Traditional Wellness Program
Oki! Siksika Health Services’ Traditional Wellness Program provides support to former Indian Residential School students and their family members.
To contact Siksika Health Services’ IRS Program, call 403-734-5687.
Hours of operation are 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday.
Photo courtesy of Leah Hennel/AHS
Like many First Nations across Canada, Siksika Nation was significantly impacted by colonization, including policies, religion, institutions, legislation, intergenerational trauma, Indian Residential Schools, the 60s Scoop, and over-representation of children in care.
Health assistance may be accessed for:
This history has resulted in widespread risk factors for compromised health and wellbeing. As part of Siksika Health Services’ comprehensive response, the IRS Program provides support to former IRS students and their family members. Activities include:
Every person on Siksika is a trauma survivor, whether they have experienced the effects of residential school directly or indirectly.
- Providing emotional and cultural support to former IRS students and family members, including assisting with 60’s Scoop and Day School class action lawsuit
- Partnering with Siksika Nation to provide support during radar detection of unmarked graves near residential school sites on-reserve
- Traditional ceremonies
- Cultural sensitivity training for staff from Siksika Nation and surrounding communities
- Assisting other program areas with cultural sensitivity and culturally-based program development/implementation
| Phone Resources: | |
| Siksika Health Mental Health Support | 403-734-5660 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) |
| Siksika Health Crisis Line | 403-734-2596 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) |
| Siksika Emergency Medical Services | 403-734-9111 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) |
| Indian residential school survivor’s society | 1-800-721-0066 or 1-866-925-4419 |
| AHS Mental Health Help line | 1-877-303-2642 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) |
| The Hope for Wellness Help line | 1-855-242-3310 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) |
| Kids Help Crisis Line | 1-800-668-6868 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) |
| Canada Suicide Prevention Services | 1-833-456-4566 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) |
| Text Resources: | |
| Text4Hope (Mental health support) | Text COVID19HOPE to 393939 |
| Text4Hope (Addiction Support) | Text Open2change to 393939 |
| Text4Hope (Cancer Support) | Text CancerCare to 393939 |
| Online Resources: | |
| Wellness Together Canada | https://ca.portal.gs/ |
| Anxiety Canada | https://www.anxietycanada.com/ |
| Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH): | http://www.camh.ca/covid19 |
| Daily Tips for Parents: | https://childmind.org/ |
| Positive Psychology Kit: | https://positivepsychology.com/the-crisis-kit/ |
| 310 COPE: | https://www.yssn.ca/310-COPE |
| Mind Your Mind Online Support: | https://mindyourmind.ca/ |
| Centre for Clinical Interventions (incl. online workbooks for a variety of mental health concerns) | https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/ (workbooks can be found here: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself) |
| Anxiety and Depression Association of America | https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blogposts/consumer/covid-19-lockdown-guide-how-manage-anxiety-and |
| Siksika Health Services – Mental Health Facebook page | @SHSMentalHealth |
| Apps: | |
| – Headspace – What’s Up – Calm – Mindshift – Breathr |
