Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory

04/17/2026

Newly Added Open Session!

We are proud to partner with HMS Learning Through Equine (HMS Horse Based Healing ) on this initiative. A new open session date has recently been added: May 12, 2026. Space is limited - please register by contacting HMS directly, or reaching out to us at roots2wellness@uregina.ca.

This opportunity is available thanks to a generous gift from the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada.

WORKSHOP FULL - thank you for the interest, please feel free to continue to reach out for the waiting list and possible additional Mothers session.

OPEN SESSION - Sponsored Spots Available

Somewhere along the way, you became everything for everyone else.
A mom. A support system. The strong one.

But there's still a part of you underneath all of that.
The woman who made the mother.

This day is for her.
Come spend time with the horses, slow down, and reconnect to yourself.

Connect with other mothers and enjoy a fabulous lunch.

This program is put on by the generous Gift from The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026
10:30-4:30

Limited Spots. Pre-registration is required.
306-575-9036
info@horsebasedhealing.ca

Located North of Manor Sk.
Google: HMS Learning Through Equine

04/16/2026

✨ Team Member Spotlight: Jenelle McArthur, Community Connections Facilitator ✨

Jenelle recently joined the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory as a Community Connections Facilitator, supporting two Women-Centered HIV Care (WCHC) Sub-Hubs: the National Indigenous Sub-Hub and the Saskatchewan Sub-Hub. 🤝🌿

Based in southern Saskatchewan, Jenelle brings a strong background in community-based work and therapeutic practice. She currently works as a mental health therapist 💬 and serves as a sessional lecturer at the First Nations University of Canada 🎓, teaching in the Indigenous Social Work program. Her experience also includes roles with the YWCA, Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre, Yorkton Tribal Council Child & Family Services, and other community-focused organizations. She holds a Master of Social Work in Indigenous Social Work. 📘

In her role with Roots to Wellness, Jenelle will dedicate one day per week to supporting sub-hub activities. Her work will focus on strengthening community partnerships 🤝, facilitating engagement and knowledge-sharing opportunities 💡, and supporting prevention-focused initiatives such as Wellbriety. 🌱

We’re very fortunate to have Jenelle’s experience, knowledge, and deep commitment to community as part of our team. ❤️

To learn more about the WCHC hubs, please visit: https://www.wchchub.ca/
🌐

04/07/2026

🌍 World Health Day

Health starts with everyday choices—but it’s also shaped by the systems around us.

🇨🇦 You’ll start seeing new front-of-package labels that flag foods high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat. A quick glance can help you make more informed choices while shopping.

🧡 At the same time, not everyone has the same access to health or healthy foods. Higher rates of Type 2 diabetes in Indigenous communities are rooted in the lasting impacts of colonialism, disrupted food systems, and gaps in culturally safe care.

🔍 Diabetes can develop quietly. Simple screening, like an A1C test, can help catch it early.

🌱 This World Health Day, let’s think beyond the label—support informed choices, equity, and care that meets people where they are.

04/07/2026

🌍💗 This World Health Day, we are proud to celebrate Jacqueline (Jackie) Flett's first year as a member of the Indigenous Women's HIV and STBBI Wellness Hub, operated via the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory as a sub-hub of the national Women-Centered HIV Care (WCHC) Hub.

Over the past year, Jackie has brought powerful lived experience, unwavering advocacy, and a deep commitment to uplifting women living with HIV across communities. Her presence reflects the heart of women-centered HIV care—community, empowerment, and the belief that every woman’s voice matters.

📕Read Jacqueline's full story! https://www.wchchub.ca/indigenous

The Women-Centred HIV Care (WCHC) Hub is a collaborative, virtual network of people living with HIV as well as researchers, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other health advocates working to optimize the health of women and Two-Spirit and gender diverse people living with HIV in Canada.

03/31/2026

💛 Re-sharing in honour of National Indigenous Languages Day (Mar. 31) 💛

New Plains Cree (nehiyawewin) and English resource available for families and communities!

🌿 Nourishing Roots to Wellness (miyo-ayāwin) Seasonal Family Activity Booklet is a beautifully created resource designed to nurture strong families, vibrant relationships, and meaningful cultural connection across the four seasons in Saskatchewan.

