you for
Smoking, Contagion and Mrs. Doubtfire have in
common? Not only are they popular Hollywood
movies that contain public health messages, but
thanks to a great initiative by Community Health
nurses in Watson Lake, they are also movies that
people in Watson Lake have watched for free on
the big screen.
Winters can be pretty long and dark in the Yukon.
Community Health Nursing in Watson Lake does
their part in making it a little bit brighter! During
the last two winters, they have rented out the
Northern Lights Centre once a month and played
movies with public health messages.
Movies are selected according to monthly themes
or concerns. For instance, October is the start of
flu season – so what better time to encourage
flu prevention techniques! Contagion, a movie
highlighting the dangers of infectious disease, was
shown last October. A display board and a public
health nurse were on hand to provide people with
further information about ways to stay healthy
throughout the flu season.
When asked about the monthly event, a local
grocery store clerk said, “You can’t beat a free
movie on a winter night.” People tend to agree.
Movie night can get pretty busy! People socialize,
nibble on healthy snacks, check out the display
board and talk with the community health nurses.
fall 2013
Sue Rudd, Public Health Nurse-in-Charge at the
Watson Lake Health Centre, says the movies
provide people with entertainment, helpful public
health messages, and often, something to take
home. During Alzheimer Awareness Month, cans
of salmon were given out to promote the role of
Omega 3 oils in reducing the risk of the disease.
38
“The whole thing is really easy to organize,” says
Sue. The cost is minimal – Community Health
Nursing buys the DVD and some healthy snacks.
The Northern Lights Centre assists with the
advertising. And everything flows from there.
Watson Lake Health Center is excited to announce
the fourth film in our Film Series Talking about Health
April is
CANCER
AWARENESS
MONTH
THE TRUTH ABOUT CANCER
In this PBS documentary, Linda Garmon tells the story of her husband's
battle with cancer while uncovering the startling truth about survival rates
and the limited successes of drug trials. At times sad and at times
inspiring – an informative look at a disease we all fear.
~ Come on out and watch a
FREE film ~
Come and learn about
CANCER TREATMENTS and
How you can SUPPORT
PEOPLE WITH CANCER
Stay for some healthy snacks and discussion after the film
This is the last film until the Fall – thanks for coming out!
The program has been running for the past two
winters, and there are no plans to stop anytime
soon! As long as Hollywood keeps making movies
with public health messages, Community Health
Nursing in Watson Lake will keep screening them!
Movies scheduled for this year include A Beautiful
Mind in partnership with Rural Mental Health
Services during Mental Health Week, and 28 Days
in partnership with Alcohol and Drug Services
for National Addictions Awareness Week in
November. During March, Red Cross Month, they
will feature The Day After Tomorrow – with Amy
Sloan who grew up in the community – and in
partnership with Emergency Services promote
72 hours of personal preparedness in the event
of a disaster. Look for posters in Watson Lake for
more details!
Stories that inspire...
Stories
inspire...
Help, hope and that
the healing
garden
It is an understatement when
Caron Statham declares
that the healing garden at
Watson Lake’s Help and Hope
shelter is amazing. The word
amazing doesn’t even begin to
encompass all of the good the
garden is doing for the shelter’s
staff, community and clients.
For a number of years, the front
of the Help and Hope building
was beautifully adorned with
flowers in containers. People
constantly commented on
how good they felt when they
saw the flowers. Caron, the
executive director of the shelter,
says developing a vegetable
garden seemed like a natural
transition from there.
Caron planted the seed for
a vegetable garden in the
minds of shelter staff Monica
Langmaid, Sharon Miller and
Madelene Cesar. “They just ran
with it from there. It has been
a great story of collaboration,”
says Caron.
With funding from the Canadian
Women’s Foundation, and
support from the community,
the shelter’s backyard
transformed into a beautiful
garden and greenhouse during
the summer of 2012.
Monica had read about the
effects gardening has on mood,
depression and stress – but once
the garden was up and running
she saw firsthand how positive
the effects were on both clients
and staff.
Monica and Madelene say
that being in a garden reduces
anxiety and opens people up for
discussions and conversations.
They have seen this with
themselves, and with clients. It
always helps to go to the garden
during a stressful day. “I see
those plants, and I can’t help but
smile. They immediately make
me feel better,” says Monica.
It isn’t just the plants that make
people smile – the vegetables
do too! One of the goals of
the garden is to promote better
nutrition. Last summer, shelter
clients regularly picked and ate
vegetables grown from the
greenhouse. The garden is so
productive that the shelter is
able to donate vegetables to the
soup kitchen every Friday!
