Wasa-Nabin means “To Look Ahead” in the Ojibway language.
Program Description
The purpose of the Wasa-Nabin Program is to provide support and guidance within a cultural framework for youth aged 13-18 who are at risk for specific negative behaviors and outcomes as a result of their circumstances in life
Program Goal
It is hoped that youth involved with the program will enhance their skills, knowledge, attitudes and values, and will demonstrate positive personal choices and awareness of the consequences of negative behaviors.
Program Objectives
- Provision of social supports to address self-esteem issues, victimization issues and peer pressure;
- Through outreach, aims to increase access to culturally appropriate series for youth in care and their families, and to include support and education for non-Aboriginal adoptive and foster parents;
- Promotion of health and physical development to address inter-related health impacts of poverty, diabetes, and obesity;
- Increase support for youth in the education system through homework support, school suspension support, and to provide direct access to computers and literacy initiatives;
- Provision of support, preventative programming and/or intervention strategies for youth involved in t-he justice system through the use of tools such as “Streetwolf: The Seven Principles of Self Leadership”; and
- Addressing violence through collaboration with Kizhaay Anishnaabe Niin (I Am a Kind Man) and through the involvement of Elders.
Program Outcomes
- It will incorporate traditional cultural teachings and values to encourage healthy lifestyles choices, foster responsible decision making and influence critical thinking.
Target Population
Urban Indigenous Youth ages 13-18
Services Offered
- Providing opportunities for physical activity, such as basketball, skating, snow showing and skiing. Providing healthy meals and snacks, or teachings in the kitchen to get hands on training how to prepare affordable healthy meals. Teaching traditional land based activities such as fishing, trapping, hunting and survival training and teaching traditional arts and crafts. Resume writing and mock interviews to help gain employment and workshops that discuss drugs and alcohol, bullying, LGTBQ and violence.
