Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre

Description:

Wiisinadaa: Let's Eat! is a community-based, Indigenous-specific diabetes prevention program designed to improve health outcomes for urban Indigenous people of all ages. The program focuses on increasing access to, and knowledge of, healthy eating, traditional food preparation, and Indigenous ways of knowing. By providing a food-based approach to diabetes prevention and management, this program complements existing wellness initiatives at the Friendship Centre and within the community. It aims to empower individuals by building skills around nutrition, traditional foods, and holistic health practices.

Objective:

• Promote Healthy Eating: Build skills related to healthy eating and understanding nutrition, with a focus on traditional foods.
• Traditional Food Knowledge: Educate and empower participants to prepare traditional foods in ways that promote health and prevent diabetes.
• Holistic Wellness: Integrate cultural knowledge with modern wellness practices to improve overall health and diabetes management in the community.

Program Services:

• Land-Based Activities: Coordinate activities that connect participants to the land, promoting physical and cultural engagement.
• Traditional Medicine Workshops: Host workshops that explore the use of traditional medicines in maintaining health.
• Foraged Plants Workshops: Teach participants how to identify, harvest, and use local foraged plants for health and wellness.
• Traditional Foods Classes: Offer classes that teach participants how to prepare and incorporate traditional foods into their diets.

Program Services:

• Cooking Classes: In-person and online classes to teach healthy cooking techniques using both traditional and modern ingredients.
• Preservation Workshops: Teach participants the art of food preservation through methods like water bath and pressure canning.
• Smudge Spray Workshop: Creating smudge sprays using traditional medicines and herbs for cleansing and wellness.
• Herb Teas and Sprays: Workshops on making herbal teas and sprays from foraged plants to promote health.
• Common Ground Food Box: A monthly food box program that provides participants with healthy ingredients and recipes.
• Chair Yoga: A gentle movement and balance program designed to improve flexibility and reduce stress.
• Partnerships for Meals: Collaborate with other organizations to provide meals for the Modular Community to support those in need.

Participant Services:

• 1-on-1 Food Skills Support: Personalized support for individuals who need assistance with food preparation and diabetes prevention.
• Food Skills Workshops for YES: One-time food skills workshops tailored to youth in the community.
• Ongoing Support: Provide support via in-person meetings, email, or telephone to answer questions regarding foods and diabetes prevention.

Outreach Services:

• Basic Income Panel: A discussion on the impact of basic income on Indigenous peoples and how it relates to food security and wellness.

• Indigenous Peoples - Services for Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous Peoples - Traditional Indigenous Healing and Wellness