For Monica, the garden
has rekindled a passion for
Photo credit: Monica Langmaid
gardening.”Now I have a
garden at home. I have learned
a lot from the garden here,”
says Madelene, who had never
gardened before. They have also
watched clients develop new
skills in the garden, or rekindle
old ones.
The garden was so successful
last year that plans for a bigger
garden were hatched over the
winter. Too excited to wait, staff
and clients began planting seeds
inside in March of this year.
With a grant from Mary Kay,
the garden was able to expand,
and it now includes a herbal and
medicinal garden. Even more
flowers were planted this year
so there can always be fresh cut
flowers inside the shelter.
“After a long winter, and in a
stressful environment, it is just
nice to have fresh cut flowers
inside. Especially ones we grew
ourselves!” says Caron.
With the staff, clients and the
community benefiting from the
greenhouse and garden in so
many ways, Caron is right. The
project is truly amazing!
stories that inspire
Photo credit: Monica Langmaid
39
Be the change
Naali Holmes repeats this sentiment. She says that
Be the Change has shown her the joy in doing
random acts of kindness. “If there were more
people doing acts of kindness, there would be
more joy in the community,” she says.
Every month Naali and Christine join the many
people who come together for the Yukon Circle of
Change meetings. Similar meetings are held on a
weekly basis at F.H. Collins Secondary School. The
meetings are a place where students and teachers
can share ideas, plan campaigns and connect
with others who want to make positive change in
themselves and their communities.
Scraping a stranger’s windshield in the winter.
Handing a flower to someone you don’t know.
Giving a stranger a genuine compliment. Small
acts of kindness such as these go a long way to
support community well-being. Just ask some of
the growing number of people involved in the Be
the Change movement in Yukon.
fall 2013
Be the Change is about community building
through acceptance, tolerance and celebrating
diversity. In Yukon, some people have been
formally introduced to the movement through
workshops or the F.H. Collins Grade 8 Challenge
Day. Others have been introduced by a tiny card
on their freshly scraped windshield that says, “You
have just received an Act of Change. Please Pay it
Forward!”
40
Be the Change encourages people to choose
actions that create positive change in themselves
and in the community. Christine Blogett began
doing acts of change after completing a Be the
Change workshop in Haines Junction. She says
the more she acted with kindness, the more she
noticed that kindness was coming towards her. She
began to see the positive where she had never
seen it before. This has had a powerful impact on
her. “I have never been happier,” she says.
Michaela St-Pierre, a student at F.H. Collins, has
made some very strong connections with adults
and students through her involvement with Be
the Change. Many students say that participating
has helped them develop a deeper sense of
community.
Christine Klassen-St. Pierre, the vice-principal at
F.H. Collins, has played a big role in creating that
sense of community at the school. Eight years ago
she learned about the Be the Change movement
and was inspired to bring it to F.H. Collins.
According to teacher Chris McNeill, Christine
keeps the spirit of the movement alive in the
school. A clipboard sits in the front office, where
students can add acts of change or kindness they
noticed or did themselves. At assemblies and pep
rallies, students are recognized and celebrated for
having done these acts.
Christine Blodgett says that celebration is key
to Be the Change. “It is about celebrating other
people, our community and ourselves.” There
are lots of reasons to celebrate. With the Be the
Change movement spreading into communities
and schools across Yukon, more and more people
benefit from receiving and giving acts of kindness
and change!
Stories that inspire...
Stories
that
inspire...
Building bridges
with food
“All of the staff at the café have disabilities. Most
of the staff wouldn’t usually interact with people
without disabilities because of the social stigma,”
says Bridges’ general manager Jeff Thistle. “And
most people coming to the café have probably not
spent a lot of time with people with disabilities.”
Bridges is changing that.
Praise goes in both directions. Colin speaks fondly
of the friendships he has formed with some of the
customers, including local politicians.
The smell of great food and the sound of laughter
greet customers as they enter Bridges Café. This
is just one of the signs that important things
are happening at the café on the lower level of
the Government of Yukon Main Administration
Building.
Bridges is run by Challenge Community Vocational
Alternatives, a non-profit that helps people living
with disabilities learn workplace skills. The café
has been run out of a number of locations over
the years. When it began serving food at the
Yukon government building in April 2013, praise
immediately started rolling in.
