In Connection 1, you will learn about Nipissing First Nation’s wholistic community services approach called Wiidooktaadyang.
THE EAST: SEEING WITH CONNECTION EXPERIENCES
You will begin Connection 1 in the East where you will see initial experiences by watching a series of videos describing Wiidooktaadyang then engaging with checkpoint exercises to test your knowledge.
WHAT IS WIIDOOKTAADYANG?
Wiidooktaadyang means we are helping one another in Nbisiing Nishnaabemwin. This word is also named for a community-driven approach to service delivery that “demonstrates a return to Nipissing First Nation’s strong cultural values of taking responsibility for ourselves and others by helping and supporting each other as family, extended family, friends, and neighbours” (Nipissing First Nation, 2017).
This community-driven approach moves away from structured western concepts for service delivery such as case management, rather it focuses on providing more support to those with multiple or complex needs. Wiidooktaadyang was designed by the community to reduce the gaps in health and wellness that we learned about in Module 1.
“Wiidooktaadyang is an approach that is supported by strong leadership commitment and an administrative and organizational framework that aligns NFN programs by sector. This alignment is intended to support better integration across departments, programs, and services. Collaboration and internal partnership development is a strong theme of this approach.
NFN has undertaken a number of efforts to identify and understand community development and wellness needs. As such, NFN has moved beyond the stage of completion of a comprehensive assessment and has focused effort on developing a strong integrated approach to care premised on culturally sound principles and philosophy” (Nipissing First Nation, 2017).
In this video [5:37], Gimaa (Chief) McLeod, NFN Psychologist, Dr. Brenda Restoule, and NFN Family Well-Being Coordinator, Karen Auger speak about Nipissing First Nation’s Wiidooktaadyang program as a way of being that bundles knowledge and services together to wrap around Nbisiing Debendaagziwaad.
Video Transcript: What is Wiidooktaadyang [Doc]
Key Messages from the Video
- Wiidooktaadyang is a community service integration model
- This model bundles relevant knowledge and services together to wrap around and support clients with multiple or complex needs
- Being client-centered, service providers work from a trauma-informed lens and meeting the client where they are currently
This figure shows the service providers at Nipissing First Nation that actively engage in helping and supporting the needs of Nbisiing Debendaagziwaad.
Image Description: Wiidooktaadyang Model [Doc]
“Nipissing First Nation has carefully crafted Wiidooktaadyang as a culturally appropriate and community-driven approach to ensuring that service delivery is client-centered. The intent of Wiidooktaadyang’s client-centered approach is to ensure that people come first. As such, the whole process has been structured in such a way that empowers department staff to “meet people where they are at”.
In the same vein, program mandates and services must also reflect this approach and be aligned in such a way as to meet people’s needs first and foremost. This means that the way in which services are delivered in Wiidooktaadyang’s Service Integration approach is structured to meet the needs of the individual/family and not the other way around (i.e., clients are not required to fit themselves into a system or service delivery process). While this is similar to a “no wrong door” or wrap-around approach, it moves beyond these to minimize or remove any program or structural barriers and encourages, in a culturally appropriate way, that systems or services be client-centered” (Nipissing First Nation, 2017).
Wiidooktaadyang as a Bundled, No Wrong Door Approach
Watch the following video to learn how Nipissing First Nation service providers understand Wiidooktaadyang as a bundled, ‘no wrong door’ approach.
In the video [5:05], NFN Strategic Advisor, Dwayne Nashkawa, NFN Psychologist, Dr. Brenda Restoule, and NFN Family Well-Being Coordinator, Karen Auger speak about Nipissing First Nation’s Wiidooktaadyang program as a way of being that bundles knowledge and services together to wrap around Nbisiing Debendaagziwaad.
Video Transcript: Wiidooktaadyang as a ‘No Wrong Door,’ Bundled Approach [Doc]
Key Messages from the Video
- Wiidooktaadyang is a way to help individuals and families to solve multidimensional problems by ensuring the best use of NFN resources to serve community needs
- Wiidooktaadyang promotes accessibility and closes the gaps in continuum of care to improve the quality of life for community members
- Closing the gaps may involve being a navigator to advocate for and to access services both within and beyond the community
- A non-judgmental approach means moving away from asking ‘What’s wrong with you?’ to a more non-judgmental inquiry of ‘What happened to you and how can I help?’
Checkpoint 1: True or False
Building on Relationships and Community Strengths
In this section, you will learn about the Wiidooktaadyang approach through a lens of relationships, how to foster them, and you will relate and reflect on your own experiences.
“Recognizing that sometimes those who need the most help don’t come forward … the need for developing a caring, mutually respectful relationship which is a core cultural value supported in our community and therefore seen as a foundational piece to the work of Wiidooktaadyang … the whole process has been structured in such a way that empowers department staff to “meet people where they are at” (Nipissing First Nation, 2017).
Watch the following video to learn how Nipissing First Nation service providers understand Wiidooktaadyang as way to initiate or to build relationships while recognizing community strengths.
In the video [4:17], NFN Family Well-Being Coordinator, Karen Auger, NFN Psychologist, Dr. Brenda Restoule, and NFN Mental Health Therapist, Cheryl Shawana speak about Nipissing First Nation’s Wiidooktaadyang program as a way of being that fosters relationships and provides supports in a comfortable environment and recognizes their strengths.
Video Transcript: Wiidooktaadyang Builds on Relationships and Community Strengths [Doc]
Key Messages from the Video
- Wiidooktaadyang is community, family, and friends supporting one another
- Nbisiing Nishnaabeg can go wherever they feel most comfortable talking to service providers who will listen, help identify needs, and navigate where to go to get further support
- As a service provider, you become the support person – “Auntie” or “Uncle” – based on clients’ trust
- In this way, you help the client link build relationships with other service providers based on trust
- The cultural perspective that “everyone has something to contribute” is a cornerstone of Wiidooktaadyang and “if we help people to see their contributions, we improve their quality of life”
Checkpoint 2: Drag the Words
Reflecting on what you’ve learned in the videos, drag & drop the correct word into these quotes and statements.
Connection 1 Summary
In Connection 1, we learned:
- Wiidooktaadyang means ‘we are helping one another’ and is the name for NFN’s community service integration model
- Wiidooktaadyang represents NFN’s community development and ownership initiative to make the best use of resources to help Nbisiing Debendaagziwaad
- As a client-centered approach Wiidooktaadyang bundles all relevant services to wrap around clients with multiple or complex needs. Clients can go where they feel most comfortable talking to service providers who are all trained on the Wiidooktaadyang model at NFN
- Wiidooktaadyang is built on relationships and promotes community strengths.
To move on to Connection 2, click on the “Next: Connection 2: Moving Away from Federal Responsibilities to Community Values →” button at the bottom right hand corner of this page.
References
Nipissing First Nation. (n.d.). Wiidooktaadyang: We are helping one another. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://nfn.ca/health-services/wiidooktaadyang/openinanewwindow
Nipissing First Nation. (2017, April). Wiidooktaadyang: We are helping one another: A holistic community services approach [Resource manual].
