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Our Medicine Is All Around Us
Community Wellness is our opportunity as individuals to participate in collective historical and intergenerational trauma healing that is rooted in a social-justice informed and Intergenerational Healing Approach ™. By regularly creating safety, trust, and visibility together we walk beyond our individual healing and begin to recognize our shared journey. Community Wellness is CAM™ (Community Activated Medicine™), where we inform to activate and where the people are the medicine. Too often as individuals, we forget that we have the medicine within us and when we come together as a community that collective healing felt is strengthened and enriched. Our programming ebbs and flows with the seasons and our cultural teachings. To learn more about our community mental health and wellness services check out our weekly calendar and program descriptions below.
Community Wellness Programs
These groups run seasonally throughout the year
Daughters of Tradition
Healing Through Sisterhood
Girls in Leadership​
Our CAM™ Informed Daughters of Tradition (DOT) Indigenous Intertribal and Intergenerational Youth Group founded in 2017, evolved from the seminal work of Elder Coyhis, Founder of White Bison. A community-led approach, our girls focus on bridging the gap to wellness through matriarchal leadership, sisterhood and community building. As a cornerstone to improving their mental health, wellness, and advocacy skills, they are the change advocates to violence prevention and healing-informed CAM™ Next Generation Cycle Starters™
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Youth on Mental Health
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Our DOT girls are on a mission to bring their Indigenous voices to community spaces and speak on mental health and social justice issues that matter to them, their families and their communities. An intergenerational mentorship group, our girls lead by example. They learn from our CAM™ trained therapists, healers and advocates to be proud of all that makes them ready to be the next generation of healers, helpers and leaders in our communities.
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Women's Healing Circles
​The Women’s Relational Healing Support Group meets for 12 weeks during the Spring and Fall, and 10 weeks in the summer, creating a powerful circle of strength and support. Participants embark on a journey of self-exploration through self-study, integrating weekly CAM™ themes, practicing therapeutic techniques, journaling, and engaging in art therapy.
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These talking circles foster a nurturing space for vulnerability, allowing women to share, release, and grow both individually and collectively.
Healing Through Healthy Relationships
Sons of Tradition (SOT)
Healing Through Brotherhood
Sons of Tradition (SOT) is an all-Indigenous boys youth group focused on mentorship, violence prevention, intervention, and restorative justice. Launched in 2023, our program utilizes a CAM™ informed approach to empower young men through learning and personal growth. Participants engage in self-care practices, develop coping skills, and receive peer mentorship while acquiring effective de-escalation techniques. Importantly, the group emphasizes processing emotions and building healthy relationships within their families and communities.
Our dedicated facilitators are certified by the White Bison Wellbriety Training Institute, ensuring that they are well-equipped to support the youth in their transformative journeys. Through the Sons of Tradition program, we aim to create a supportive environment where young Indigenous boys can thrive, build resilience, and reconnect with their cultural heritage while fostering a strong sense of community.
S.P.A.C.E. For Kids
Healing Through Play
Sensory Play Attunement Connection and Engagement (S.P.A.C.E.) for Kids™offers an innovative, healing-centered approach designed to help children build a deeper understanding of themselves and their interactions with the world. Led by our skilled Occupational Therapists, we create a nurturing environment that emphasizes sensory engagement, play, and meaningful connection, promoting emotional growth and overall well-being.
In this safe and supportive space, children are encouraged to explore their emotions, strengthen relationships, and develop a heightened awareness of their minds and bodies. Through engaging activities focused on movement, sensory exploration, and self-regulation, we empower children to enhance their emotional resilience, improve their social connections, and thrive in all areas of life.
Young Adult Life Skills
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The Young Adult Life Skills program supports individuals with Autism, Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, or differing abilities in their journey toward greater independence year-round. We provide a safe, supportive, and structured environment that encourages participants to share their successes and collaboratively problem-solve everyday challenges.
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Focusing on essential skills for independent living, the program covers areas such as cooking, budgeting, relationship-building, and decision-making. Participants are empowered to navigate the world with confidence while gaining a deeper understanding of their minds and bodies. Through this program, they learn valuable skills and modifications that help them thrive independently and within their communities, fostering personal growth and connection.
Healing Through Our Strengths
Children's Fire Book Club
Healing Through Our Stories
The Children's Fire Book Club is an engaging Facebook LIVE program where our integrated and interdisciplinary team of interns—comprising social work, counseling, occupational therapy, art therapy, psychology, and human services—come together to read to children. Each session features carefully selected kid and family-friendly books designed to facilitate discussions around healthy coping skills and emotional well-being, all while connecting children to important concepts without explicitly mentioning "mental health."
Through this interactive platform, children not only enjoy captivating stories but also learn valuable life skills in a supportive and relatable manner. By integrating diverse disciplines, the Children's Fire Book Club fosters an environment where young readers can develop emotional intelligence and resilience, empowering them to approach challenges with confidence and creativity. Join us for our live sessions and ignite a love for reading while nurturing the emotional growth of the children in our community!