Comments on the café’s Facebook site endlessly
praise the great food. Customers appreciate that
the menu is full of healthy and reasonably priced
food options. Soups and sandwiches are made
fresh daily, and vegetarian options are always
available.
What receives even more praise than the food
is the great service. And it is no wonder why.
Watching Colin Javorksy, also known as the
daytime cashier extraordinaire, at work is a lesson
in wellness promotion. As people pay for their
food, he joyfully asks about their day and provides
them with genuine and thoughtful compliments.
People leave with food in hand and a smile on
their face.
For many of the staff, Bridges is their first job.
While new jobs are often stressful, it would be
hard to find a more positive working environment
than Bridges!
Schedules are flexible, according to people’s
abilities. Some staff work one hour a day, others
might work five or six. While responsibilities and
roles vary according to strengths, there is always
the opportunity to stretch and learn new skills.
Randy Moore has been involved with Challenge
for over 10 years, and it was a natural fit for him
to work at Bridges. With extensive experience in
restaurants and his patient nature, he is a great
mentor to other staff. “I train a lot of the new
staff that come in, and I just love it. It is a really
accepting environment here – people gain a lot of
confidence and independence.”
Challenge began Bridges as a social inclusion
and wellness initiative. If there was any question
of its success, it is answered by Colin who says,
“Working at Bridges Café makes me feel like I am
a part of the community.” Bridges puts a human
face to social inclusion.
stories that inspire
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
41
Feeding people, feeding minds
At Porter Creek Secondary School, sandwich
making is about much more than just making
sandwiches.
During the school year, Porter Creek Secondary
School’s social justice club meets once a week
to make sandwiches for the Outreach Van. The
weekly Thursday time slot involves more than
simply putting ingredients between slices of bread.
It is a time for inspiration, empowerment, planning
and relationship building.
Robyn Guenette and Rowan Brown joined the
social justice club because they wanted to make a
difference in their community. What they gained
from their sandwich making experience went
beyond the satisfaction of providing food for
Whitehorse’s Outreach Van.
Sandwich making is a great time for discussions.
The three teachers involved in the social justice
club, Mr. MacDonald and the two Mr. Hales, often
introduce global or local issues, and the various
ways these issues are being addressed. Interesting
conversations between the students and teachers
always follow.
Robyn and Rowan say that being able to express
their concerns and their desire to support certain
charities makes them feel empowered and
listened to. It also makes them realize they can
make a difference. Discussions started while
making sandwiches end with the group taking
action, becoming involved in community events,
or donating money to groups that are making a
difference.
Robyn and Rowan graduate from high school this
year. They say the awareness they have gained
during the lunchtime discussions has changed how
they see the world. They both plan to be involved
in social justice activities in the future.
Robyn and Rowan say that a key to the program’s
success has been the teachers who are involved.
“They are not just teachers. They are community
members. They are out there making a difference
in the community and around the world. It is
inspiring.”
Robyn, Rowan and teacher Paul MacDonald
say the relationships that are formed while
sandwiches are being made are a big part of the
program’s success. They are the filling that holds a
community together.
fall 2013
It is not just the teachers who start the
conversations. Students are encouraged to
introduce topics they are concerned about.
They often research charities or events they are
interested in or want to support, and bring them to
the attention of the group.
42
Stories that inspire...
Stories
Students pile onthat
the foodinspire...
At Vanier Secondary School, students say the food
drive is a tradition they don’t want to miss. Many
of the students have been involved in it since
elementary school, and they say it is always a fun
event.
How could it not be fun? In preparation for last
year’s food drive, schools across Whitehorse
delivered bags to every house in the city. On the
night of the drive, 300 teachers, parents and
students jumped into cars and combed the city in
search of bags full of food. They knocked on every
door in Whitehorse, and collected hundreds of
pounds of donations.
The fun didn’t end there. Once the food was
collected, everyone met at the Food Bank,
unloaded the vehicles and sorted the food
together.
Mark Connell dreams of the day that a longstanding Yukon tradition will no longer be needed.
For 27 years, the Catholic schools in Whitehorse
have run a food drive every Thanksgiving. Like any
great tradition, the drive has evolved over time.
The food collected originally went to Maryhouse
until the Whitehorse Food Bank opened to provide
emergency food to people in need. Initially, only
the Catholic schools were involved in the yearly
collection, but that changed as the need of the
community grew and became known.
Last year, many other schools in Whitehorse
became involved in the tradition. Mark, a teacher
at Vanier Secondary School and coordinator of
the food drive, says the intent was to increase
the person power, and to use the opportunity
for schools to work and collaborate together to
benefit the greater community.
