Wabano – Wabano - 2017 Reciprocitywabano.com › wp-content › uploads › 2012 › 08 ›...

Reciprocity:2017 Sharing our gifts

Wabano016 www.wabano.com / 2

Wabano (Ojibwe): New Beginnings

About Us The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is an award-winning and internationally recognized healthcare facility located in Ottawa, Ontario. Wabano’s unique model of care emphasizes the importance of nurturing the mind, body and spirit through the provision of a full medical clinic, a mental health clinic, community and cultural programs, and community outreach. The result has been the creation of a place of belonging where culture flourishes in support of more than 15,000 Indigenous clients.

Mission Statement The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is an urban health centre that:

• Provides quality, holistic, culturally-relevanthealth services to Ottawa’s First Nation, Métis,and Inuit population;

• Engages in clinical, social, economic and culturalinitiatives that promote the health of allIndigenous people;

• Promotes community-building througheducation and advocacy; and,

• Serves as a centre of excellence for urbanIndigenous health.

For 19 years, Wabano has been leading the way in

community based, holistic healthcare!

www.wabano.com / 3 Wabano 2017

Mandate The main purpose of the Centre is to create and deliver services that will prevent ill health, treat illness and provide support and aftercare. Services are offered in a culturally sensitive way that welcomes, accepts and represents all Indigenous people.

Our Vision of the World We envision a world in which all Indigenous people have achieved full and equitable access to the conditions of health. This includes pride in ancestry, cultural reclamation, peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable environment, resources, social justice, and where the gifts and wisdom of our cultures are recognized as valuable, distinctive and beautiful.

We believe that good medicine is characterized by: •Reclaiming culture as a pillar of healing;•The teaching and healing practices of Indigenous people;•A contemporary model of quality primary healthcare;•Focusing on the individual in the context of their family and the community;•Believing in the wisdom of Elders, traditional healers, and teachers; and,•Believing in the importance of traditional ceremony and celebration.

Wabano 2017 www.wabano.com / 4

The spirit of Wabano

Wabano’s Land-Based Children and Youth Culture Camp

Wabano provided 47 children and youth with the opportunity to experience our annual land-based overnight Culture Camp. Youth aged 7 to 18 years participated in activities that focused on increasing their feelings of courage, helping them to lead healthy lifestyles, and to live in balance.

Every morning the youth attended the sacred fire to receive a teaching from the fire keepers, including commercial tobacco prevention. Each day the youth participated in cultural teachings, self-expressive activities, cultural crafts, physical activity sessions and health education sessions.

The last week of summer day camps focused on Truth. This week combined a series of traditional teachings, cultural crafts, and cultural workshops. Some of the specific activities that took place included: Elder teachings, turtle island paintings, Kairos blanket exercise, powwow teachings, drum stick making and teachings, song writing workshops, sweat lodge teachings and medicine garden teachings.


Sharing our cultureCultural diversity is what makes Wabano both strong and unique as an Aboriginal Health Access Centre. Guided by the wisdom and traditions of our Elders and ancestors, we build all of our programs and services around this foundation.

Wabano is proud to offer many ongoing and inclusive programs and services that share the beauty and gifts of our people from a strength based perspective. These include traditional teachings, storytelling, quilting, beading, drumming and drum making, language workshops, medicine walks, carving and sculpting, and our popular Culture Night that serves to welcome the greater Ottawa community. Wabano’s unique location provides access to a wealth of Elders and knowledge keepers which enables clients and community members to access traditional ceremonies such as healing circles, sweat lodge and cedar bath ceremonies, as well as spiritual guidance and much more.

In support of the ongoing efforts to promote Indigenous wellness and health through education, Wabano has taken the initiative to create a culturally strength based curriculum to offer educators and schools a unique opportunity to learn about Indigenous peoples. Offering the direct involvement of Indigenous voices, Wabano looks forward to developing our relationships with regional and national school boards to nurture this culturally positive model that acknowledges Indigenous peoples as much more than the sum of their history of colonization.

Wabano016 www.wabano.com | 6 Wabano 2017 www.wabano.com / 6

Knowledge sharingAt Wabano, we share and exchange our cultural and spiritual knowledge all year round.

We offer a wide array of cultural programming and services, information referrals, cultural safety training, Elder consultations, Lunch and Learns, symposiums and provide cultural supplies and resources.

A total of 28 participants came out on the Medicine Walk in Gatineau with Joseph Pitawanakwat. On our walk we found many medicines such as high bush cranberries and Canadian ginger growing along side of the hiking path. Participants were able to see, smell, touch and learn about

the traditional medicines that our people used.

