For going on six months, the Kitikmeot Friendship Centre has been rolling out programs to help children, youth and families live more fulfilling lives and better cope with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檇 like to amplify the voice for special needs youth and their families and give support to the caregivers. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 one of our goals,SA国际影视传媒� said Kendall Aknavigak, the Friendship CentreSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director and president. SA国际影视传媒淎nd our goal is to advocate for the youth and the children in the region to have the services required when theySA国际影视传媒檙e in the process of getting diagnosed with FASD, or if theySA国际影视传媒檙e on the spectrum.SA国际影视传媒�

In October, Friendship Centre staff participated in FASD training and mentorship through the Piruqatigiit Resource Centre, a non-profit organization based in Iqaluit that specializes in FASD.

Aknavigak said the Friendship Centre, which has an office in Cambridge Bay but serves all five communities in the Kitikmeot, aspires to offer similar training and awareness to the public and to regional services in the future.

Sometimes after an FASD diagnosis, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 questions about what comes next.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to make sure the information being processed can easily be comprehensible and that they get the support that they need,SA国际影视传媒� Friendship Centre support staff member Charles Zikalala said, adding that the variety of available resources are reviewed with clients and home visits may be arranged for the family.

A Children Advocacy Centre is also part of the Friendship CentreSA国际影视传媒檚 mandate. It will cater to young people who have faced neglect, abuse or witnessed domestic violence. Staff training pertaining to those sensitive issues will be done through the Umingmak Centre in Iqaluit.

SA国际影视传媒淚nstead of the child going to 10 different buildings to get help, help will come to the child under one umbrella, from the Child Advocacy Centre,SA国际影视传媒� Zikalala explained.

The Kitikmeot Friendship Centre opened its doors on June 1, after discussions and planning that commenced in September 2020. It employs more than a dozen full-time and part-time staff.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to build a lot of capacity within our community and within the Inuit population. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 very important that we have people that can fill these roles that are knowledgeable, especially when weSA国际影视传媒檙e running a lot of land-based programs and running programs when weSA国际影视传媒檙e in the other communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Aknavigak.

An on-the-land component comes through the Nuna Buddies program, which teaches skills such as setting fishing nets, filleting fish, drum dancing, making traditional Inuit foods and crafting Inuit tools. Nuna Buddies has also been offered in Taloyoak.

SA国际影视传媒淚t helps that a majority of us have strong relations to the various communities,SA国际影视传媒� Aknavigak said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 looking forward to a lot of things that we can come up with for the communities in our region.SA国际影视传媒�

There also a reading program held three days a week for those ages three to 12; a computer literacy course for youth has been held in all five Kitikmeot communities; men have been invited to make ulus; a parenting program is just getting off the ground and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 ongoing events for girls and single fathers in the offing.

When tragic events have occured in the communities, Friendship Centre staff can serve as support workers.

In addition, the Friendship Centre has sponsored soccer and volleyball tournaments.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of links between mental health and sports; mental health and suicide awareness; FASD and mental health SA国际影视传媒� everything is so intertwined and interconnected SA国际影视传媒� (we) provide some element of mental health awareness to everything that we do,SA国际影视传媒� Aknavigak said. SA国际影视传媒淎ll our programs that weSA国际影视传媒檝e had, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of social inclusion. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 discriminate against who you are. We welcome everybody to come to the office and take part in the programs.SA国际影视传媒�

Funding for the organization comes from the federal and territorial governments as well as the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

Zikalala emphasized that the Friendship Centre is eager to work in partnership with other entities in the region and the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淣ot one organization can do all this important work. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 very important to have that collaborative approach,SA国际影视传媒� he said.