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Community Action Initiative: keeping elders connected

A Community Action Initiative Grant in the amount of $100,000 is aimed at improving the overall health and wellness of elders.
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Elders from Nak'azdli Band came together to discuss the new Community Action initiative Grant.

Barbara Latkowski

Caledonia Courier

A Community Action Initiative Grant in the amount of $100,000 is aimed at improving the overall health and wellness of elders within the Nak’azdli Band community.

“This is so exciting,” program coordinator, Jenny Martin said. “Eventually, we want all elders included in this program.”

A meeting was held at the Elders Society on Jan. 24 where elders were invited to share their thoughts and ideas about the initiative.

In light of a recent Nak’azdli Band survey, elders commented that many are feeling home bound due to various age or health reasons and that their voices are not heard.

And The Key in Fort St. James has offered its space to elders to help build a program for the elders, by the elders according to Bernice Wilkes,

“This will get them out every Thursday and Friday. We want this to be their program, where they can have input on what they want to do,” Wilkes said.

Activities being planned are: storytelling, beading, sewing, movies, singing and friendship.

“Many of our elders are feeling lonely. This is a great way to get them out, to be together and it brings our language together,” Wilkes said.

“This is so important, to be able to get together and speak and share our language. Hopefully, we can get youth involved in this also. We want our youth and elders to reconnect.”

Areas in faith, fitness, programming, trips and health were discussed at the meeting.

“We want to know your concerns,” Wilkes said. “And we’ve received great feedback today.”

“We want everyone to be involved in this program.”