Akwe:go and Wasa-Nabin programs

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) delivers the:

  • Akwe:go Urban Indigenous Children’s Program for children ages 7 to 12
  • Wasa-Nabin Urban Indigenous Youth Program for youth 13 to 18

The Akwe:go and Wasa-Nabin programs offer supports, tools and activities to help Indigenous children and youth in urban communities. Programs are culturally relevant, holistic and tailored to meet the needs of children and youth.

You can access the Akwe:go and Wasa-Nabin programs at one of 28 delivery sites.

Find a Friendship Centre near you to register and learn more.

Programming may include:

  • life skills, safety awareness and anti-violence training
  • support circles and "one-to-one" or peer counselling
  • culturally appropriate services for children and youth and their families
  • teaching and learning activities that foster and increase self-esteem and promote healthy behaviours and relationships
  • educational and physical activities that promote physical health and development and build resiliency, empowerment and self-esteem
  • after school activities
  • parent support

These programs:

  • support mental, physical and emotional health and wellness
  • help children and youth make healthy lifestyle choices
  • aim to reduce child welfare and youth justice involvement

Akwe:go is a Mohawk word meaning “everybody” or “all of us.” Wasa-Nabin means “to look forward, to look beyond” in Ojibway.

Family Well-Being program

The Family Well-Being program offers supports, community-based programming and safe spaces for Indigenous children, youth, families and community members.

Supports that are available can vary because they are based on local needs and priorities. All supports are Indigenous-led, culturally-responsive and focused on prevention.

The Family Well-Being program is offered in more than 200 service delivery sites.

To access a program and learn more, please contact a service provider:

The Family Well-Being program was co-developed with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous partners. The co-developed, long-term objectives of the program include:

  • ending violence against Indigenous women
  • reducing the number of Indigenous children and youth in the child welfare and youth justice systems
  • improving the overall health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities

First Nations Student Nutrition Program

The First Nations Student Nutrition Program (FNSNP) was co-developed with Indigenous partners. It currently provides funding for nutritious breakfast, lunch and/or mid-morning meals in 161 Indigenous educational settings throughout the province, including in 66 First Nations and 27 urban centres.

How the program works

Partners are responsible for all aspects of the design and delivery of their programs including food sourcing, meal preparation and distribution. They may also incorporate traditional food practices into their programming.

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres also receives funding for student nutrition programs for Indigenous children and youth who attend Akwe:go and Wasa-Nabin programs and the Alternative Secondary School Program.

Healthy Students Brighter Ontario campaign

Ontario has launched the second province-wide partnership with community organizations to support the First Nations Student Nutrition Program and the Student Nutrition Program.

Ontarians are encouraged to take part and help the province’s next generation get the healthy start they need to learn, grow and succeed.

You can make a donation through the following organizations:
 

Indigenous Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program

The Indigenous Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Child Nutrition Program offers:

  • personal support and intervention services
  • education on healthy eating
  • traditional cultural activities to promote FASD prevention

Indigenous service providers designed this program and deliver it in 180 communities in Ontario.

Contact an Indigenous service provider to learn more and access the program.

Integrated Rehabilitation for Northern and Remote First Nations Program

This program offers service coordination and rehabilitation services for children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs.

Rehabilitation services can include speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

To get started, contact one of these Indigenous partners or service providers:

Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy programs

Find healing, health and wellness programs on and off-reserve, including:

  • the Indigenous Healthy Babies Healthy Children (IHBHC) program to help Indigenous children and families start a healthy life in ways that honour and respect Indigenous culture and beliefs
  • the Maternal and Child Centre (Tsi Non:we Ionnakeratstha Ona:grahsta’) for pre-natal and post-natal care to Indigenous women and families in the Six Nations and south west area of Ontario
  • Mental Health Program for culturally-appropriate day programming to support at-risk children and youth and their families
  • Healing lodges for a range of residential and/or day programming using traditional Indigenous healing and contemporary therapeutic interventions to Indigenous people and families

The goal of the strategy is to reduce family violence and violence against Indigenous women and children through Indigenous designed and delivered culturally-appropriate programs and services.

Learn more about Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy and access a comprehensive list of programs available to support the healing, health and wellness of Indigenous peoples.