First Peoples Wellness Circle

12/01/2025

🎬That’s a Wrap!

First Peoples Wellness Circle (FPWC) and the The Martin Family Initiative (MFI) have wrapped up an important filming project focused on workforce wellness in First Nations communities.
Over the past few weeks, we interviewed individuals with living experience who generously shared their stories, teachings, and strategies to help workers, managers, supervisors, and teams better support each other.

These powerful conversations will be developed into a series of short video learning clips grounded in the Workforce Wellness Strategy. They’ll be used in future trainings to strengthen wellness, leadership, and relational care across our mental wellness workforce.

A heartfelt miigwetch to everyone involved, including the whole MFI team for all of their hard work. Also a shout out to all of those at FPWC who supported this work, including Anne Duquette, Program Manager, MWT Supports, and Keith Martin, Workforce Development Lead, whose strong relationships and trusted connections across the country helped bring interviewees into this project and support the filming process. 🙌

12/01/2025

The Canadian Medical Association Board of Directors is committed to Indigenous representation and working with the Indigenous Guiding Circle. If you are an Indigenous physician or medical learner interested in Board leadership, please reach out to the CMA Indigenous Health team for more information.

🔗 https://fpwc.ca/what-we-do/news/vacancies-open-at-the-cma/

Learn more and apply today!

11/30/2025

Take a listen to our CEO Dr Brenda Restoule who sat down with Matt Maracle and Sam Gilchrist of Rooted In Gwekwaadzawin to talk about culture as a foundation to work in mental wellness and how it builds hope, belonging, meaning and purpose.

Gwekwaadziwin Miikan is a land based substance use program located on Manitoulin Island in Ontario. They use culture as a foundation to support people to address substance use and to find Mino Biimadziwin The Good Life. Learn more about their program at https://gwek.ca/.

Gwekwaadziwin Miikan is a land-based mental health and addictions program in Northeastern Ontario. This podcast explores the challenges, tribulations and opportunities within the field and shares stories of success and resilience.

11/29/2025

Join us on December 9 at 6:00 PM CST to deepen your understanding of Canadian history with this RS101 Webinar.

You'll more about the history of the residential school system, the legal fallout, and the ongoing legacy of the system as seen through intergenerational trauma, ongoing systemic oppression, MMWIG2S+, and how healing and reconciliation can begin.

Register now to reserve your spot: https://umanitoba.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gmgTrijISXi9ENJbU3gYnw #/registration

11/25/2025

We’re all set up at the Indigenous Services Canada Ontario Region Joint Gathering in Toronto! Swing by the FPWC booth, say hello, and check out what we’ve been working on! 🌟 We’d love to meet you, hear your perspectives, and chat about how we can work together.

11/24/2025

Important work underway on Indigenous health navigators. Please consider lending your voice if you match the criteria.

The FNHMA IHN Project is professionalizing the IHN role as a critical, systemic intervention to achieve health equity and combat anti-Indigenous racism.

11/21/2025

📣📚 Nos 7 ressources sont maintenant disponibles en français!

We are excited to announce that all seven of our Gathering Our Knowledge Bundles are now available in French!

These resources were developed by FPWC in response to the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing culturally grounded mental wellness supports for Indigenous communities navigating increased grief, isolation, and burnout.

We hope these French versions help broaden access and support for wellness workers and community members.

🔗 Find and download the French Bundles here: https://fpwc.ca/projects/gathering-our-knowledge-bundles/

11/14/2025

Congratulations to our partner Shkabe Shkaabe Makwa on their 5 year anniversary.

11/13/2025

We’re excited to introduce the Knowledge Exchange and Resource Sharing Hub (Resource Hub)! 🌿

🔗 https://resourcehub.fpwc.ca/

A dedicated online space designed for Wellness Workers, the FPWC Resource Hub offers an accessible, custom-curated collection of materials to support and strengthen the mental wellness workforce.

Explore a wide range of resources, including:

📄 Documents & templates
🎥 Videos & podcasts
📚 Books & research
🗺️ Training, tools, and maps

The Resource Hub is more than just a collection of materials; it’s a reflection of people, compassion, and shared knowledge, supporting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Whether you’re looking to enhance existing programs or spark new ideas 💡, the Resource Hub provides culturally relevant and accessible resources that meet the needs of wellness workers across diverse communities.

Discover the Resource Hub today and connect with knowledge that nurtures wellness: 👉 https://resourcehub.fpwc.ca/

11/11/2025

November 11th: Remembrance Day

Today we honour the courage, service, and profound sacrifice of all Canadian Veterans, past and present. We remember the cost of conflict and stand grateful for their commitment to peace.

Office Closure Note: In observance of Remembrance Day, FPWC offices are closed today, Tuesday, November 11th. We will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12th.

11/08/2025

We Remember: National Indigenous Veterans Day is November 8th. 🎖️

On this important day, FPWC extends our deepest thanks to the remarkable First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Veterans for their courage, strength, and service. We carry the memory of their service and sacrifices forward.

FPWC is dedicated to supporting the Indigenous Mental Wellness Workforce by ensuring they have the necessary tools and resources to promote healing and wellness for all Indigenous Veterans, their families, and communities.

11/07/2025

International Inuit Day – Today, FPWC joins in recognizing Inuit as one of the three distinct groups of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, alongside First Nations and Métis. Inuit are one of the First Peoples whose homelands span Inuit Nunangat and the circumpolar North, with rich cultures, languages, and traditions deeply connected to the land, water, and community.

Established by the Inuit Circumpolar Council in 2006, International Inuit Day (November 7) celebrates Inuit leadership, knowledge, and resilience, and amplifies Inuit voices across Inuit Nunaat and around the world.

FPWC is dedicated to enhancing the lives of First Peoples in Canada by addressing barriers to healing, wellness, and mental wellness. Our purpose is to walk with and support First Peoples and communities to share collective intelligence for healing, peace-making, and living a good life.

Our approach is centred on wellness pathways grounded in traditional knowledge and culture, fostering a Two-Eyed Seeing approach that supports wholistic healing and wellness for all First Peoples.