About the partner
Indigenous Youth Wellness
Indigenous Youth Wellness has built their mandate on the idea that youth know what they need to stay well! They are committed to supporting youth in community-based endeavours that build on skills and knowledge they find interesting and necessary in their lives.
They provide a diverse team of Indigenous leaders and role models, training and workshops for youth and adults who work with youth, meaningful partnerships with individuals, organizations and communities, reliable and professional project and event management, and culturally relevant youth-led programs.
Indigenous Youth Wellness is part of PHSAs Indigenous Health programs aimed at improving the quality of health care for Indigenous people, fostering cultural safety, and closing the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in BC.
About the app
Cuystwi
The Cuystwi (cwoo wheesh twee) program evolved from conversations with First Nations in northern British Columbia about their concerns regarding youth suicide. It was suggested that if youth could have a platform to explore their identities and cultures as Indigenous peoples, as well as understand colonization and how the on-going cumulative impacts affect our people and families, that they may have a stronger foundation to depend on when encountering difficult periods in their lives. The Cuystwi quests emphasize themes of identity, culture, understanding colonization, tools to deal with racism, healthy relationships, sexual health, and an invitation to become a young warrior. The quests have an on-line component meant to introduce topics to be facilitated to Indigenous youth by youth workers, health workers, and educators within existing community programming.