Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory

02/27/2026

Psychology Month Spotlight: Eric Jordan @ Warrior's Path

This Psychology Month, the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory is proud to spotlight our research assistant Eric Jordan — MEd Candidate in Educational Psychology (Counselling) at the University of Regina. Eric is an Indigenous man from Pasqua First Nation (Treaty 4 Territory), Saskatchewan, and Founder of Warrior’s Path Therapy & Consulting. His academic foundation includes a BA in Psychology and a Business Administration Diploma from the First Nations University of Canada.

Eric’s work lives at the intersection of academic learning, community-based wellness, and culturally grounded healing. Currently completing his practicum, he is deeply committed to supporting men who have experienced childhood adversity and are navigating survival patterns shaped long before they had language for them.

His research interests center on:
• Trauma, identity, and healing
• Emotional regulation, accountability, and healthy relationships
• Indigenous frameworks of wellness grounded in relationship, culture, and community responsibility

🌾 Community Leadership
Through his role with the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory, Eric is developing a family wellness training series in consultation with community members, including Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Moreover, he recently launched a Men’s Wellness Group in Fort Qu’Appelle in partnership with Agape Family Therapy and the Fort Qu’Appelle Friendship Centre. His previous community involvement includes facilitating ASI “The Way,” a domestic violence prevention and healthy relationships program, and holding certification in Fatherhood & Motherhood is Sacred through Native American Fathers (Mesa, Arizona).

💬 Message to Students
“Stay grounded in humility and relationships. Learn the theories—but never forget the person in front of you. Psychology becomes most powerful when knowledge becomes service.”

Join us in celebrating Eric’s commitment to healing, community, and culturally grounded care.

02/21/2026

🌿 New Resource for Families & Communities! 🌿

We are so excited to share the Nourishing Roots to Wellness (miyo-ayāwin) Seasonal Family Activity Booklet—a beautifully created resource designed to nurture strong families, vibrant relationships, and meaningful cultural connection across the four seasons in Saskatchewan.

✨ Authors:
• Janine M. Ahenakew (Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation)
• JoLee Sasakamoose (Mi’Chigeeng First Nation)
✨ Plains Cree (nehiyawewin) translations & design: Kristy Auger

This booklet invites families to slow down and grow together through culturally grounded, hands-on activities like storytelling, cooking, crafting, outdoor exploration, and seasonal traditions. Each activity is designed to strengthen family bonds, support young children’s learning and well-being, and celebrate culture, language, and intergenerational knowledge.

🌱 What you’ll find inside:
• Seasonal, family-friendly activities rooted in culture
• Opportunities to build connection, identity, and belonging
• Experiences that support children’s emotional, cognitive, and cultural development
• A focus on creating lasting memories and honoring family traditions

📚 Availability:
We have a limited number of booklets available at no cost to Saskatchewan communities and organizations.
📧 To request copies, contact: roots2wellness@uregina.ca
📍 Free pick-up in Regina is available. Shipping can be arranged at an additional cost.
Once supplies run out, booklets can be made available at-cost.

🌸 This booklet is more than activities—it’s an invitation to nurture connection, culture, and wellness, one shared moment at a time.

Please share with families, educators, and community partners who may benefit!

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Saskatchewan Health Authority
University of Regina
University of Regina Faculty of Education

02/14/2026

February is Heart Month ❤️Happy Valentine’s Day! 💕

As we celebrate love today, let’s also remember to take care of our own hearts — physically, emotionally, and mentally. Your heart works for you every single day. Show it the same care and compassion you show others. Heart Month is a time to bring attention to cardiovascular health and the steps we can take to care for our hearts.

At Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory, we recognize that heart health is shaped not only by medical care, but also by the social, emotional, and cultural contexts of our lives. That’s why we are proud to collaborate on Healing on the Land with Horses, a restorative, horse-based healing program offered in partnership with HMS Horse Based Healing , an Indigenous-owned and operated organization.