If the food drive tradition supports community
wellness in so many ways, why does Mark dream
of the day it will end?
He looks at the reason the food drive is needed.
He says that every year those involved in the
food drive should look at the bigger picture, and
take the approach of, “This is our last food drive
ever! Let’s stop the need and the hunger in our
community!”
So, while the food drive is a great tradition, let’s
hope and work towards a day when food banks,
and food drives, will no longer be needed.
stories that inspire
Photo Credit: Mark Connell
Mark says the food drive creates a sense of
community. “It is a really nice movement of people
coming together and responding to the needs
of the community.” Students say the food drive
helps develop awareness of some of the problems
in Whitehorse, and how they can be part of the
solution.
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From Fresh, From Scratch
What do fresh-baked bread, home-made cookies,
potato leek soup and beef teriyaki have in
common? They are just some of the food that the
Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of Whitehorse cook
from scratch as part of their amazing From Fresh,
From Scratch program.
From Fresh, From Scratch began four years
ago when the staff at BGC realized the youth
attending the program had no idea what certain
foods looked like, or where it came from. “Our
guys didn’t even know what a red pepper looked
like,” says Dave Blottner, Executive Director of the
Boys and Girls Club of Whitehorse.
From Fresh, From Scratch feeds into every aspect
of BGC programs. When it began, the goal was to
make as much food from scratch as possible for all
the BGC programming. Instead of buying bread or
cookies, the BGC began making them instead. No
more store-bought salad dressings or pasta sauces
either!
fall 2013
Like all of BGC’s programs, From Fresh, From
Scratch grew slowly. Dave says that BGC strives to
do things that are sustainable, which means taking
small steps. As the years passed, the program
increased the amount of food that was made from
scratch in the club’s kitchen, and success just grew
from there!
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vertical gardens have even been built to make
the best use of outside space. Now, gardens are
even beginning to take over the inside space! Last
winter a greenhouse was built inside, so fresh food
can be grown year round.
Gardening and cooking have become a part of
everyday life at the BGC. The open air concept
of the kitchen triggers the interest of many of
the youth hanging out at the centre. They often
volunteer to knead the bread or roll out handmade pasta.
Some of the BGC programs, such as Kulinary Kids,
specifically teach youth about kitchen health,
safety standards, food preparation and culinary
skills. BGC also hires and trains youth workers to
make the food served in all of the programming.
It isn’t just the staff and the youth in Whitehorse
who are learning about healthy food, gardening
and food security. “There is no reason that you
even need to serve unhealthy food,” Dave says.
BGC is busy spreading this message across Canada
using social media, and speaking at conferences.
What an important message to share!
Last year BGC decided that 80 per cent of all
food provided at BCG events would be made
from scratch. This is no small feat – BGC runs a
lot of programs for a lot of youth! Last year 600
kids were registered in the four Weekday Warriors
after-school programs that run in Whitehorse.
That’s s a lot of hungry kids, and a lot of healthy
snacks! The BGC also has a daily drop-in program,
where a hot dinner is always served. BGC even
makes a fresh soup for the Outreach Van once a
week. All of this requires dedicated staff and a lot
of fresh food. Good thing the BGC has both!
As the program has grown, so have the BGC’s
gardens. The number of raised garden beds
outside the BGC has increased every year and
Photo credit: Duncan Johnstone
Stories that inspire...
Stories
that inspire...
Handle with Care
“Handle with Care was one of
the best things I have ever done
in my life,” says MJ Fenton. This
high praise echoes the many
rave reviews the program is
getting!
The program officially covers
topics such as building trust
and attachment, building
and enhancing self-esteem,
expressing emotions, and
relationships with others.
Unofficially, the program covers
much more than that.
Jaclyn Killins registered for the
course because she wanted to
meet other parents and learn
about her child’s emotional
health. MJ was drawn to the
program because of its name –
Handle with Care. She quickly
learned that the program’s name
and activities apply to both
children and their caregivers.
For program facilitator
Kate Swales, the weekly
encouragement and simple
self-care tips reminded her of
the importance of taking care
of herself. “If you can’t handle
yourself with care, how can
you care for others?” Handle
with Care promotes self-care
at home and at the program.
During program sessions, self-
care might take the form of
eating a healthy meal together,
or polishing nails while talking
about ways to build trust.
others. The simple, interactive
strategies that facilitators
introduce, build on these
strengths.
