The Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) is hosting Building our Bundle, an online mental and spiritual health program that supports Indigenous young women ages 12-29 during COVID-19 isolation.

Participants will learn cultural teachings and take part in self reflection activities, build social connection and be given mental health tools to improve well-being.

The program runs six weeks starting Thursday, Nov. 4 and runs until Dec. 16, with no class on Nov. 11.

The class is capped at 100 participants and this session is now full, but the program will run again and into 2022.

Erica Gladue is the youth program coordinator with IAAW. She says it’s important for youth to learn these lessons, especially at this age.

“You know that even for myself and to other youth that I’ve worked with, a lot of them they might feel lost in life, they might feel very disconnected from their culture and, you know, when you connect with your culture and you embrace your culture, you have way more self-confidence and you know who you are," she said. "And I think just taking those little lessons from your culture, which turn out to be really big lessons, they can really help you mould the person that you are.”

IAAW is a non-profit organization that recognizes the role, value, and achievement of Aboriginal women in society and raises awareness about the challenges and obstacles faced by Aboriginal women. IAAW is based in Edmonton and operates in chapters across Alberta.

Listen to the CFWE story below: