Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, Manitoba
Year(s) Funded: 2018-2019
Topic Area: Mental Health
Title: Gaa-Nitaawigitooying Ginawind (From the Earth / Ojibway) / Makatakiya Icaghe Do (Born from the Earth / Dakota)
Summary: The Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC) conducted the project titled the ‘Gaa-Nitaawigitooying Ginawind (From the Earth / Ojibway) / Makatakiya Icaghe Do (Born from the Earth / Dakota).The goal of this project was to address climate change by increasing the mental health and resiliency of Indigenous youth by providing them with the tools required to endure climate change events. Teachings and processes for this project were rooted in Dakota and Ojibway culture. Tipi Teachings as well as a 6-month employment programs were designed to provide DOTC youth a meaningful force placement opportunity to learn how to plan and execute a small project in DOTC communities. Mental health, community resources and traditional teachings were provided by Indigenous traditional knowledge keepers, the Canadian Red Cross, the Dakota Ojibway Health Services, H2O Create (University of Manitoba), an Aboriginal youth motivational speaker, and a traditional hunter. Resources about the project were provided through a one-day workshop at Portage la Prairie, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, and Birdtail Sioux First Nation. It should be noted, Roseau River was under flood watch during the month of March 2019, and an extra abridged version of the Tipi Teachings was given at the Roseau River School.