Leona Corniere, the site partner,
and a psychologist at Child
Development Centre, says that
the diversity of the participants
makes Handle with Care a
rich learning experience for
everyone: parents, caregivers,
and facilitators alike. Jaclyn
never expected that the other
parents in the program would
teach her so much about raising
a healthy, happy kid.
Everyone agrees that the
program’s accessibility makes
it easy to attend. Child care
is provided. Healthy food
is served. Transportation is
covered.
MJ and Jaclyn say the program
provided them with a support
network of parents, other
caregivers and facilitators.
When MJ’s group completed
the program, they created a
Facebook page so they could
continue the support on-line.
Deborah Kapaniuk, another
program facilitator, says the
program validates parents
and other caregivers because
it starts with the belief that
all caregivers already have
problem-solving skills and
resources to use and share with
The program is also extremely
adaptable. So far, the program
has been piloted in four
provinces and Yukon – but input
from Yukoners is used to shape
how the program works here.
Even the stories and activities
are tailor-made to fit the
groups!
“Handle with Care had such
a huge, positive impact on
my family – I can’t say enough
positive things about it!” MJ
says. The two site partners,
Leona and Sherri Armstrong,
plan to train facilitators from
across Yukon – and when that
happens, praise such as MJ’s
might be echoed across the
territory.
stories that inspire
Handle with Care is a program
for anyone who cares for or
works with children under six
years of age. Through interactive
activities and information
sharing, participants learn about
how to promote the mental
health of children.
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Tumble Time
What makes Tumble Time so successful?
Parents and caregivers use the terms “invaluable,”
“life-saving,” and “essential” when describing
Tumble Time. “Tumble Time really creates a sense
of community,” says Lisa Christiansen, a mother
who attends the program.
Parents may arrive feeling exhausted, depleted and
alone. At Tumble Time, they find a sympathetic
ear, a space to quietly sip coffee, a place to
share information and resources, and create new
connections. Caring for young children isn’t easy,
but giving and receiving support helps.
Volunteer coordinator and Tumble Time champion
Katy Mead highlights the contributions that
caregivers can make by bringing the weekly
healthy snack, or teaching a craft or skill to others.
The opportunity to share knowledge, passions and
experiences is a way of giving back to the program
and to other caregivers.
fall 2013
Every Thursday morning, a diverse group of
adults including stay-at-home moms and dads,
retired grandparents, teachers, nurses, waitresses,
nannies, and store clerks meet in the basement of
the Riverdale Baptist Church in Whitehorse. What
they have in common is that they are caring for
young children. They come to Tumble Time for fun,
food, and a sense of community.
46
Since 2006, the weekly community playgroup,
has grown from 10 caregivers and tots to days
when as many as 50 people pass through the
doors. People don’t just keep coming back – they
plan their entire week around the program! Some
mothers even organize their work schedules so
they can attend Tumble Time with their children.
For children, Tumble Time provides an exciting
space to play with others. The basement has calm
areas for reading, crawling or just lying on the
floor. It also has places where kids can safely let
their energy out. Although Tumble Time is mainly
for preschoolers, older children can sometimes be
found helping with crafts or snacks, or reading
to younger children during school holidays. The
community networking continues to grow.
Location and cost are also vital to the program’s
success. Tumble Time is free and easy to get to
from many areas by bus, foot, bike or car. As
a service to the community, Riverdale Baptist
Church, whose motto is “First we will serve.”
provides the Tumble Time program for all
caregivers, whether or not they are members of
the church. An informal survey conducted by Katy
found that 80 per cent of caregivers said they
wanted nothing to change with Tumble Time. It is
perfect just as it is.
Stories that inspire...
Stories
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Community markets:
place to be
Community markets are alive and
well in Yukon! Markets can be
found in communities across the
territory, like the communities
themselves, each market looks
slightly different. They do,
however, all have one thing in
common – they each support
community well-being in a big
way!
Some markets, such as those
found in Dawson and Whitehorse,
are well established. Others, such
as the ones found in Watson Lake
and Carmacks, are new this year.
Regardless of where they are or
when they started, every market in
the Yukon began with a dedicated
person, or group of people, with a
vision.
The community market visionaries
seem to share common dreams
and drive. Lindsay Muller and
Julia Fox in Watson Lake, Jolene
Billwiller in Haines Junction and
Jessica Condon in Carmacks all say
that they were motivated to start
community markets to support
the local economy, increase local
food security, build a sense of
community and celebrate the
strengths of community members.