Elders Book Club
Healing Through Our Ancestors Stories
Elder Healing book Club is both the flagship and heart of our HIR Wellness book club healing Historical Trauma approach for Native Victims of Crime. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the book club would meet at Native-community partnering agencies in Milwaukee, WI. Our elders group moved online to continue these emotional support services.
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There is an ever-growing interest to expand our elder healing programming. Currently, our elders reside locally to across the state.
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There is no limit to the healing spirit. It is an honor and privilege to bring this healing historical trauma book club to our community elders who come to read, share, and heal their stories together.
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Elders Power Up
Healing Through Our Bodies
During our Elders Power-Up Hour our Occupational Therapy team empowers Elders by offering tailored stretching and exercise programs that enhance strength and daily engagement. We provide guidance on home modifications to promote safety and independence and introduce the Peacemaker Massage to improve body awareness.
Immediately following the Elders Book Club or Elders Social Hour, the Elders Power-Up group focuses on intentional movement and holistic well-being, incorporating activities like modified stretching, low-impact exercises, and chair hula. Each session is personalized to affirm that every effort contributes to the overall health and happiness of our Elders, fostering a strong sense of community and support.
Story Menders
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Story Menders™ is a transformative youth group designed for Indigenous youth, where we harness the power of storytelling and healing through the Indigenous Role-Playing Game (RPG), Coyote & Crow. Our program is dedicated to fostering a healing-informed and accessible environment for our relatives, enabling participants to build confidence, enhance communication and coping skills, strengthen decision-making abilities, and cultivate a sense of community.
In this group, our youth engaged deeply in the art of story building and character development, collaborating with our art therapist to bring their unique characters to life. Supported by our Story Guide Facilitator and counselors, they navigated the rich narratives created within the game. At the culmination of the group, participants present the characters and worlds they developed, sharing their characters’ backstories and celebrating their creativity and growth. Through this heartfelt journey, our youth not only hone their skills but also build lasting connections with one another, solidifying their sense of belonging and purpose.
Healing Through Role Play
Gatherers of Tradition
Healing Through Our Community
Gatherers of Tradition (GOT) is an inspiring Indigenous Youth Summer Mental Health Day Camp designed to empower and uplift our youth. Here, participants dive into their healing, fostering connections that strengthen their self-identity, self-esteem, and healthy coping. The program not only emphasizes the importance of traditional knowledge and practices but also equips our young leaders with essential coping skills and tools for self-advocacy. Our camp creates a nurturing community where youth can thrive, share their stories, and build lasting friendships.
CAM Rainbow Hearts™
Healing Through Our Self-Love
The CAM™ Rainbow Hearts program offers Indigenous youth a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment, guided by a compassionate team that includes licensed counselors, social workers, and mental health interns. Each session begins with a Healing Circle—a safe space that encourages participants to express themselves and explore their identities. The program emphasizes LGBTQ2S+ awareness and celebration, introducing vital Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit voices through diverse resources, fostering an inclusive environment for all.
In our Healing Hearts activity table, youth engage in wellness exercises and learn invaluable coping skills, while group activities promote self-awareness, advocacy, and empowerment. A standout experience involves creatively expressing each youth’s unique strengths as songs or book titles, celebrating their individuality. Each participant also has the opportunity to create a crochet kindness heart, guided by our art therapist, which serves as a tangible reminder of the supportive community they help build. The CAM™ Rainbow Hearts program nurtures personal growth while celebrating their identities and contributions on this shared journey.
Men's Healing Groups
Healing Through Our Healthy Relationships
Weekly CAM LIVES
These virtual groups run Monday-Friday
Reflections & Resilience (R&Rs)
Healing Through Our Cultural Teachings
Facebook LIVES focus on creating a safe online community for survivors of violence to learn new ways to cope, heal, advocate, and network together. All our facilitators are trained in trauma-informed care and culturally respectful practices to offer a diverse and Indigenous-based or -inspired healing to our community members on a routine basis.
These practices are there to increase relational health, decrease anxiety and depression and offer therapeutic support. The medicine shared in our daily LIVES include cultural storytelling, breathing exercises, smudging, affirmations, relaxation techniques, and more.
All live HIR Wellness programs have mental health professionals available for support.
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Radical Joy
Healing Through Our Hurt
Join us for Radical Joy, a transformative Facebook LIVE program that streams every Friday, dedicated to cultivating the practice of choosing joy within our lives. In times when joy feels elusive, this program provides a healing-informed space for relatives to explore ways to invite joy—even in brief moments. As part of our CAM ™ Community Activated Medicine ™ Framework ™, we come together to engage in joyous activities that nourish the spirit and empower the heart.
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Led by our community healers and mental health professionals, participants will explore music, movement, and meaningful connections to discover pathways to radical joy. Embracing joy is not only a personal act of self-care but also a powerful form of resistance against pain and trauma—a true act of social justice.
Online & Onsite Grief & Vigil Circles
Healing Through Our Heaviness
Grief Circles is a compassionate program designed to support individuals experiencing grief and loss, recognizing that mourning is a communal journey rather than a solitary one. In these circles, we acknowledge that grief can manifest in many forms—whether from the loss of a loved one or the absence of something deeply meaningful in our lives or communities. Our gatherings offer a safe and nurturing space where participants can connect, share, and hold space for one another as they navigate the complexities of heartache, confusion, shock, and disbelief.