✨ Authors:
• Janine M. Ahenakew (Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation)
• JoLee Sasakamoose (Mi’Chigeeng First Nation)
✨ Plains Cree (nehiyawewin) translations & design: Kristy Auger

This booklet invites families to slow down and grow together through culturally grounded, hands-on activities like storytelling, cooking, crafting, outdoor exploration, and seasonal traditions—supporting children’s learning, well-being, and connection to culture, language, and community.

📚 Available now at no cost (shipping extra)
📍 Free pick-up in Regina
📦 Shipping available across Canada
📧 Request copies: roots2wellness@uregina.ca

🌸 More than just activities, this booklet is an invitation to nurture connection, culture, and wellness—one shared moment at a time. Please share with families, educators, and community partners!

📚 Quantities are limited 💛

03/31/2026

🎥 Watch and listen.
A special message from our Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory—featuring team Leader Jayda and youth voice Hunter from our Regalia-Making and Pow Wow Dance Club.

Indigenous languages are at the heart of who we are. They carry our stories, identities, and ways of knowing—connecting us to our ancestors, our lands, and future generations.

On National Indigenous Languages Day, we honour the rich and diverse languages of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada. These languages preserve culture and history and continue to shape identity, belonging, and community.

Despite the lasting impacts of colonial policies, many Indigenous languages continue to endure, be revitalized, and inspire.

Today—and every day—we celebrate, protect, and uplift Indigenous languages.
✨ Please watch and join us.



University of Regina
University of Regina Faculty of Education
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Saskatchewan Health Authority

03/27/2026

✨ Meet Our Team: Jayda Delorme ✨🎨

We are excited to highlight Jayda Delorme, a Community Research Assistant with the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory at the University of Regina — and an incredible multidisciplinary artist, pow wow dancer, and community leader.

Jayda brings her passion for culture, art, and community into everything she does. From leading pow wow dance workshops to supporting youth regalia-making and creative expression, her work is grounded in connection — to land, culture, and each other.

As a member of Cowessess First Nation, Jayda’s art and teachings are deeply rooted in storytelling, identity, and community care. Whether she’s creating murals with youth, teaching dance, or mentoring the next generation, she continues to inspire spaces of healing and belonging.

💜 “Creating community spaces in art is important… it’s more special when you are able to do it with a group of people.”

Stay tuned for our next post where we will be sharing more details about our Indigenous Youth Regalia-Making and Powwow Dance Club, led by Jayda.

03/19/2026

Our limited supply of this beautiful family resource is going fast! 💛

Given limited initial print quantities and strong uptake across First Nations communities, we are currently able to provide a maximum of 25 copies per community or organization. This temporary cap will remain until further funding is secured for additional print runs, at which point expanded distribution will be considered.

Booklets are available right now at no cost (shipping extra).
📍 Free pick-up in Regina
📦 Shipping available across Canada (at cost)

To request copies, simply e-mail us at roots2wellness@uregina.ca.

02/27/2026

Psychology Month Spotlight: Eric Jordan @ Warrior's Path

This Psychology Month, the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory is proud to spotlight our research assistant Eric Jordan — MEd Candidate in Educational Psychology (Counselling) at the University of Regina. Eric is an Indigenous man from Pasqua First Nation (Treaty 4 Territory), Saskatchewan, and Founder of Warrior’s Path Therapy & Consulting. His academic foundation includes a BA in Psychology and a Business Administration Diploma from the First Nations University of Canada.

Eric’s work lives at the intersection of academic learning, community-based wellness, and culturally grounded healing. Currently completing his practicum, he is deeply committed to supporting men who have experienced childhood adversity and are navigating survival patterns shaped long before they had language for them.

His research interests center on:
• Trauma, identity, and healing
• Emotional regulation, accountability, and healthy relationships
• Indigenous frameworks of wellness grounded in relationship, culture, and community responsibility

🌾 Community Leadership
Through his role with the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory, Eric is developing a family wellness training series in consultation with community members, including Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Moreover, he recently launched a Men’s Wellness Group in Fort Qu’Appelle in partnership with Agape Family Therapy and the Fort Qu’Appelle Friendship Centre. His previous community involvement includes facilitating ASI “The Way,” a domestic violence prevention and healthy relationships program, and holding certification in Fatherhood & Motherhood is Sacred through Native American Fathers (Mesa, Arizona).

