Background 

MESC ATOSKAHAKANAK TEHKE ISIHK KAMÎYO MAHCIHOCIK

  ᐊᑐᐢᑲᐦᐋᑲᓇᐠ    ᑌᐦᑫ  ᐃᓯᐦᐠ  ᑲᒥᔪ  ᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅᒋᐠ

“Wellness is when the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our being are balanced and in harmony.”

   MESC Elders

Purpose Statement

The MESC Staff Wellness Framework was created to promote  shared understanding and common language around wellness within MESC.  It is a  gateway for accessing information, resources, opportunities, etc regarding both workplace and personal wellness for MESC employees.   MESC is committed to promoting, encouraging and supporting staff with their health and wellness.  

The MESC Staff Wellness Framework is a comprehensive collection of workplace and personal health and wellness resources. It is organized in the  areas of Mind, Spiritually, Body and Heart.  It includes  such things as:  benefits,  personal wellness suggestions/activities , and traditional wellness approaches.   It is constantly changing and  growing in order to meet the evolving needs  of MESC employees.  It is a locally developed resource reflective of the Nehiyaw ways of knowing, being and doing.  

MESC will honour the Core Values (Iyiniw Mâmitonehicikan, Nehiyawewin, Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin, Wâhkôhtowin)  in providing  resources and learning opportunities that support individuals with their personal wellness  journey. 

This document compliments the MESC  Staff Wellness Framework graphic as it provides detailed information for each component. 

Background 

These visual graphics and accompanying resources were created by the MESC Wellness Committee with much guidance from Maskwacis Elders.  The MESC Wellness Committee consisted of a diverse group of individuals representing the complex  demographic makeup of MESC employees.  The committee formed in 2022 and  created the visual and supporting documents with a strong focus on wellness from a Nehiyaw perspective.  

MESC Wellness Mission & Vision 

Vision statement: 

• Highly effective, healthy, resilient  MESC employees who embrace MESC Values, Cree Language and Culture, as they positively impact student success.

Mistahi kaskihtâwak, miyomahcihiwak, sohkâtisiwak MESC otatoskewak eniciminahkik ohi MESC Kisikehikowewina, Nehiyawewin ekwa Nehiyawatisiwin, ekota tamiyopayiwak Okisikinwahamâkosowak.

ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ  ᑲᐢᑭᐦᑕᐘᐠ, ᒥᔪᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅᐘᐠ, ᓱᑲᑎᓯᐘᐠ MESC 

ᐅᑕᑐᐢᑫᐘᐠ ᐁᓂᒋᒥᓇᐦᑭᐠ ᐅᐦᐃ MESC ᑭᓯᑫᐦᐃᑯᐍᐏᓇ,

ᐁᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ ᐁᑿ ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐘᑎᓯᐏᐣ, ᐁᑯᑕ ᑕᒥᔪᐸᔨᐘᐠ

ᐅᑭᓯᑭᓌᐦᐊᒪᐠᓱᐘᐠ 

Mission statement: 

• Provide opportunities to engage and empower employees by fostering their spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual well-being in a positive and inclusive  working environment.

Tayohtenamâhcik kanahipayik tasihkamowin ewka esîhkiskâcik Iyiniw Mamitonehicikan, Mosihtâwinihk, Waskawîwinihk ekwa Nihtâwehitamowinihk, Miyo Mahcihowinihk Nahâpahtamowinihk ekwa piko ana wâwiyak tamiyo atosket.

ᑕᔪᑌᓇᒼᒋᐠ ᑲᓇᐦᐃᐸᔨᐠ ᑕᓯᐦᑲᒧᐏᐣ ᐁᑿᐁᐢᐦᑭᓯᑲᒋᐠ

ᐃᔨᓂᐤ ᒪᒥᑌᐣᐦᐃᒋᑲᐣ, ᒧᓯᐦᑕᐏᓂᐦᐠ, ᐘᐢᑲᐏᐏᓂᐦᐠ ᐁᑿ

ᓂᑕᐍᐦᐃᑕᒧᐏᓂᐦᐠ, ᒥᔪ ᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅᐏᓂᐦᐠ

ᓇᐦᐊᐸᐦᑕᒧᐏᓂᐦᐠ ᐁᑿ ᐱᑯ ᐊᓇᐘᐏᔭᐠᑕᒥᔪ ᐊᑐᐢᑫᐟ

Wellness Defined 

Wellness is a commonly used term in workplace health literature. Much of the research on workplace health promotion programs also calls these workplace wellness programs. Moreover, this reflects how employers use these terms interchangeably. However, each term has a slightly different emphasis:

• Wellness is the complete picture of a person’s quality of life. It focuses on positive states, not just the absence of illness, disease,or injury. WHO defines wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups, with an emphasis on enabling a person to reach their fullest potential.”