Together, we create an environment for prayer, reflection, and heartfelt connection, emphasizing the importance of continued support in coping with loss. Grief is a journey that requires time and understanding, and our Grief Circles provide a consistent source of solace and companionship, allowing individuals to honor their feelings and find comfort within a supportive community.
Drop-In Helpers & Healers (H&H) Series
These services are on Wednesdays and Fridays 12:00pm-6:00pm CST
Heart Art Studio
Healing Through Our Creativity
Step into a nurturing and supportive space where healing begins with creativity. At our Drop-in Heart Art Studio, we invite you to explore a variety of heart-centered art activities designed to nourish your mind, body, heart, and spirit. Rooted in CAM™-Informed themes, each week’s offerings aim to deepen your healing journey, helping you connect with yourself and express your emotions through the transformative power of art.
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During your visit, you can choose your level of support through our “Choose Your Support” options, allowing you to tailor your experience. Simply follow the Healing Art™ Activity Instructions provided at the art tables or throughout the studio, and explore a variety of materials to create your own unique healing art piece. This space is dedicated to fostering connection, reflection, and personal growth—understanding the profound impact that creative expression can have on your overall well-being.
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HeartMath
Healing Through Our Heart
​Our Drop-in HeartMath Lab is a welcoming space for individuals to slow down and reconnect with their hearts. Utilizing a science-based meditation technique, HeartMath incorporates breathing exercises aimed at improving emotional well-being and reducing stress. The primary goal is to increase coherence, enhance body functioning, and mitigate the impacts of stress and negative emotions. ​Our trained team of mental health professionals guides participants in using these breathing techniques to align their mind, body, heart, and spirit. Integrating HeartMath into daily life brings numerous benefits, including relief from stress and anxiety, improved health and wellness, enhanced spirituality, and increased performance. Join us at the HeartMath Lab to discover how these practices can foster a greater sense of balance and well-being.
Sound Healing & Mother Cacao Ceremonies
Healing through Ceremony
The Mother Cacao Ceremony offers a unique opportunity to connect with our heart space and breathe in gratitude, serving as an integral part of our grief support efforts. Drawing inspiration from First Nations teachings, we recognize gratitude as "the words that come before all else." In this ceremony, gratitude acts as a catalyst that activates the cacao, enhancing our ritual and creating a deeper connection to the experience.
Incorporating sound healing into the ceremony, we harness the power of sound vibrations to promote health and well-being. This alternative therapy can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while improving sleep, lowering blood pressure, and fostering a greater sense of overall wellness. By approaching our ceremony with open hearts and thankfulness, we create a nurturing space to receive the healing gifts that cacao and sound can offer.
Guided Meditations & Relaxation
Healing through Our Minds
Our Guided Meditations & Relaxation program provides a nurturing drop-in space for individuals navigating grief, offering a moment to pause and simply be. Led by trained mental health professionals, these guided meditations are designed to facilitate rest, repair, and relaxation, helping participants find solace during difficult times.
This is a supportive environment where our relatives can immerse themselves in calming practices that promote emotional healing and inner peace.
Reiki Sessions
Healing Through Our Energy
Our Social and Emotional Support program is designed to provide a compassionate and healing environment where relatives can share the emotional heaviness they may be carrying. Our trained mental health professionals are dedicated to serving the unique needs of each individual, ensuring that every person feels heard, respected, and valued as they navigate their feelings.
We take great care in creating a supportive atmosphere that begins with the thoughtful setup of the space and extends to the warm welcome each relative receives upon arrival. With healing-informed care at the forefront of our approach, our team is committed to facilitating meaningful connections and providing the guidance needed for healing and resilience.
Emotional Support
Healing Through Our Connections
Our Social and Emotional Support program is designed to provide a compassionate and healing environment where relatives can share the emotional heaviness they may be carrying. Our trained mental health professionals are dedicated to serving the unique needs of each individual, ensuring that every person feels heard, respected, and valued as they navigate their feelings.
We take great care in creating a supportive atmosphere that begins with the thoughtful setup of the space and extends to the warm welcome each relative receives upon arrival. With healing-informed care at the forefront of our approach, our team is committed to facilitating meaningful connections and providing the guidance needed for healing and resilience.
Brainspotting Sessions
Healing Through Our Releases
Our trained Brainspotting Practitioners have undergone extensive training to provide specialized support for individuals who have experienced trauma. This therapeutic approach focuses on processing intense or traumatic events that may feel stuck in the central nervous system. By directly engaging with these memories, Brainspotting facilitates their natural resolution, leading to an enhanced sense of self and well-being.
Utilizing our field of vision, this method helps identify unresolved traumas, making distressing memories less overwhelming and challenging situations more manageable. Brainspotting is a non-oppressive, anti-colonial, and mindful therapy that empowers individuals by placing them at the forefront of their healing journey, with the therapist serving as a supportive guide. Together, we foster healing by tapping into internal resources and facilitating positive neurobiological processes, creating a safe and effective therapeutic experience.
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