“Usually when we go for medicine walks we only walk past a few significant medicines and I will fill the walk talking about other species that are used, but on this walk we actually found an abundance

of medicines!” .

Alex Janvier visited Wabano for an intimate discussion about his life, his experience of residential school and his profession as a contemporary artist

Alex Janvier

Medicine Walk and workshop with Wabano and Joseph

Pitawanakwat

Wabano 2017

Keeping our community healthy

Diabetes Team


Community Kitchen Community kitchen members have had the pleasure of having a community health and nutritional educator. The teachings have included the importance of having various colors in every meal, good bacteria, gastrointestinal health and food groups. Not only are community members learning life skills by cooking, they are learning the importance of food choices for their physical and mental health. Having the educational teachings has proven to be a huge benefit for all involved. It has opened up questions and allowed us to target community kitchen menus to the needs and wants of our clients.

In partnership with the Diabetes Program, Wabano held a world diabetes day event. We had a display table offering a number of resources and information around diabetes awareness. Staff members were on hand to conduct blood glucose tests and blood pressure checks, as well as discussing the results with clients. Everyone was encouraged to take the November Sugar Challenge, pledging to cut sugar intake by one half for the month.

To increase awareness into lifestyle management as a means of decreasing one’s risk for diabetes, the team managed an all-generations art activity in which families and individuals constructed a medicine wheel collage depicting ways they enjoyed keeping healthy emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically.


Strong foundations

Highlights from this year

Youth Leadership in action

Wabano offers leadership opportunities for our youth in the After School Program. Youth mentors take the lead on various activities giving the older youth the opportunity to showcase their leadership skills, practice teaching and build confidence. On this day, a youth mentor taught Inuit games; explaining the rules, origin, and historical significance of the game.

Wabano also hosts field trips to Carleton University in order to inspire our youth to pursue post-secondary education. Being on campus, feeling the ‘buzz’ of the students, seeing the modern library and gym facilities sparks an interest in our young people and sets a goal for the future.

In December 2016, Wabano underwent a rigorous accreditation process with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, a third-party review based on accepted organizational practices that promote ongoing quality improvement and responsive, and effective community services. It was a comprehensive review that involved staff of all levels, community members, volunteers, Board members and community partners. We are pleased to announce that, not only were we successful in maintaining our accreditation, we passed with 100%, which is extremely rare in this accreditation process. We are proud of all of the contributors and look forward to continuing to provide high-quality health, social services and cultural programming to our community.

Wabano registered 716 new clients this year! Since the expansion of our building in May 2013, Wabano has had 117,020 visitors and has served over

15,000 clients!

Our Elders teach us

Respecting our Elders


Artwork and account by Pierrette

“After getting diabetes I realized I had a lot of limiting ideas, and I had to let hopeless

thoughts die and burn and through the ashes become a phoenix.

You have to let go of the things, fears in your diabetes that are limiting you, try a new

treatment or try new lifestyle choices. The raven is accepting his condition but it doesn’t

have to limit him, it sets him free.”

Jan Longboat visits the Wabano Community Kitchen

Tom Porter visits the Wabano Diabetes Program

Tom discussed the ways we lived traditional lifestyles, including the foods we ate and how it was prepared, Indigenous values of relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, roles and responsibilities of the community, the

Iroquois Confederacy, traditional tobacco and the 4 medicines, traditional song and dance, and much more.

Jan Longboat, Elder and recent recipient of the Order of Canada, discussed the importance of our traditional foods and

living a balanced life

Wabano 2017

The strength of family support

“I have been coming for 5 years – it has been the best

program for me. Wabano has every program for

everybody – nice atmosphere, good friends”

www.wabano.com / 11

Our Pregnancy Circle for expectant parents provides the following supports:

•Fetal development and Baby Wellness Clinic•Support and pain management during labour and birth•Breastfeeding support with a lactation specialist•Post natal care for mothers and baby•Post Natal Group: new parents with babies•Nutritious meals and making your own baby food•Resources for parents and friendship circle for new parents

•Nutrition & prenatal health care•Safe sleep, childhood illnesses•Infant safety•Traditional Elder teachings•Father and partner involvement•Attachment and bonding


“Without this program, I would not be as healthy, happy or have as many friends as I do today.”


4th Annual Family Sugar Bush Gathering: In partnership with Métis Nation of Ontario, Wabano went to Fulton Sugar Bush. Here, we learned various Maple syrup teachings and saw the many traditional tools used to make maple syrup. Once everyone was gathered in front of the sacred fire; we had an opening prayer and maple syrup storytelling. While we were enjoying our bacon, pancakes, beans and amazing maple syrup lunch, there was a live musician playing guitar. After lunch, everyone headed out for some snowshoeing around the woods, and a sleigh ride. Fun was had by all, and it was a great way to re-connect with the land and gain strength from the medicine of the Maple tree.