• Well-being will refer to the dimensions of physical, mental, and social/emotional well-being for individual workers and the workforce as a whole. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), workplace well-being “relates to all aspects of working life, from the quality and safety of the physical environment, to how workers feel about their work, their working environment, the climate at work and work organization.”   Actions by employers to improve well-being include both occupational health and safety (OHS) and workplace health promotion initiatives intended to ensure that workers are safe, healthy, satisfied,and engaged at work. Worker well-being is a critical factor in an organization’s sustainable success.

• Wellness promotion is the process of enabling people to control and improve their health. Workplace wellness promotion refers to the process of making workplaces healthier and preventing risks to worker health.

MESC Core Values 

ᓱᐦᑭ ᒪᒥᑐᓀᐦᐃᒋᐣ - Sohki Mamitonehicikan - Natural Laws

In accordance to the Creation Story, Maskwacîsak hold true that Nehiyawak are related to all of creation. First and foremost are the four elements: Okâwîmâw Askîy (Mother Earth), Ôhtin (Wind), Nipîy (Water), and Iskotew (Fire), which are the pillars of the foundational values as identified by Maskwacîs Kehtehayak. Therefore, the foundational values of Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan, Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin, Nehiyawewin, and Wâhkôhtowin will be embedded throughout the Early Learning Program and Kindergarten to Grade 12 Maskwacîs Curriculum.

ᐄᔨᓃᐤ   ᒫᒥᑐᓀᐦᐃᒋᑲᐣ - Iyiniw Mamitonehicikan - Indigenous Thought 

Be compassionate; recognize one another’s diverse experiences, views and voice.

Maskwacîsak hold true that Kise Manito gifted Nehiyawak with Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan, which is to have a compassionate mind.  To have a compassionate mind is to be empathetic, kind, loving, caring, and selfless. Nehiyaw thought originates from the creation stories that have been transferred intergenerationally from our ancestors since time immemorial. Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan connects Nehiyawak to Kise Manito through song, ceremony, and prayer, which is honored and expressed through Nehiyaw spirituality, traditions, practices, and beliefs. Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan and Nehiyawewin are connected, which strengthens Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin and Wâhkôhtowin.

ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ  - Nehiyawewin - Cree Language

Be careful with your words; listen, learn, ask questions, and take time to reflect.

Maskwacîsak hold true that Nehiyawewin is a sacred and living language that is embodied through syllabics, identity, story, song, dance, and prayer. Nehiyawewin is gifted from Kise Manito and stems from the natural laws to communicate with Okâwîmâw Askîy, ancestors, and all of creation. It is through teaching and learning that Nehiyawak promote, prosper, and preserve Nehiyawewin to honour past, present, and future Maskwacîsak. Nehiyawewin is lifelong and interconnected with Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan which strengthen Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin and Wâhkôhtowin.

ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ   ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᐣ - Nehiyaw Pimatisiwin - Cree Life 

Be actively engaged; open minded, honour spirit and one another.

Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin is the Nehiyaw way of life, which is to honor, respect, and live in relation to the tenets of the natural laws of Kise Manito. Nehiyawak understand the importance of compassion, reciprocity, and responsibility to Okâwîmâw Askîy, which is honored through the intergenerational transfer of Nehiyaw protocols, traditions, and ceremonies. Through this learning, Maskwacîsak understand that Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan, Nehiyawewin, Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin, and Wâhkôhtowin are interconnected.

ᐚᐦᑯᐦᑐᐏᐣ - Wahkohtowin -  Relationships/kinship

Build positive relationships; approach every interaction from a place of love and respect.

Natural Laws 

Kise Manito gifted Nehiyawak with natural laws: four directions, four elements, four seasons, four forms of life, four gifts of life, and four stages of life. Nehiyawak hold true that these laws govern Îyinîw Mâmitonehicikan, Nehiyaw Pimâtisiwin, Nehiyawewin, and Wâhkôhtowin. Teaching and learning the tenets of the natural laws reinforce tradition, ceremony, familial teachings, and creation stories. These natural laws sustained Nehiyawak in the past, present, and will continue to develop, guide, and strengthen Nehiyaw identity, sovereignty and nationhood for future generations.

Resource:

ᒪᐢᑲᐧᒌᐢ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᑕᐦᐃᐍᐤ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᐣ Maskwacîs Kiskinohtahiwew Masinahikan Maskwacîs Curriculum Development Guide