The Zhawenjigewag Inawemaaganag Family Healing Program aims to reconnect families through traditional cultural knowledge and peacemaking practices, foster personal development and holistic wellness through cultural knowledge and personal life skills, and contribute to community development. The program gives families who have experienced family violence the chance to reconnect and heal together through conflict resolution and traditional teachings.
The program has collaborated with a circle of Elders to revitalize Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Lene-Lenape cultural knowledge and peace-making practices that are the foundation of the program. Families are provided with a safe space to discuss and work together to create plans towards healing and forgiveness. The program seeks to address intergenerational trauma that underlies many challenges in Indigenous communities like mental wellness, family violence, justice system involvement, child welfare and addictions. Sessions with Elders and workshops help participants learn new skills in areas like communication, traditional parenting, harm prevention, goal setting, and building self-esteem. Participants have the chance to work with Elders and traditional knowledge keepers one-on-one. They also are provided support to help navigate criminal and family justice systems. Funding from the FG Foundation has helped secure the expertise and knowledge from the local Elders and strengthen family ties by sharing language, ceremony, teachings and peacemaking practices.