This land-based program supports community connection, stress reduction, gentle mobility, and overall well-being through shared stories, cultural teachings, and the calming, non-judgmental presence of horses — nurturing both individual and intergenerational healing.

💙 Prevention starts with awareness, access, and community support. If you have concerns about your heart health, please reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance and support.

Take care of your heart — today and every day.

02/13/2026

🌿✨ Healing on the Land with Horses for Youth ✨🐎

Honoring Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth through a relationship with horses, land, and community.

Offered in partnership with HMS Horse Based Healing , the Roots to Wellness Collaboratory (University of Regina), and the Nanatawihowikamik Healing Lodge & Wellness Clinic, this youth program creates a safe, supportive, and culturally grounded space for young people (ages 8+) seeking connection, confidence, and healing. Through guided interaction with horses and land-based teaching, youth learn to listen, trust, communicate, and express themselves in ways that feel natural and meaningful.

🐴 Services Offered:
✨ Small group learning circles
✨ Culturally informed wellness support
✨ School-day programming & after-school options

Led by Equine Specialist Brittany Hodgson (First Nations/Ojibway), this program focuses on supporting youth through Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) — building confidence, leadership, and wellness through connection with horses.

💜 Who Can Join:
Open to descendants of Sixties Scoop survivors, ages 8 and up.
Maximum of 4 youth per session.

📅 Schedule:
Sessions run after school from 4:00–5:00 PM (pick-up at 3:30 PM, drop-off by 5:30 PM).
Transportation provided for students at White Bear; accommodations may be made for youth from other communities.
30 sessions total, with potential weekend options for outside communities.

💫 Funding provided by the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada.

Together, we heal through compassion, culture, and connection — one hoofbeat at a time.

02/11/2026

We’re excited to partner with HMS Horse Based Healing to offer this upcoming Youth Day Camp, happening February 17, 18 & 19! 🐴✨

Come connect with horses, friends, and yourself during five hours filled with games, food, and laughter.

A heartfelt thank you to the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada for their generous support in making this initiative possible! 💙

To register, email info@horsebasedhealing.ca
or call 306-575-9036. We can’t wait to see you there! 💙

Countdown is on!

Open to all. This is a great opportunity to come meet some of the HMS staff and horses.

HMS recently opened its doors and invites parents and youth to come participate and ask questions.

Register now
info@horsebasedhealing.ca
306-575-9036

Located North of Manor, Saskatchewan

The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada
Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory
Brittany Hodgson

02/11/2026

Our hearts are with Tumbler Ridge 💔

We are holding the community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. in our thoughts as they grieve after a devastating act of violence, including harm within a school. This tragedy has deeply impacted families, students, educators, first responders, and the wider community.

In moments like this, grief can feel overwhelming. If you or someone you love is struggling, you do not have to face it alone. Support is available 24/7:

📞 Crisis Centre BC
9-8-8 — Call or Text

📞 National Su***de Crisis Helpline
310-6789 (no area code needed)

🫶 BC Mental Health & Crisis Response

Please check in on one another, especially young people and those directly affected. It’s okay to grieve, to feel shaken, or to need support — reaching out is a sign of strength.

We stand with Tumbler Ridge. You are not alone.

02/09/2026

Walking the Healing Path Together — Fully Funded Horse-Based Workshops

Are you a community-based organization in Saskatchewan? Would you like to bring 4-5 community members (age 15+) to participate in a powerful, horse-based healing workshop?

In partnership with HMS Learning for Equine, an Indigenous-owned and operated organization, we’re offering Healing on the Land with Horses — a restorative, horse-based healing program funded primarily by the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada.

We are currently looking for organizations interested in filling participant spots in one (or more) of our upcoming Wednesday workshops (available dates are from March to June 2026 – contact us for more information).

🌿 About the Workshop
Designed for Sixties Scoop Survivors and families, and open to all (age 15+), these workshops create space for reconnection with self, culture, and community through shared stories, cultural teachings, and the gentle guidance of horses.

