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NISICHAWAYASIHK CREE NATION FAMILY & COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTRE

December Newsletter

Teen Talk:
Teen Clinics are health/medical clinics located around Manitoba that are designed for teens (and only teens) to use. If you live in rural Manitoba, click the link at the bottom of this page for the closest clinic to where you live. Teen Clinics are condential, meaning that legally they cannot tell anyone (including parents/legal guardians) if, why, or when you went there. Over the course of two days Teen Talk Manitoba came to the FCWC approximately 60 youth participated in informational workshops - topics included! Youth Sexuality Birth Control Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)!and!HIV Pregnancy Options Communication Teen Dating Violence Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Substance Use Body Image Appreciating Diversity

For More information visit: http://teentalk.ca

FCWCNEWSLETTER December 2013


About 120 youth, staff and teachers walk through NCN to raise awareness about the disease.

World Diabetes Day


November 14 marked world diabetis day. Approximately 120 youth, teachers and staff participated In a walking parade and informational luncheon. According to Public Health Agency of Canada report, Diabetes in Canada: Facts and Figures from a Public Health Perspective Diabetes prevalence varies between and within people of First Nations, Inuit and Metis heritage group according to its unique characteristics. The report notes the importantance to account for the younger age structure in the First Nations, Inuit and Mtis populations when comparing the prevalence of diabetes to that of the nonAboriginal population. Age-standardized rates show the prevalence of diabetes was 17.2% among First Nations individuals living on-reserve, 10.3% among First Nations individuals living off-reserve, and 7.3% among Mtis, compared to 5.0% in the non-Aboriginal population. The age-standardized prevalence rate of diabetes in Inuit populations was comparable to the one seen in the general Canadian population. Aboriginal individuals are generally diagnosed at a younger age than non-Aboriginal individuals, and Aboriginal females experience higher rates of gestational diabetes than non-Aboriginal females. Complications of diabetes are also more frequently seen among the Aboriginal population than in the non-Aboriginal population. The socio-cultural, biological, environmental and lifestyle changes seen in the First Nations, Inuit and Mtis populations in the last half century have contributed signicantly to increased rates of diabetes and its complications.

2013 Staff Christmas Party


PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WHO: ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHEN: DECEMBER 12, 2013 WHERE: JUNIPER CENTRE TIME: 6 P.M. - 9 P.M. TRAVEL WILL BE ARRANGED FOR THOSE IN NCN/SIL PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS FOR STAFF ONLY

Healthy Holiday Recipe:


Cranberry-Honey Spice Pinwheel Cookies

These cookies boast a bright, zesty lling and spicy aroma. They make a large batch and are extremely convenient, since you can make the logs of cookie dough ahead, then pull them out of the freezer and slice and bake as many cookies as you need.
Ingredients 1 1/2 cup(s) sweetened dried cranberries 1 cup(s) cranberries,!fresh or frozen, thawed 1/2 cup(s) honey 2 teaspoon(s) freshly grated orange zest 1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cardamom,!or allspice 2 1/3 cup(s) all-purpose our 1 cup(s) whole-wheat our 1 1/4 teaspoon(s) baking powder 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt 1/4 teaspoon(s) baking soda 1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cardamom or allspice 1/3 cup(s) canola oil 3 1/2 tablespoon(s) butter,!melted and cooled 1 cup(s) sugar 1/3 cup(s) honey 2 eggs 3 tablespoon(s) low-fat milk,!plus more as needed 2 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly grated orange zest 2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon(s) almond extract Directions To prepare lling: Combine dried and fresh cranberries, honey, orange zest, cinnamon and cardamom (or allspice) in a medium nonreactive saucepan (see Note) over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook, stirring, until the fresh cranberries burst and soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor and puree. If the mixture seems dry, stir in up to 2 teaspoons water. Transfer the mixture to a nonreactive container and refrigerate while preparing the dough. To prepare dough: Whisk all-purpose our, whole-wheat our, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and cardamom (or allspice) in a large bowl. In another large bowl, combine oil, butter, sugar, honey, eggs, milk, orange zest, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat the wet ingredients