On a recent Thursday afternoon,
the Fireweed Community Market
in Whitehorse was packed with
Photo Credit: Tricia Newport
community members. In his three
years as manager at the market,
Colin O’Neill has seen it grow.
He says some of the keys to the
market’s success are consistency
and diversity.
Rain or shine, the market runs
every Thursday from mid-April
until mid-September. With a
wide range of vendors, it is easy
for people to spend hours at the
market. There is fresh bread and
locally grown produce to buy,
dinner to eat, locally made crafts
to peruse and purchase, and of
course, people to visit with. There
is even the weekly Homestead
Workshop series, where people
can learn from local producers,
farmers and artisans about
different ways to prepare, store
and enjoy local foods year-round.
While the markets in Haines
Junction and Watson Lake are
much smaller than the Fireweed
Community Market, they have live
music to attract people. Local and
travelling musicians entertain those
who come out to visit and shop.
The Haines Junction market offers
a Family Zone, where mothers can
find a quiet place to breastfeed
and kids and adults can do crafts.
It’s so much fun that parents and
kids find it hard to leave!
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon,
the market in Haines Junction is
so busy that it is hard to believe it
only began in August 2012. Jolene
refers to the market as a project in
community building, and like Colin,
also stresses the importance of
consistency. Once people saw that
the market was happening every
week, they wanted to be a part of
it. From there it just grew.
“Community markets are about
relationships. We are all here to
support each other,” Colin says.
This is a common theme across the
Yukon. Everyone benefits at the
market – people support the local
economy, and the local economy
supports them. Vendors support
each other. They barter, help put
up and take down tables, and
share ideas and knowledge.
The goodness of community
markets doesn’t stop at the end
of the market day! Across Yukon,
many of the local vendors donate
their leftover produce and goods
to local food banks and shelters.
With all the benefits community
markets reap and sow, thank
goodness they continue to start,
grow, change and develop in
communities throughout Yukon
every year!
stories that inspire
Photo Credit: Tricia Newport
47
Junior Rangers, serious fun
Community service is also a big part of JCR. Wade
Istchenko, a Ranger Sergeant in Haines Junction,
says that it gives youth more than just a sense
of responsibility and purpose. They meet people
involved in the community and they gain exposure
to different community services.
It is impossible to list all of the events the Junior
Canadian Rangers are involved in! At Mount Lorne
they help with the Carbon Hill Sled Dog Race. In
Dawson they give a hand at the daycare, and help
set up the Christmas Bazaar.
Photo credit: Tricia Newport
“These are skills I will have my whole life,” says
Travis Ischenko as he describes the trapping,
hunting and dog sledding he has done as a Junior
Canadian Ranger (JCR). As he talks about the
program, it is clear that the positive effects are far
reaching and long lasting.
There are JCR patrols in seven Yukon communities.
While the program runs slightly differently in
each community, they are all based on the same
concepts – get youth into the outdoors, encourage
teamwork, teach responsibility, promote safety and
have fun.
fall 2013
“In Yukon, youth are exposed to firearms and
snowmobiles. That is part of our northern culture.
It is our job to teach them how to be safe when
they experience these things,” explains John
Mitchell, a Ranger Sergeant in Dawson.
48
The JCR program looks for ways to work with
others and reach more people in communities. In
Dawson, Ranger Sergeants work in partnership
with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in to help guide, instruct and
teach safety at the First Fish and First Hunt camps.
In Haines Junction, the Rangers help out with the
Champagne Aishihik First Nation’s bison hunt.
Norman Beebe, a Ranger sergeant in Carcross,
emphasizes that the JCR program is also about
teamwork and fun. “Almost all of our activities
are outside. Even when it is -40 at the Carbon Hill
race, we are all together, working hard and having
a great time.” Working together as a team out on
the land builds strong connections. “The leaders
are good examples, they are good role models,”
says Tyler referring to the great friendships he has
made through JCR.
John Mitchell says the program is great because it
is accessible to any young person. It’s free, and it
provides opportunities for youth to travel outside
Yukon to participate in JCR activities and meet
Junior Canadian Rangers from across the country.
John has been involved in JCR since it began in
Dawson almost 20 years ago. Over the years he
has seen how the program helps young people
develop a greater sense of self-confidence, respect
for others, and stewardship for the land. He has
seen youth gain skills in the program, and then
pass those skills on to their children years later.
He sums it up by saying that Junior Rangers is an
amazing program. “You know, it just works. I have
seen it.”
Stories that inspire...
fall 2013