2017 – $1 Million – Arctic Inspiration Prize Winner
Healing on the Land, in the Heart of the City
Just minutes from downtown Yellowknife, near the shores of Kam Lake, a quiet transformation is unfolding. The Arctic Indigenous Wellness Project (AIWP), a $1 million laureate of the 2017 Arctic Inspiration Prize, has created a space where Indigenous knowledge, cultural safety, and community-led care are restoring wellness from the ground up.
Since opening in 2018, what began as a healing camp for unhoused Indigenous men has grown into a healing space for all — regardless of gender, background, or circumstance. The camp offers a welcoming place to reconnect, reflect, and heal. From the start, the project has offered an alternative to systems that too often fail Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous-Led, Elder-Guided
Elders are at the heart of AIWP. Their guidance shapes every part of the healing process — from cultural protocols to one-on-one counselling. Through ceremonies, traditional medicine workshops, and shared meals, healing happens in a way that remains sacred and culturally safe.
As Elder Be’sha Blondin says, “Before I can heal that person I need to know their story… I make sure they have a way of healing themselves first.”
A Camp Without Barriers
AIWP removes barriers to care by design. There are no appointments, no time limits — just a warm fire, cultural food, and open hearts. Visitors drop in for tea, join healing circles, or take part in sweat lodges.
Workshops support people navigating trauma, cultural loss, and identity challenges, with dedicated programs for youth, women, men, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Staff also connect visitors to external supports like addictions treatment, transitional housing, or job training.
Since winning the Arctic Inspiration Prize, more than 2,000 people have visited the camp — from across NWT, Nunavut, Yukon and beyond. Many leave with new tools, stronger connections, and renewed purpose.
Shifting Systems, Sharing Knowledge
Beyond direct support, AIWP is reshaping how Indigenous wellness is understood. The team regularly welcomes professionals, including Supreme Court judges, physicians, and students, who come to learn from Indigenous knowledge holders.
Their work has also been documented in academic research and publications, offering a model for other communities to adopt land-based, urban healing practices grounded in cultural safety.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, AIWP hopes to build permanent infrastructure that supports year-round programming, especially for Elders who may not be able to participate in on-the-land activities during the coldest months. They also plan to invest in training future traditional healers — ensuring the knowledge shared today lives on in the generations to come.
