A small camp nestled among the trees on the outskirts of Yellowknife is an SA国际影视传媒渙asisSA国际影视传媒� in the woods, says one of its clients.

Since The Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation began the camp in May 2018, that client is one of its more than 2,000 visitors. Indigenous peoples make up the largest share of this number, with Dene the most represented group, states the foundation's Annual Report.

On Tuesday, it held a feast at the camp with bannock, soup and tea to celebrate its success and another year in operation.

The foundation is mandated with supporting traditional healing services. It aims to provide SA国际影视传媒渃ulturally based healthcare to Indigenous northerners facing a high burden of disease and unequal access to traditional health serves,SA国际影视传媒� states the non-profit.

There are minimal opportunities to access traditional counselling, medicine, and ceremony, said Donald Prince, the foundation's executive director and CEO. Accordingly, the camp's services includes sweat lodges, flute and drum-making, among other activities.

For visitors, Prince said the camp tries to help them individually, finding the best way they can be holistically healthy. Insight comes along the way, but the camp aims to SA国际影视传媒済ive them the control,SA国际影视传媒� he said, allowing them to incorporate treatment into their lives.

He recalls one man visiting from the psych ward who began to show signs of improvement. Prince said that on his return to the hospital, a psychiatrist asked, SA国际影视传媒渨hat do they do out there? Every time you come back, you're more relaxed, you're calm.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 go out there and I tell them, 'I see things, and hear things,' and they tell me they see things and hear things. And (then) we have tea and bannock.SA国际影视传媒� Prince said about the man's experience. SA国际影视传媒淚 come back to the hospital and say, 'I see things and hear things,' and you guys give me pills.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭raditional counselling is more based on reality, humility, and humanity,SA国际影视传媒� said Prince.

Dr. Nicole Redvers, chair of the foundation's board, said the project began with a mandate to offer traditional healing that often went unrecognized.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's very humbling,SA国际影视传媒� said Redvers. SA国际影视传媒淚'm thinking about all the stories and the experiences and the people that have been evolved since day one, even before the set-up.SA国际影视传媒�

The camp SA国际影视传媒� consisting of a few tents and a teepee a short walk out from the Multiplex SA国际影视传媒� was cleared of snow and built in April 2018. It began hosting visitors that May. It has all Indigenous employees and an all-Indigenous board Redvers said.

She explained that the elders' knowledge behind the camp was a vital force behind its work in revitalizing traditional healing.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of our libraries are burning in the North, literally, as our elders pass,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e're in a very time-critical, sensitive period to be able to pass on knowledge to the next generation.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒�A safe placeSA国际影视传媒�

One man, who found the camp while battling alcoholism, spoke to Yellowknifer on condition of anonymity to protect his identity.

Visiting the camp, he would make a drum, or do some rattling while he was there. He'd come because he didn't want to go downtown, where he said he felt SA国际影视传媒渘egative energy.SA国际影视传媒� Now, he enjoys seeing children visit, and watching someone who's troubled improve their outlook. SA国际影视传媒淭hese people help you go inside your heart,SA国际影视传媒� he said about the camp's staff.

SA国际影视传媒淚 seen a lot of people come here angry, but leave with smiles on their faces ... or a look of hope inside their eyes,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou trust them,SA国际影视传媒� he said about the camp's staff. In previous experiences with counselors, he often felt told SA国际影视传媒測ou should, you shouldSA国际影视传媒� proscriptions and left after an hour with his SA国际影视传媒渆motions hanging,SA国际影视传媒� which led him to resent the experience. Coming to the camp, he felt he could pick his time to unload and, in his own time, he felt restored delving into SA国际影视传媒�(his) deep trauma, (his) residential school trauma.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hen it comes out clean and pure, rather than 'you should,' there's a big difference. You're ... freer,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that he understands these programs work for many and his experience is his own.

Moving forward, the Foundation is mindful that its current camp is on a temporary lease and it hopes to secure a permanent site, with more details set to be available in June, including a report, models and drawings, it stated in its annual report. Meanwhile, the camp is a short distance away from town.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is an oasis for me, a safe place,SA国际影视传媒� the man said.