A Journey To Hope & Healing

Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions began this ground-breaking project at the Dene Wellness Centre at Cold Lake First Nations from September 2008 to March 2009. It was seen as a way to facilitate a practical, career-based component to Nechi Training. Participants were trained in Nechi’s uniquely holistic way, and then assisted with a job placement to end the project. To that end, we have created this book about the lives of the students enrolled in this training and work experience program.

Interview participants were asked how they came to take training with the Nechi Institute; to identify some of the challenges, barriers and lessons learned during the training and work placement; to share some of the experiences they had gained and to share their future educational and/or career goals. The proposal to include a work experience component provided the ability for our students to be able to work, and put into practice what they had been learning in the classroom. Our success with this project is the basis behind A Journey to Hope: Our Stories of Growth, Training and Capacity Building in our Communities.

Eight students agreed to be interviewed. These are their stories.