The Nogemag C.A.R.E. project has offered many different programmes since it began operating in the summer of 2002. In partnership with the Elsipogtog Band and Elsipogtog School and in cooperation with Justice Canada, HRDC, Crime Prevention and RBC, Nogemag has created innovative projects to help at-risk youth from the Elsipogtog community.

Nogemag Healing Lodge is designed to build on the strengths of youth of Elsipogtog while at the same time building the capacity of family and community.  Nogemag provides programmes for youth with invisible disabilities whose behavior is often misunderstood.  Given the right environment we find that negative behaviours improve and the children begin to develop their gifts.  Research also shows that appropriate interventions like Nogemag have helped the youth-at-risk who have been involved in the summer, winter and school programmes.

 We take a medicine wheel approach in our work providing an education of heart, hand, mind, and spirit.  The medicine wheel approach is an integrated one. We hire youth mentors and counselors from the community to work on the project site along side of the youth-at-risk.  We also try to hire the mothers and fathers of the youth-at-risk to help in the project in various capacities depending on their skills or interests.  We try to work with them to help them develop their skills and so empower them to take charge of their lives.   

Nogemag’s Circle

To Native people turtle is symbolic of Mother Earth or Turtle Island .Green symbolizes Mother Earth and all living things. The circle is sacred to Native people it reminds us that

All life is connected and continuous, unbroken.  All living things and human being s are part of that circle and stand in it with respect, awareness and consideration for our lives.  Yellow, red, white and black symbolize the four races of humanity. Each quadrant of the circle symbolizes the four directions, with each direction carrying a teaching.  The East carries the teaching f new beginnings; the South carries the teaching of strength; the West teaches about wisdom, insights and introspection; and the North teaches about healing.  The turtle in the logo carries those teaching as well.

(Adapted from The Circle of Hope)

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Last modified: 01/25/06