Path to wellness starts early on
IRC-sponsored youth program teaches culture and health in the class and on the land
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 22, 2016
INUVIK
A wellness camp at East Three Elementary School combined in-class healthy living education with on-the-land cultural experiences.
Community Health Representative Crystal
Navratil leads a class on healthy sleeping habits as students Winnie Lennie and Taylor Wainman listen. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"If you're going to contribute to health and wellness in your community and you want to see a lasting effect, you've got to start with your youth," said Jimmy Ruttan, on the land and support services co-ordinator with Project Jewel, operated by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
"You're going to hopefully see that compound in the later years. The more that you can surround these young kids with wellness programs and programs that are going to build up their skills socially, personally and emotionally, the better young adults you're going to have."
Especially important, he added, is bringing the children together with "yelders," or young elders, on the land in the cultural component of the program where students visited a camp site and learned traditional culture.
In the classroom, students were taught healthy sleeping and living habits from Crystal Navratil, community health representative. The sessions also touched on having a healthy body image and self-esteem. Students were also fed twice a day.
Ruttan said the IRC has a close working relationship with the GNWT's Health and Social Services department.
The IRC sponsored roughly 80 per cent of the costs and logistics of the program, which was devised based on the needs teachers saw in students.
"We recognize that on-the-land health and wellness programs are very beneficial to all demographics, and if we can support the school and any other organizations in that then we try and do our best to do so," said Ruttan.
Vice-principal Lorne Guy said the IRC has long been a strong partner in educating youth in schools in the region.
"This wellness program is just another example of the generous support East Three School has received from the IRC," he said.
The program lasted more than a week as classes took turns in taking part.
As with the Boot Lake cultural experience earlier in fall, vandalism affected the program during the last few classes. The IRC's tent for the on-the-land portion of the class was stolen.