Renewing our connection to the land


Odawa Powwow: booth offered children’s physical activities, access to the tipi, tipi teachings for youth on the Friday evening, diabetes screening, cedar iced tea samples, free toothbrushes, Healthy Kids Community Challenge water bottle giveaways, Healthy Sexuality Loot Bags & bracelets, and fresh fruit.

116 people were screened for diabetes!

Summer Solstice Powwow Approximately 500 community members visited our health promotion booth at the Summer Solstice Powwow. We provided health resources for physical activity, nutrition, program information, and offered samples of cedar iced tea with recipe cards. Over the 3 days, we provided over 25 gallons of cedar iced tea, educating many on the benefits of cedar as a medicine.

41st Annual Odawa Powwow

Serving the needs of our community

The Wabano Residential School Exhibit is a permanent and accessible display for students and the community to learn about history through the eyes of Indigenous people. Developed in partnership with the Legacy of Hope Foundation, the exhibit is a place of truth and reconciliation—a place where the stories of survivors and their families are honoured. Wabano’s commemorative Residential School Exhibit is a safe space for dialogue, connection, education, healing, and understanding.

Truth and Reconciliation



Meet at Wabano! Creating a new beginning together...

Event Facilities With a compelling architectural backdrop and a design that can immerse visitors in culture and tradition, Wabano provides a truly unique setting for your event.

This well-appointed facility offers over 10,000 Sq.Ft. (1000 m2) of meeting space that is ideal conferences and meetings that require a combination of plenary and break-out rooms. Its flexibility is perfect for formal dinners, receptions, training sessions and weddings.

Meeting and event facilities are provided on three floors - Earth, Fire and Sky. Each floor offers flexible seating arrangements and work spaces to accommodate various types of meetings and every room comes with free WiFi internet and full audio-visual rental services.

The FIRE FLOOR features the Grand Gathering Space, and the Atelier room, the Great West Life Boardroom and Annex, as well as Boardrooms West and North.

The SKY FLOOR is the top floor and features the Mamawi Room, the Balcony space overlooking the Grand Gathering Space and the Legacy Garden rooftop.

The EARTH FLOOR features the Earth Level Common, the second largest of the rooms. It has access to the lower lobby which can be used for coffee service during breaks. To reserve Wabano for your next event, please visit

wabano.com. For more information, contact events at 613-748-0657 ext. 275 or at [email protected]


Volunteer at Wabano! The Volunteer Program finds talented volunteers with diverse backgrounds to support the Wabano team with their mandate. There are over 418 dedicated volunteers at Wabano who

contribute over 2,000 hours a month.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to volunteer at Wabano with a great group of people that I call family.”

“Thank you so much for welcoming me and letting me come out of my shell when I was ready.”

“I could have never imagined feeling so at ease in a wellness centre or even in a kitchen and I want you to know that I truly

couldn’t be happier to have spent my last couple of months here.”

“Thank you for making me feel welcome and being so kind.”


In memoriam

In loving memory of Dan Printup

We lost a treasured community member, colleague, leader, friend, uncle, brother and father this spring, Dan Printup (Manito Gwiiwizense) made his journey back to Creator on April 8th.

He always thought about our people, what their needs were and how he could help. It didn’t matter if you were young, old or anywhere in between, he would make a connection to those he came across. When you spoke to him, he gave you his undivided attention and would listen, listen and not judge, sometimes he would offer advice, and share his own life experiences.

He lived his teachings, he had respect for everyone that he met. He wanted you to succeed, he wanted you to live the good life, he wanted you to be free of harmful substances, and would guide you on how to improve your life – he would lay out a path for you, and it was up to you if you were ready. He would tell it like it is, he was honest, compassionate, gentle and genuine.

Thanks to Wabano for holding a celebration of life here, and feast and thanks to the community that came out to show how he had connected to them.

We miss him, we miss talking to him, we miss his guidance, we miss laughing with him, and we miss working with him. We are glad that our paths crossed, and that he was a part of our family here at Wabano. It was an honour to have known him and to have worked with him, in making our community a better place.

Chi-meegwetch Dan!

Gala 2017 : The Trickster - Stories that shape us

Why the Trickster? Indigenous stories are full of the (mis)adventures of Trickster

characters – Nanabush, Whiskey-Jack, Coyote, Raven – all forms of quirky spirit-beings whose humorous exploits have been a go-to of Indigenous storytellers for generations.

