Piapot First Nation hosts inaugural mental health and wellness conference
Mental health and wellness were the focus of a conference hosted by Piapot First Nation on Wednesday and Thursday.
The two day event held at the Conexus Arts Centre is the first of its kind for the nation.
It was a time for the community to address various issues impacting the community.
“We want to provide a positive solution to try to help,” Everet Sayer, a councillor of Piapot First Nation, said.
The idea of the conference originated over a year ago at a men’s group on the nation. The idea then grew with the realization nearly every member was dealing with a related issue.
“This conference signifies our collective effort to break the silence, share our stories, and support each other in our journeys toward wellness,” Mark Fox, the Chief of Piapot First Nation.
Attendees were able to hear from keynote speakers about the importance of mental health, and where also able to get into smaller groups to learn and talk about topics such as grief and healing.
“I think that people will come away with a good feeling. Hopefully some of the information that they picked up on is something they can carry with them,” Jayleen Francis, the volunteer coordinator of the event, said.
There were 300 seats available for the event. Organizers said they are pleased with the outcome and are thinking of expanding the number of seats next time. Inviting other nations to join is also a possibility.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.