Health is about well-being in all areas of our lives. Individual and community health and wellness depend upon culture and relationships as well as physical, environmental, spiritual, and emotional factors. This is reflected in Gwich’in Guiding Principles such as:
The preservation and respect for the land are essential to the well-being… of our people and our culture.
The GTC Health and Wellness team works to support individual and community health and wellness through meaningful community participation, collaboration, and stewardship. We provide services and develop initiatives to support the well-being of Gwich’in Participants.
Program Areas
Mental Health, Emotional & Cultural Support
- On-the-land healing
- Connection with culture
- Resolution Health Support Program
- Aftercare & follow-up
Children, Youth & Families
- Jordan’s Principle service coordination and activities
- Youth wellness programming
Advocacy & Outreach
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Support to Gwich’in Participants navigating NWT or federal (NIHB) services
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Promotion of cultural safety in the health and social services system
Research & Capacity Building
- Collaboration with DGOs and community organizations
- Support for research & training funding access to Gwich’in Participants and communities
Key Services
Jordan’s Principle
Jordan's Principle aims to ensure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services, and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those living with disabilities may have.
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Jordan's Principle Call Centre: 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453), open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Resolution Health Support Program
The Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health, emotional and cultural support services to former residential school students and their families, as well as to the wider public in communities impacted by residential schools. GTC employs five Cultural Support Workers in Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Aklavik who work with clients throughout the region to ensure they have access to professional counsellors, non-insured health benefits, and other support programs in Northwest Territories and southern Canada.
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National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419, 24-hour emotional and crisis referral services.
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First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 / online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. Toll-free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Team
Have an idea for a project you want to see happen or comments about our services?
Would you like to partner on a program?
Looking for more information or to connect about health & wellness?
IF YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH FOR ANY REASON, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
Crystal Milligan
Manager, Health & Wellness
(867) 777-7939
Crystal.Milligan@gwichintribal.ca
Gwich’in Tribal Council Office, Inuuvik (Inuvik)
Janeta Pascal
Resolution Health Support Coordinator
(867) 678-4146
Janeta.Pascal@gwichintribal.ca
Aklavik Inn, Akłarvik (Aklavik)
Danita Frost-Arey
Jordan’s Principle Coordinator
(867) 777-7915
Danita.FrostArey@gwichintribal.ca
Gwich’in Tribal Council Office, Inuuvik (Inuvik)
Eileen Koe
Cultural Support Worker
(867) 952-2960
Eileen.Koe@gwichintribal.ca
Teetł’it Zheh (Fort McPherson)
Sarah Jerome
Cultural Support Worker
(867) 688-2598
Sarah.Jerome@gwichintribal.ca
Inuuvik (Inuvik)
Lorna Storr
Cultural Support Worker
(867) 678-5036
Lorna.Storr@gwichintribal.ca
Akłarvik (Aklavik)
Julie Anne Blake, Cultural Support Worker
(867) 377-0155
JulieAnne.Blake@gwichintribal.ca
Teetł’it Zheh (Fort McPherson)
Phoebe Arey, Cultural Support Worker
(780) 893-2948
Phoebe.Arey@gwichintribal.ca
Tsiigehtshik (Tsiigehtchic)