Tricksters help us laugh at our humanity (or lack thereof) and remind us of our shared values. What better way to reflect on 150 years in Canada than with the Trickster?


www.wabano.com | 18 Wabano 2017

www.wabano.com | 19 Wabano 2017

Foundation/Other

Municipal

Provincial

Federal

Thank you to our generous funders!

Champlain Local Health Integration Network

Ministry of Health and Long Term Care of Ontario

Ministry of Children and Youth Services of Ontario

Ministry of Community and Social Services of Ontario

Heritage Canada

City of Ottawa

Health Canada

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport of Ontario

Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres

Ottawa Carleton District School Board

Public Health Agency of Canada

Service Canada

United Way

Funding for programs and services: 2016-2017

Total Funding for 2016/2017: $7,744,074

6% 7% 7%

80%

Make an impact...

Buy a Virtual Tile The heart of Wabano’s Cultural Gathering Space highlights a beautiful Star Blanket tile floor.

This floor is intricately handmade of 2,048 beautiful tiles. By choosing a tile and virtually inscribing your name or to honour another, you leave a legacy of support and hope for the

health and wellbeing of Wabano’s community.

Buy a Pillar Wabano has 13 covered Pillars that can be dedicated in the name of an individual or a

corporation in recognition of a donation of $35,000. Six of these Pillars have already been named. Each pillar is beautifully adorned with a one-of-a-kind silken flag, representing the

13 Grandmother Moons.


Wabano016 www.wabano.com | 20

Valorie Whetung Member-at-Large (President)

Colleen Whiteduck Member-at-Large (Vice-President)

John Francis Member-at-Large (Treasurer)

Jennifer Francis Member-at-Large (Secretary)

Lynn Chabot Member-at-Large

Pete (Pierre) Gauthier Member-at-Large

Brian Pelletier Member-at-Large

Paul Skanks Member-at-Large

Alfred Linklater Member-at-Large

As Wabano continues to create a place of belonging, we would also like to thank

our over 100 community partners.

Thank you to the Board of Directors for their

stewardship!

Wabano 2017 www.wabano.com | 21


Your donations help! Your

generosity enables Wabano to:

• Better the lives of Indigenous youth, women,and seniors living in Ottawa;

• Change the cycle of poverty andunemployment among Indigenous people;

• Make possibilities into probabilities for the whole community; and,

• Sustain our work as a centre of excellence,sharing best practices for Indigenous healingacross the country.

Tell your story Wabano has been bringing together the Indigenous community in Ottawa for over

19 years.

Our stories bind the community with the past and future.

We would love to hear your story of how Wabano has made a difference for you, your

family, or the community.

Make a difference in our community...

Be a Messenger Our Elders tell us that visitors carry important

messages from one place to another. Be a messenger. Spread the word. Invite your friends to experience Wabano for themselves by joining us for

a tour. Explore our historical Residential School Exhibit. You will see and learn about the unique and

valuable work done in this cultural space where these good works take place.

Thank You, Miigwetch. Nia:wen,

Qujannamiik, Merci.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, and the dedication of our volunteers, 2016-17 has

been an incredible year. Your support has helped Wabano to become a beacon for Indigenous health and culture in Ottawa.

Community Mural Project with Christi Belcourt

Wabano 2017 www.wabano.com | 23

Wabano designated this year to Nanabush; who was an irrepressibly energetic character in our storytelling. He helped create the world, was the master of animals, and the first teacher of the human beings. This spirit could

communicate with all living things and transform into any one of them.

As human beings, we understand full well the teachings of Nanabush…that of cooperation, moral responsibility, and reciprocity. Each day at Wabano, I see these teachings applied.

I see the promise of a future for our children; I hear it in their big laughter over Nanabush’s antics during story time.

I see it in our sewing groups when mothers are gifted with handmade baby blankets and donated food from our city food banks.

I see it in our youth community kitchen when a young boy turns his face up to you with pride in his first creation.

I watch the tears of grief turn to gratitude on the faces of the old in front of our residential school exhibit, grateful to us for teaching and preserving culture and history.

It is that continuous rediscovery within us and as a community, together, reaching for a common vision of human courage and connectedness… that makes for the grandest story.

The one that you all know will shape the next generation

Miigwetch. Nia:wen, Qujannamiik, Thank you, Merci.

– Allison Fisher, Executive Director

Wabano 2017

A trickster of a year

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health 299 Montreal Road Ottawa, ON K1L 6B8

Phone: 613-748-0657 | Fax: 613-748-9364 www.wabano.com

Charitable number: 873580690RR0001

Wabano – Wabano - 2017 Reciprocitywabano.com › wp-content › uploads › 2012 › 08 ›...

Documents

Transcript of Wabano – Wabano - 2017 Reciprocitywabano.com › wp-content › uploads › 2012 › 08 ›...