This Wednesday I’m wandering down memory lane to a trip I took last year to a remote Inuit village in the Inuit territory of Nunavik, northern Quebec. The town I had the privilege of visiting is called Kangiqsualujjuaq (ᑲᖏᕐᓱᐊᓗᑦᔪᐊᖅ in Inuktitut.)
I learned so much during my short visit to this community. One of the many lessons was using the land to build resiliency through selfcare. In a community lacking official supports the emphasis was on informal supports and “getting out on the land” as much as possible. I love this concept because even where official supports are abundant long wait lists also tend to be, and interfere with those in need being able to access the supports they need in a timely manner. However, in either of these contexts the land is available and can help us cope.
Here are some photos from the beautiful and vast Kangiqsualujjuaq ᑲᖏᕐᓱᐊᓗᑦᔪᐊᖅ landscape.
It is with gratitude to this community that I post these. On Friday I will also narrow my focus on what the Inuit can teach the rest of Canada about suicide prevention on a micro and macro level.
One of my co-trainers, Gladys Bender
Co-trainers Shawna Percy & Gladys Bender on their last day out on the land in Kangiqsualujjuaq
Nancy lighting the stove in the traditional tent, getting ready for warmth, tea, and fresh cooked ptarmigan
Sharing community out on the land in a delightfully warm tent on an otherwise blistery winter day.
The view of our tent under the Northern Lights. Photo credit: Mark Brazeau