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What We Do
Becoming Inummarik is a comprehensive 120-hour, three-week mental health and healing program designed specifically for Inuit communities.
Developed through seven years of collaboration with Inuit mental health leaders and grounded in the 53-page Inuit Mental Health Model, this program combines psycho-emotional and psycho-social education with group sharing and storytelling.
Our Mission: Build Inuit mental health capacity at the community level through culturally appropriate, Inuit-led programming that addresses the critical need for "heal-the-healer" training.
Becoming Inummarik
Inuit-Specific Mental Health Training Program
Guided by IQ Principles, this program takes a decolonized approach to learning about mental health, self-discovery, self-healing, and community healing.
Looking Ahead...
We're partnering with Ilitaqsiniq to develop a formalized facilitator training program, enabling Inuit from across Nunavut to become local facilitators.
Our goal is for every Inuit community to have access to this programming through Inuit-led delivery.
Ready to partner with us?
Contact us to bring Becoming Inummarik to your organization.
Our Three-Level Vision
Becoming Inummarik represents Level 1 of a comprehensive vision for Inuit mental health capacity building:
Level 1: "Heal the Healer"
Psycho-emotional and psycho-social education with healing opportunities
Status: Operational as Becoming Inummarik
Level 2: "Helping Others"
Inuit-specific therapeutic methods and counselor training
Status: In Development
Level 3: "Community Healing"
Training for holistic mental health leaders who can run community programs
Status: Planned
Real Impact, Real Stories
"Finally, a mental health healing program created for Inuit, driven by Inuit. It's been life changing and highly recommended." - Hovak Johnston
"It was an amazing experience to be a part of this project, and in the company of my fellow Inuit. Many times, it made me wish that I had been given this opportunity to learn when I was younger." - Ilisapi Gordon
"This training changed perspectives around things in my life." - 2023 Participant
By the Numbers
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Nearly 150 Inuit and Inuit-serving frontline workers have participated
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20 weeks of training delivered, totaling 800 contact hours
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13 organizational cohorts across Nunavut, Nunavik, Ontario and Manitoba
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Co-facilitation model with growing Inuit leadership
Three-Week Curriculum Overview
Week 1: Foundation & Understanding
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Mental health through an Inuit lens
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Mental health benefits of Inuit cultural elements and practices
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Colonization impacts & path to decolonization
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Emotional intelligence and Inuit values (EQ & IQ)
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Self-assessment, stress, and self-regulation
Week 2: Identity & Emotional Skills
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Identity, Inuit Identity, Self-Esteem
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Strengths, Values, Meaning & Purpose
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Isuma (Thinking Clearly), Mindset, Attitude
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Empathy vs. Compassion
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Self-Care & Resilience
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How the Mind and Emotions Work
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Love, Emotional Pain & Trauma
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Beliefs & Personality Development
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Individual & Community Healing
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Grief, Anger, Forgiveness, Trust
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Habits & Addictions
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Ajurnarmat (It Can't Be Helped)
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Intergenerational Trauma
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Relationships & Communication
Week 3: Healing & Community
Our Partner Organizations
What Makes Becoming Inummarik so effective?
✓ Community-Driven Development - Built from Inuit-sourced recommendations and feedback
✓ Co-Facilitation Model - Inuit facilitators developing expertise alongside non-Inuit specialists
✓ Flexible Delivery - Three weeks typically spaced over a year for integration and processing
✓ Holistic Approach - Incorporates traditional Inuit views with modern mental health education
✓ Culturally Safe Spaces - Voluntary sharing and storytelling in Inuit-centered environments
The Inuit Mental Health Model
Our program is built on extensive research involving all available Inuit-sourced materials related to mental health and well-being.
This 53-page compilation revealed critical community-driven insights, particularly that the trauma burden carried by most Inuit requires healing-focused programming before advancing to counselor training roles.
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