with an electric mixer rst on low speed, then on medium speed, until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until just incorporated. Stir in the remaining dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until evenly incorporated. If the mixture is too dry to hold together, stir in up to 1 tablespoon more milk. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 to 45 minutes to reduce its stickiness. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and divide in half. Shape each half into a 6-inch-long log. Working with one log at a time, center it on a 16-inch-long sheet of baking parchment or wax paper. Cover with a second sheet. Press and then roll into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle of even thickness, inverting the dough occasionally to roll out any wrinkles and patching it to make the sides as even as possible. Transfer the dough, in the paper, to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining log of dough and transfer to the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the dough is slightly rm, about 15 minutes. To prepare pinwheel rolls: Place one sheet of dough on a work surface. Peel off the top sheet of paper. Spread half the reserved lling evenly over the dough (it will be a thin layer). Working from a 15-inch-long side, tightly roll up the dough jelly-roll style, leaving the bottom sheet of paper behind. While rolling, slightly stretch out the center to yield an evenly thick roll. Wrap the roll in a clean sheet of wax paper, twisting the ends to prevent unrolling (see Tip). Place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the second piece of dough and place on the baking sheet. Freeze until rm, at least 3 to 4 hours.

To bake cookies: Position racks in the upper third and center of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with one pinwheel roll at a time, trim the uneven ends. Cut the roll crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices using a large serrated knife; periodically turning the roll to maintain a relatively round cookie shape. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart. Bake the cookies until puffed and barely golden brown, 12 to 16 minutes, switching the pans back to front and top to middle halfway through baking. Immediately transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Cut and bake the remaining pinwheel roll. Nutritional information is based on 1 cookie. Tips & Techniques Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate lling (Step 1) for up to 2 days. Tightly wrap pinwheel logs (Step 4) and freeze for up to 2 months. Do not defrost before slicing. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.

Kitchen note: A nonreactive panstainless steel, enamel-coated or glassis necessary when cooking acidic foods, such as cranberries, to prevent the food from reacting with the pan. Reactive pans, such as aluminum and cast-iron, can impart an off color and/or off avor in acidic foods. Tip: To produce perfectly round pinwheel cookies, enclose the rolls in cardboard tubes (from foil or paper towels, for example) before freezing (Step 4). Slit each tube lengthwise and insert the wrapped pinwheel log. Secure the tube around the log using rubber bands or tape.

New Hire:
Ron Wood, Public Health.
Ron is joining the Public Health team as the new community health representative. He transferred from Counselling Services.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR HOLIDAYS: 8 TIPS FROM PSYCHCENTRAL.COMS MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.

FCWCNEWSLETTER December 2013


The holidays have the potential to be stressful, whether its extra activities and responsibilities, family feuds or squabbles, cash concerns or shakeups to your daily routine. But you can absolutely enjoy yourself and have a great holiday season. Here are eight tips from experts on making the most of the holidays. 1. Set an intention for the season. Master Certied life and career coach Kristin Taliaferro helps her clients set an intention for the holidays, which includes both what they want to do and how they want to be. For instance, they might want to host a party or take a vacation. And they might want to be calmer, a better listener or more present with their families, she said. When acting on your intention, try to nd simple, less stressful solutions. If you really want to host a party, but feel drained just thinking about it, have a potluck instead, Taliaferro said. You get what you want, minus the stress.

[your relatives] havent gotten along for the other 11 months of the year, why should you think December will be any different? said Darlene Mininni, Ph.D, MPH, author of The Emotional Toolkit, who works privately with individuals and speaks nationally on topics related to emotional health and well-being. We also put a lot of pressure on ourselves to pull off the perfect holiday, with just the right gifts, food, decorations and so on. But setting sky-high and unrealistic expectations only leads to disappointment and distress and leaves you missing out. Its the discrepancy between what you expect and what you get that creates disappointment and unhappiness during the holidays, Mininni said. She suggested readers take a hard look at the reality of their expectations. If theyre idealistic, rethink how youll approach this season so you can close the gap between your fantasy and your reality. And look at it this way: Relaxed and happy is so much more enjoyable than perfect and pressured, said Andra Medea, author of Conict Unraveled: Fixing Problems at Work and in Families and Going Home without Going Crazy: How to Get Along with Your Parents and Family (Even When They Push Your Buttons). ET METUS SIT AMET METUS RHONCUS SCELERISQUE EGET A TELLUS. When things go wrong, thats when funny memories are made, anyway. Frankly, its a fabulous memory when the cat runs off with the turkey, Medea said. She recommended Virginia Bruckers book Gifts from the Heart: Simple Ways to Make Your Familys Christmas

NULLAM METUS SIT AMET METUS 2. Have ET realistic expectations. RHONCUS SCELERISQUE EGET A TELLUS. Come holiday season we tend to assume that our bratty kids will transform into little angels and our alwaysghting families will become the Brady Bunch. But if

FCWCNEWSLETTER December 2013

More Meaningful, which focuses on simplicity and love, not perfection. 3. Have a plan for potentially tense situations. With some relatives we know exactly how a get-together will play out, because its happened year after year after year. What can help in minimizing conict is to create a plan about how youll react. Anticipate stressful situations you might encounter and be prepared with a few words to help maintain a sense of calm, Taliaferro said. If your mother-in-law you know, the one who tends to push your buttons is staying with you for several days, gure out how youll approach her when she inevitably hits a nerve, Taliaferro said. Lets say she criticizes your parenting. When she makes a comment, Taliaferro said, you might reply: I love how much you care about the kids,!and recognize her intention, which really is about caring for the kids. Or you might say: Thank you for respecting my parenting style. I know sometimes thats hard to do.

