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Positive Living North: No khēyoh t’sih’en t’sehena Society
Our Vision Statement, Guiding Principles & Mandate
VISION
Aboriginal people and all northern residents will achieve mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional balance and live in strong, healthy communities where everyone has full access to the determinants of health, where discrimination and oppression cease to exist and where positive lives flourish.
SEVEN GUIDING PRINCIPLES
For Positive Living North: No khēyoh t’sih’en t’sehena Society, the principles which guide our work are intimately linked to Aboriginal culture and the seven sacred teachings:
Love: While HIV/HCV can affect anyone, the impact is more severe and focused within specific groups, and is worsened by individual and cultural realities. We will embrace all those affected regardless of those differences.
Wisdom: We recognize and address the historical events and processes that affected the circumstances of northern communities: colonization, genocide, and their tools (residential schools, cultural and language eradication, etc.) and we acknowledge that these are the roots and the context of the problems that individuals and communities face today. We welcome the wisdom of all those who have knowledge to share whatever the area of expertise: spiritual, experiential, cultural, medical or social.
Caring: We will develop, challenge, and mobilize ourselves and community resources to improve the quality of life of all, especially those who live on the margins of society, in a continuum of care.
Honour: We will offer support and services, equally and without prejudice, to those directly and indirectly affected by HIV/HCV in ways that enhance and respect dignity.
Humility: We will practice mutuality: we learn from, and with, each other, where client/staff boundaries are framed by learning, best interests and openness to partnership within the agency and community.
Honesty: We will have the courage to speak the truth about the disparity in health status among northern residents, particularly Aboriginal people.
Respect: We will actively engage in empowerment at every level and with every individual, based on a profound respect for the inherent value of every person.
MANDATE
- To provide culturally-appropriate care and support for people living with HIV/HCV, their families, and their significant communities
- To improve the health status of Aboriginal people and all northern residents by addressing the barriers to the ‘determinants of health’ through education
- To encourage, challenge, and educate ourselves and others to engage in client-driven practice that is grounded in respect and integrity
- To create or respond to opportunities to improve the health status of Aboriginal people and all northern residents, based on a profound respect for the inherent value of every person
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