Participants will experience:
• A safe, supportive environment for healing and reflection
• Connection and trust-building through interaction with horses
• A nourishing lunch and time to relax, share, and connect

Horses offer a unique, non-judgmental presence that fosters emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and self-discovery — nurturing both individual and intergenerational healing.

💜 Open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants — together, we walk the journey of healing with compassion, cultural safety, and community.

Workshop Details
• Time: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Location: Just outside of Manor, SK (near Carlyle; approx. 2 hrs 20 min from Regina)
• Cost: Free (organizations arrange their own transportation)

How to Participate
To reserve a date for your organization (4-5 participant spots per workshop), simply e-mail roots2wellness@uregin.ca.

Learn More
For more information about the program, visit: https://horsebasedhealing.ca/
HMS Horse Based Healing

Healing on the Land with Horses An Indigenous-owned and operated business that offers therapeutic and educational services rooted in First Nations and Metis-knowledge systems. Indigenous owned and operated Meet the...

02/02/2026

We’re honoured to share this inspiring profile of Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).

Thank you to SHRF and Sarah Kasleder for this thoughtful and well-crafted write-up highlighting Dr. Sasakamoose’s important work and impact, and for the meaningful recognition through the 2025–26 SHRF Achievement Award.

Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose receives the 2025-26 SHRF Achievement Award for Indigenous-led research grounded in community governance, wellness, and lasting systems change.

01/30/2026

Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory is proud to congratulate our Founder and Principal Investigator, Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose, on receiving the SHRF Achievement Award at the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Santé Awards (January 29, 2026).

For more than two decades, Dr. Sasakamoose has advanced Indigenous wellness through community-led, ethically governed research grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems and accountability to Nations. Her work spans mental health, maternal and family wellness, youth wellbeing, chronic disease prevention, and health system transformation — all guided by a consistent commitment to Indigenous governance and relational responsibility.

As a Professor at the University of Regina, CIHR/PHAC Applied Public Health Research Chair in Indigenous Wellness and Health Equity, and Counselling & Wellness Director at Nanawihowikamik Healing Lodge and Wellness Clinic, Dr. Sasakamoose exemplifies what it means to translate research into lasting programs, spaces, and systems that serve communities.

Central to her work is the Cultural Responsiveness Framework (CRF) — a framework rooted in the knowledge and governance of Elders and Knowledge Keepers and stewarded with care, accountability, and respect. Through this framework, Dr. Sasakamoose continues to help create ethical space between Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, while restoring and strengthening Indigenous health and wellness systems.

We are honoured to walk alongside leaders like Dr. Sasakamoose and celebrate this well-deserved recognition of her lifelong contributions to Indigenous wellness and health equity.

🧡 Congratulations, Dr. Sasakamoose.



Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation - SHRF
Canadian Institutes of Health Research

01/30/2026

Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory is proud to congratulate our Founder and Principal Investigator, Dr. JoLee Sasakamoose, on receiving the SHRF Achievement Award at the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Santé Awards (January 29, 2026).

For more than two decades, Dr. Sasakamoose has advanced Indigenous wellness through community-led, ethically governed research grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems and accountability to Nations. Her work spans mental health, maternal and family wellness, youth wellbeing, chronic disease prevention, and health system transformation — all guided by a consistent commitment to Indigenous governance and relational responsibility.

As a Professor at the University of Regina, CIHR/PHAC Applied Public Health Research Chair in Indigenous Wellness and Health Equity, and Counselling & Wellness Director at Nanawihowikamik Healing Lodge and Wellness Clinic, Dr. Sasakamoose exemplifies what it means to translate research into lasting programs, spaces, and systems that serve communities.

Central to her work is the Cultural Responsiveness Framework (CRF) — a framework rooted in the knowledge and governance of Elders and Knowledge Keepers and stewarded with care, accountability, and respect. Through this framework, Dr. Sasakamoose continues to help create ethical space between Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, while restoring and strengthening Indigenous health and wellness systems.

