Voices from the Land: Inuit Perspectives on Tradition, Change, and the Future
“Climate Change and Mental Health: Listening to the Canadian North” is a three-part seminar series organized by the Wellness Impact Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute, York University. This series focuses on the interplay between climate change and mental health, particularly in the context of the Canadian North, highlighting Indigenous perspectives.
“Voices from the Land: Inuit Perspectives on Tradition, Change, and the Future,” is the first session of this series and will feature the insights of Becky Han, Bernice Kootoo Clarke, and Michael Kusugak, in a discussion moderated by Jennifer Corrierro, Sara Ferwati, and Harvey Skinner. The session will focus on Inuit perspectives on wellbeing, exploring the views of Elders and Knowledge Keepers on youth engagement with tradition and climate challenges. It will also examine the changing relationship between the Inuit and their land due to colonization and climate change, and discuss the preservation and transmission of Indigenous knowledge.
It is strongly encouraged for participants to register for the three sessions. A certificate of completion will be provided to those who attend all sessions of this seminar series.
Speaker Profile
Becky Han – Musician and Children’s Book Author
Becky (Koonoo) Han is an Inuk singer-songwriter who grew up in Arctic Bay, Nunavut. Believing that music is a creative and educational outlet, she enjoys writing most of her work in Inuktitut. She published a children’s book, The Bee, an adventure across Nunavut which is available in Inuktitut and English and is a recipient of multiple awards at both the Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage’s Qilaut Inuktut children’s songwriting contest (2016 and 2019) and at the Qikiatani Inuit Association’s Inuktitut song/poem contest (2018 and 2019). As a Content Provider with the Connected North program, Becky has enjoyed storytelling and sharing live music while playing the guitar and singing along with students.
Bernice Kootoo Clarke – Founder of Uasau Soap
Born and raised in Iqaluit Nunavut, Bernice Kootoo Clarke has a passion for preserving and sharing Inuit culture through her home-based business Uasau Soap Inc. She enjoys making and selling all-natural bath and body products while integrating Inuit teachings and traditional knowledge into her products to teach and preserve her culture. Uasau Soap uses cultural healing in a modern way to help ease skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dry skin and scalp. Bernice incorporates Bowhead whale and Nuna into her products, allowing many Inuit across the Arctic and throughout Canada to ease their pain from skin conditions. While running Uasau Soap, Bernice has had the opportunity to participate in dialogues with other Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Michael Kusugak – Elder and Storyteller
Michael Kusugak grew up in Naujaat, Nunavut. During his childhood, his family travelled by dog sled, living a traditional Inuit lifestyle. He is the author of twelve children’s books, including: The Littlest Sled Dog, The Curse of the Shaman, T is for Territories, Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails, winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award; Hide and Seek; My Arctic 1, 2, 3; and Baseball Bats for Christmas; and was co-writer of A Promise Is a Promise (with Robert Munsch). Michael is listed on the National Speakers Bureau and has delivered over 200 virtual education sessions with K-12 students across northern, remote Indigenous communities as part of the Connected North program.
Jennifer Corrierro – Community Fellow, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research
Jennifer Corriero has been a social innovator for over 20 years who has a commitment to meaningful community engagement. She is the Executive Director of TakingITGlobal, an organization she co-founded in 1999 that co-designs and delivers youth engagement programs that leverage the power of technology and creativity.
Sara Ferwati – Community Fellow, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research
Sara Ferwati is a mental health epidemiologist based in Nunavut, Canada. Her work focuses on developing health indicators and crafting integrated monitoring tools to enhance the understanding and management of mental health needs in the region.
Harvey Skinner – Senior Fellow, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research
Professor Emeritus of Psychology & Global Health and Founding Dean (2006-2016) Faculty of Health, York University. Harvey is co-lead with Susan Harris of the Wellness Impact Lab (WIL) at the Dahdaleh Institute, and co-leads the ‘Interbeing Wellness’ Qi Gong (Tai Chi) and Mindfulness Meditation online practices series.
Register below and join us on Wednesday, January 31, at 1 p.m.
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