WHAT WE DO

Training/mentoring Native men


Our approach here is to work with Native men who are followers of Jesus, particularly those in ministry leadership. The focus is to develop Native capacity in ministry; training Native men in ministry skills through small groups and one-on-one mentoring relationships. We encourage and facilitate the vulnerability that men need to deal with what are very frequently unique issues and personal struggles for Native men. The program also provides training for Native men that enables them to deal more effectively with specific cultural and leadership issues related to Native peoples and their communities.

The program includes a very limited amount of one-on-one counseling instead being mainly focused on group counseling and peer counseling facilitation and training. Mentoring and training others flows naturally out of this ministry. A key element of the work is equipping and training others so they, in-turn, can teach their own. This often takes place in partnership with many other organizations through workshops, seminars and conferences including E nen neh moon. These cooperative training events focus on dealing with social issues that concern First Nations people.

When others grow in their faith in Jesus they are able to develop the capacity to be good leaders among their own people. The goals meet in our passion to do all of this in a way that embraces people in their God-given culture.

Nĕstooāāk
The presentations in Nĕstooāāk are from primarily Native men and women and are skills focused – not simply theory.  They stem from many years of ministry experience and even more years of personal and collective discipleship. Four themes will be emphasized throughout the training materials and conference providing focus for personal health and well-being:


a. Native spiritual life development—practicing the Creator’s presence in the margins of life; 

b. Mentoring, peer support and wholeness; 

c. Indigenous thought and Biblical perspective

d. Developing a healthy Native lifestyle in the midst of contemporary life.

Workshops include

Track 1 – Care Giving
 Suicide: Prevention and Intervention
 Peer Counselling: An Introduction
 Sexual Abuse: Issues and Help
 Grief and Growth: Beyond the Paralysis

Track 2 – Leading
 Interpreting the Bible through Native Eyes
 Preaching for Increased Effectiveness
 Native Church – Strategies for Growth
 Small Group Ministry for Native Men

Track 3 – Cross-Cultural Realities
 Cross-cultural Partnering Strategies
 “Being White” in Native Ministry
 Walking in Reconciled Relationships
 The Image of God in People

Track 4 – Foundations
 Good News: Communicating in Native Ways
 Culture and Faith: Following Jesus in a Native Way
 The Native Old Testament: Life before 1491
 Mentoring Native Christian Leaders

Family Ministry Programs
Family ministry programs of  My People International address themselves to family and marital health as a primary means of discipleship for Aboriginal people who value relationships above all things.  The approach includes workshops, “Marriage Encounter-type” weekends as well as small group discussions and training.

E-nen-neh-moon Circle

E nen neh moon is a Cree word which means “the feeling we have in our heart”.  This training event is all about how to create a safe place for people to talk about the feelings they have in their hearts.  You will learn how to lead a support group for people who have suffered abuse or great disappointment.  In effect, you are learning to create an E nen neh moon Circle, or open heart circle.
The desired outcome of these circles, or groups, is that people would be able to come to the place that they could begin to emerge from the darkness of the past and really live again - that they could come to a new place of healing, and be able to say, “what others meant for evil, God has used for good.” 

You will experience the material as a leader and a participant.   There will be large group sessions working through the material, and you will experience small group sharing.  We have found leading a group with someone else who has taken the training works best, so we recommend communities send at least two participants. 
Our training is not a replacement for counseling, but we have found that having a safe place to talk about what is “going on inside” can help. 

Kids Culture Camp

The Kids Culture Camp creates a traditional cultural context and, through its activities helps kids experience the Creator and creation in new ways.  The teaching of Jesus is central but is clearly connected to an affirmation of traditional life-ways.

What Kids Experience:

1. Story-telling at the campfire
2. Traditional dancing and singing
3. Traditional crafts and customs
4. Swimming and horsemanship
5. Various sports and games
6. Great camp food and snacks
7. Working together in team activities
8. Building a deeper respect for our Creator and His creation
9. Discovering a greater knowledge of our Creator and His Son, Jesus