We are honoured to walk alongside leaders like Dr. Sasakamoose and celebrate this well-deserved recognition of her lifelong contributions to Indigenous wellness and health equity.

🧡 Congratulations, Dr. Sasakamoose.



Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation - SHRF
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
University of Regina
University of Regina Faculty of Education

01/06/2026

Community Maps, Collective Care and Empowering through Connection

The Saskatchewan Women-Centred HIV Care (WCHC) Sub-Hub via the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory invites you to join an upcoming webinar!

Date: Monday, February 2nd, 2026
Time: 11 am – 12 pm CST
Location: Online via Zoom (registration required)
Presenters: Dr. Andrew Eaton, Tashia Acoose and Heather House
Register at https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0yn08BrCQqyKzmNuUWXKRg

Session Description:
This presentation will highlight two Regina-based projects with AIDS Program South Saskatchewan (APSS) that utilized ReportNeedles.ca:
• Mapping Needles, Reducing Harm (completed), and
• 3 Infections, 1 Fight (3I1F) (launched this past summer).
We will present from a lived experience perspective, sharing participant feedback from harm reduction support groups as well as from 3 Infections, 1 Fight pop-up events.

Presenter Details:
Dr. Andrew D. Eaton is an Associate Professor at the Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago, an Associate Professor (Status-Only) at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, and an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina. A practicing social worker for over a decade, Dr. Eaton has developed a robust, practice-based research program to address complex comorbidities and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, sexual and gender minorities, and people experiencing mental health and addiction crises. His Eaton Lab is dedicated to community-based scholarship with real life impact, with a substantial focus on training the next generation of social work practitioners and researchers.

Tashia Acoose is from Zagime First Nation and has been the Peer Support/Navigator with AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan Inc. (APSS) for the past three years. Drawing on her lived experience, Tashia provides compassionate, person-centered support to individuals living with substance use. Her own journey has given her deep empathy and insight, which she brings to her advocacy and community work. Tashia is deeply committed to harm reduction, community engagement, and improving access to care for marginalized populations.

Heather House is a Research Assistant with the University of Regina who works in partnership with AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan Inc. (APSS). Since 2018, she has been a dedicated advocate for health care, harm reduction, and community-based support. Drawing on her lived experience, Heather has been actively involved with non-profit organizations and has helped implement harm reduction initiatives that meet people where they are. She is deeply passionate about STBBI prevention, treatment, and improving access to care for all individuals.

For information on the WCHC Hub and Sub-Hubs, please visit https://www.wchchub.ca/.

12/22/2025

✨ Holiday Season Reflection & Rest ✨

As we move through the Winter Solstice and into the holiday season, Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory will be closed from December 23 to January 4. This time is an opportunity to slow down, rest, and reconnect with what nourishes us—within ourselves, our homes, and our communities.

Here are a few gentle ways to honour this season of rest and renewal:

🌿 Slow down and rest
Whether you’re working or have time off, create moments to simply be. Unplug from devices when possible and spend intentional, present time with loved ones.

🍲 Cook and share nourishing meals
Preparing and sharing food is an act of care and connection. Whether traditional foods or favourite family recipes, cooking together strengthens kinship and wellness.

✨ Reflect on the past year
Honour both the joys and challenges. Acknowledge your resilience, release what no longer serves you, and make space for what’s ahead.

🙏 Practice gratitude
From the smallest comforts to the biggest blessings, take time to notice what has sustained you. Write it down, speak it aloud, or hold it in prayer or meditation.

💛 Show appreciation for others
Reach out with a call, message, card, or visit. Let people know they matter, and listen with care and compassion.

At Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory we believe wellness is rooted in balance, connection, and care. We wish everyone a peaceful, restorative holiday season and look forward to reconnecting in the new year.

🌿
Happy Holidays