Gitxsan Wellbeing

A Model is coming together! 

A Gitksan Wellbeing model has been developed and shared with knowledge holders, speakers, community members, and community based working groups. The early drafts helped us pull together a format for some fun community engagement sessions, to create a beautiful community mural and collage. This Gitksan Wellbeing Model links healthy people, healthy communities and healthy lands into one. A three page write up is available that summarizes the four main areas of the wellness model.

The community based working groups were strong guides as they sought to see a model that was a reflection of who they are as an indigenous people, after a few reviews this framework came to be. Haa miya for the many hands and eyes that guided the staff, community sessions to seek member's input and wishes. The outcome is quite beautiful and shares to the world our unique place in it. 

With a vision of Wellbeing, the four main areas will be synchronized with the community planning areas to provide a framework for leadership and members to assess how we are doing. This leads into another project, Demonstration Site Project, with FNHA and AANDC, headed by Gwen Phillips of the Ktunaxa Nation. See the website at www.bcfndgi.com for more information. 

Photovoice Mural Project: 

A photovoice project was also completed to have community members share what they do to feel well and smile. Many beautiful photos were shared and made into a beautiful collage/mural see below.  Each band office, health office, and local school will receive a copy. A smaller version of the poster will be sent to the Elders and Chiefs to thank them for their contribution. 

All the feedback has been summarized into a Gitanyow, Gitanmaax, Glen Vowell and Kispiox community plan and it has been shared with the communities.   Many thanks to Benjamin Laurie, Frances Turner, Ardythe Wilson, Art Sampson, Katrina Johnson, and Sparc BC, the band social workers, working groups, Band Councils, Gitksan Health and Gitanyow Human Services and elders and speakers for all their help in getting this important initiative done. 

Exploring Gitxsan Wellness - A Digital Story 

Us folks here at GGC were inspired by the beautiful mural and photos that came into our Office for the photovoice project. We thought it would be a great idea to do a short video! A big thank you to Transposition Films out of Vancouver for the amazing opportunity to work together.

Over the winter of 2014, we were able to ask a number of community members about what it means to be well, so we pulled together this short beautiful story to share with you! Enjoy and please share! 

 haa mi'ya