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Men's group starting up in Whale Cove Community sees need to provide a safe, comfortable environment for men to open up
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 24, 2013
WHALE COVE
A new men's group is starting up in Whale Cove, giving members a safe place to go and share their thoughts.
Noel Kaludjak of Kivalliq Counselling and Support Services (KCSS) met with a few guys in the community earlier this month to help get the group going.
Over two days he demonstrated how to conduct a healing circle and gave pointers on how best to run the group.
"They're really eager to start," Kaludjak said of the participants. "It's been a long time coming and I think we finally have a core group of men."
The purpose of the gathering is to allow participants to address any problems they might have and to also discuss the male's role in the community.
To ensure privacy, everyone is asked to sign a confidentiality agreement.
"It helps for men to be more open to the group," explained Kaludjak.
"We also talked about needing to be available if somebody needs help ... at an urgent time."
Additionally, Kaludjak suggested the men assist the community by teaching younger generations how to build equipment, such as a small boat for seal hunting, and helping elders fix up their cabins.
The group's first meeting was set to start at 3 p.m. this past Sunday. Kaludjak said he expects the men will run the group once a week or bi-weekly.
"It helps so much," he said. "It helps prepare the men for family and future ... It helps the community as a whole for wellness, better living."
The need for the group was first recognized by RCMP officers in Whale Cove.
There are a number of residents who are struggling because they haven't dealt with the past, said Const. Patrick Crooks.
For that reason, he added, the RCMP wanted to help provide a space for men in the community to focus their energy and release their anger.
So they contacted the local mental health worker, who was able to secure funding from the Government of Nunavut to bring workers from KCSS to Whale Cove.
"We were kind of the driving force in bringing them here," said Crooks. "But when they were here we tried to keep our distance from it ...
"We wanted to create an environment where they could talk and express what was going on without having the police involved."
According to Kaludjak, there are men's groups set up in Arviat, Coral Harbour, Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake.
Kaludjak is willing to assist in other communities as well, although he may not be able to travel to the area if no funding is available.
"If they have the desire and see the need in their community, we can help them start their men's support group."
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