If she continues criticizing and your intention for the season is to be calm and non-reactive, consider what would be the best action to take in this situation. If calm inhabited your body, how would calm respond to her? Calm may leave the room and go for a walk alone to cool off, Taliaferro said. 4. Maintain some of your routines. ! Many people tend to get stressed when their routines are broken, which happens often during the holidays. Keep some of your grounding rituals in the mix, such as daily tness [and] getting enough sleep, Taliaferro said. These activities give you more energy and are key stress relievers. 5. Take care of your mind, body and behavior. ! Rick Hanson, Ph.D, a neuropsychologist and author of Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time, suggested readers pay attention to their body, emotions, thoughts and actions. Body: We experience the physical sensations of stress and anxiety thanks to the sympathetic nervous system, our ancient ght-or-ight system. The antidote, Hanson said, is to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Easy ways to light up the PNS include l-o-n-g exhalations, relaxing the tongue, warming the hands (or imagining that they are warm, like holding a cup of cocoa), and relaxing the body as a whole. Emotions: Encourage positive emotions by focusing on and savoring all the positive experiences associated with the holidays. Spending a minute or so relishing these experiences helps them enter our long-term emotional memory and sink in, Hanson said. Thoughts: This time of year our heads are swirling with shoulds and musts. We know how detrimental these thoughts can be. Hanson encourages readers to return to the simple truth that in this moment, each moment, you are actually basically alright; the simple fullness of being in the present, not regretting the past or worrying about or planning the future. Actions: Slow down and do less, Hanson said. Keep coming back to your breathing as you look for gifts, do dishes, wrap presents, or visit friends. Remember that others may be struggling during the holidays, too, so be kind and compassionate. Also, consider giving the gift of your full attention to others, rather than being distracted by your to do list; or the gifts of forgiveness, gratitude, and wholeheartedness. 6. Create reminders of your intention.

FCWCNEWSLETTER December 2013

Its easy to get carried away, let stress consume you and forget the purpose and meaning of the holidays. A visual reminder helps bring you back and put things in perspective. Taliaferro suggested taping quotes to your fridge or putting them in frames in other areas of the house. Some of her favorite quotes: The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his inuence, his power for good. James Allen. In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you Deepak Chopra. Peace doesnt require two people; it requires only one. It has to be you. The problem begins and ends there.!!- Byron Katie. Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.!!author unknown. 7. Create an environment of calm. Taliaferro also suggested creating a sense of calm in your different environments. For instance,! play calm

music at home, in your car or at work.!Have objects that relax you, too, such as scented candles. 8. Have fun activities planned for get-togethers. Since holiday guests can be a source of stress for people, plan very simple and pleasurable activities with your more challenging relatives and you may nd the relationship ows much easier in that moment since youre both having fun, Taliaferro said. Rather than just fume, waiting for Uncle Jeff to act out, have some DVDs of old comedies. Abbott and Costello doing Whos on First? works for any generation, Medea added. She also suggested taking out your oldest photo albums and sharing the stories behind them. And in general, dont forget that all families are complicated. A simple family is like asking for a simple universe, Medea said. Families are wonderfully complex, layered, with generations of baggage. And dont forget, too, that the holiday season also brings the possibility of building bridges back to people we love, even if they drive us crazy.

NISICHAWAYASIHK FAMILY & COMMUNITY CREE NATION WELLNESS CENTRE


About
The Family and Community Wellness Centre was established to support holistic wellness by providing different opportunities to members of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. The Centre provides services in Public Health, Child and Family Services, Counselling and other family and community needs programs. It has subofces in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson and South Indian Lake.

Vision
Nisichawayasihk Mithwayawin

Mission
In unity, we promote community awareness, empowerment, and a safe environment towards holistic wellness. ***For more information and resources on the FCWC visit our website ncncwellness.ca, or nd us on Facebook and Twitter.

14 Bay Road Drive Nelson House, MB R0B 1A0 Phone: (204) 484-2341 Fax: (204) 484-2351

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