Gabriola Island

Chee Mamuk’s vision is one of working in relationship with Indigenous communities and individuals for overall health and wellbeing rooted in strength-based approaches. The collective goal of Chee Mamuk is to develop programming and resources that are engaging and meaningful to communities in reclaiming culture and traditional teachings. Chee Mamuk works closely in relationship with communities and is led by community priorities and needs. This vision offers the following programs:

Around the Kitchen Table (ATKT): This is an innovative, evidence based “train the trainer” program that actively engages and works with teams of Indigenous women as natural teachers to host conversations and pass on their learnings around HIV, STI and hepatitis education in their home communities, while incorporating traditional cultural activities.

Encouraging Strong Paths (ESP): This program is based on the ATKT model, works with Indigenous men on health promotion, knowledge sharing and skills-based learning. This program addresses health and wellbeing for our Indigenous men in culturally rooted and Indigenous ways. ESP health training teams are given the support and training to host conversations in their communities about health that include: prostate and testicle screening and health, HIV and AIDS prevention, resource sharing and land-based learning (such as compass navigation, trail making and shelter construction).

Two-Spirit Commitment: The Two-Spirit commitment is rooted in traditional ways and works with ATKT and ESP to promote a robust community dialogue around the responsibilities of and work within each community. This work helps communities ensure their Two-Spirit relatives are supported, welcomed and engaged.