MANDATE
Minikek’s mandate is to promote global health by depending on actions, knowledge and experiences of Aboriginal people living in harmony and pride in their environment, keeping in mind that their « blooming » can be compromised by unfavourable social, political and economical conditions. Minikek offers an important array of services for its clientele so that individuals may make enlightened choices
OBJECTIVES
• To permit a better comprehension on the causes of diabetes health development for the interveners and clientele of the Friendship Centre.
• To permit the Aboriginal people who want to adopt new ways of being and of doing, to recognize and find themselves in a network offering winning and valorizing conditions for their Aboriginal belonging sense.
• To offer to the Aboriginal people that live in an urban environment the possibility of having access to various foods, to Native meals or of Native origin, from here and elsewhere.
• To permit the Aboriginal people needing services associated with diabetes to know about all the resource services available in Val-d’Or and its surroundings, and to have access to them without shame and in complete freedom.
ACTIVITIES
• Activities and various workshops dealing with physical activity, self-esteem, relaxation, nutrition and nourishment.
• Documentation centre on health and diabetes.
• Promotion of resources available and compilation of a resources directory.
• Involve Minikek in all the Friendship Centre’s activities including the Food Service Sector.
TARGETED CLIENTELE
The Aboriginal people of the urban community of Val-d’Or that are at risk or that are already dealing with diabetes, as well as the Aboriginal people that transit at the Lodging Service of the Friendship Centre.
FUNDING
Funding by Health Canada via the «Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative» program.
BACKGROUND
The first phase of the Minikek project was introduced in March 2001 by an analysis of the needs of the Native people of Val-d’Or and Malartic. The second phase began in October 2001. Following that, the whole Community Development team took on this important project based on a global health awareness approach.
SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES
We act as « facilitators » and offer support but we do not do any direct interventions nor provide health care.