💬 Message to Students
“Stay grounded in humility and relationships. Learn the theories—but never forget the person in front of you. Psychology becomes most powerful when knowledge becomes service.”

Join us in celebrating Eric’s commitment to healing, community, and culturally grounded care.

02/21/2026

🌿 New Resource for Families & Communities! 🌿

We are so excited to share the Nourishing Roots to Wellness (miyo-ayāwin) Seasonal Family Activity Booklet—a beautifully created resource designed to nurture strong families, vibrant relationships, and meaningful cultural connection across the four seasons in Saskatchewan.

✨ Authors:
• Janine M. Ahenakew (Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation)
• JoLee Sasakamoose (Mi’Chigeeng First Nation)
✨ Plains Cree (nehiyawewin) translations & design: Kristy Auger

This booklet invites families to slow down and grow together through culturally grounded, hands-on activities like storytelling, cooking, crafting, outdoor exploration, and seasonal traditions. Each activity is designed to strengthen family bonds, support young children’s learning and well-being, and celebrate culture, language, and intergenerational knowledge.

🌱 What you’ll find inside:
• Seasonal, family-friendly activities rooted in culture
• Opportunities to build connection, identity, and belonging
• Experiences that support children’s emotional, cognitive, and cultural development
• A focus on creating lasting memories and honoring family traditions

📚 Availability:
We have a limited number of booklets available at no cost to Saskatchewan communities and organizations.
📧 To request copies, contact: roots2wellness@uregina.ca
📍 Free pick-up in Regina is available. Shipping can be arranged at an additional cost.
Once supplies run out, booklets can be made available at-cost.

🌸 This booklet is more than activities—it’s an invitation to nurture connection, culture, and wellness, one shared moment at a time.

Please share with families, educators, and community partners who may benefit!

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Saskatchewan Health Authority
University of Regina
University of Regina Faculty of Education

02/14/2026

February is Heart Month ❤️Happy Valentine’s Day! 💕

As we celebrate love today, let’s also remember to take care of our own hearts — physically, emotionally, and mentally. Your heart works for you every single day. Show it the same care and compassion you show others. Heart Month is a time to bring attention to cardiovascular health and the steps we can take to care for our hearts.

At Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory, we recognize that heart health is shaped not only by medical care, but also by the social, emotional, and cultural contexts of our lives. That’s why we are proud to collaborate on Healing on the Land with Horses, a restorative, horse-based healing program offered in partnership with HMS Horse Based Healing , an Indigenous-owned and operated organization.

This land-based program supports community connection, stress reduction, gentle mobility, and overall well-being through shared stories, cultural teachings, and the calming, non-judgmental presence of horses — nurturing both individual and intergenerational healing.

💙 Prevention starts with awareness, access, and community support. If you have concerns about your heart health, please reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance and support.

Take care of your heart — today and every day.

02/13/2026

🌿✨ Healing on the Land with Horses for Youth ✨🐎

Honoring Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth through a relationship with horses, land, and community.

Offered in partnership with HMS Horse Based Healing , the Roots to Wellness Collaboratory (University of Regina), and the Nanatawihowikamik Healing Lodge & Wellness Clinic, this youth program creates a safe, supportive, and culturally grounded space for young people (ages 8+) seeking connection, confidence, and healing. Through guided interaction with horses and land-based teaching, youth learn to listen, trust, communicate, and express themselves in ways that feel natural and meaningful.

🐴 Services Offered:
✨ Small group learning circles
✨ Culturally informed wellness support
✨ School-day programming & after-school options

Led by Equine Specialist Brittany Hodgson (First Nations/Ojibway), this program focuses on supporting youth through Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) — building confidence, leadership, and wellness through connection with horses.

💜 Who Can Join:
Open to descendants of Sixties Scoop survivors, ages 8 and up.
Maximum of 4 youth per session.

📅 Schedule:
Sessions run after school from 4:00–5:00 PM (pick-up at 3:30 PM, drop-off by 5:30 PM).
Transportation provided for students at White Bear; accommodations may be made for youth from other communities.
30 sessions total, with potential weekend options for outside communities.

💫 Funding provided by the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada.

Together, we heal through compassion, culture, and connection — one hoofbeat at a time.