About the Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy

Ontario promotes improved health and wellness in Indigenous communities through Indigenous-led programs and services such as the Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy.

The Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy reflects a shared commitment between the Ontario government and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous partners to reduce family violence and violence against Indigenous women and children, and improve Indigenous healing, health and wellness through a continuum of culturally appropriate and Indigenous-designed and delivered programs and services.

The strategy combines traditional and mainstream approaches to program and service delivery. These community-based programs and services are available to Indigenous peoples living in First Nations and in urban and rural communities. They include:

  • Community Wellness Workers
  • Programs that provide counseling to address mental and emotional issues, crisis prevention and intervention, health promotion and education
  • Healing Lodges
  • Shelters and safe houses for women and their children experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence
  • Pre-natal and post-natal care(through the Indigenous Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program, and the Maternal and Child Centre)
  • Mental health and addictions treatment and healing centres

Three ministries fund the strategy:

Three symbols make up the Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy logo.

  • The turtle represents Turtle Island. This is Mother Earth.
  • The people are holding hands. This means they will help each other with their problems.
  • The people are standing in a circle. This is the circle of life. The people are our friends, families and strangers — people who need our help or who are helping us.
Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy logo

The success of the strategy

Since it was launched in 1994, the strategy has had many successes across Indigenous communities. It has:

  • improved access to health care and culturally-appropriate healing services
  • enhanced services to address family violence
  • helped build the capacity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and urban Indigenous organizations within a wholistic and culture-based framework

In 2018–2019, the strategy provided direct services to more than 58,790 clients.

The strategy supports more than 650 jobs in more than 240 locations across the province, both on-reserve and off-reserve.

  • 58,790
    clients
  • 650
    jobs
  • 240+
    sites

Programs and support for Indigenous individuals and families

These programs:

  • help Indigenous individuals and families living in First Nations, and in urban and rural communities
  • provide traditional Indigenous practices, such as teachings, land-based activities, ceremonies and other cultural activities that are integrated into everyday programming

Healing, health and wellness services

Mental health and addictions services and support

Support for Indigenous women and children and individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence

Pre-natal and post-natal and early years supports for Indigenous women, children and families

Support for Indigenous communities and organizations

The strategy supports Indigenous partners to build capacity within their organizations and member communities to address the health and wellness needs in communities through:

Za-geh-do-win Information Clearinghouse provides Indigenous-specific information and resource materials to communities and groups regarding family violence, family healing and health.

Indigenous partners

Read a list of the Indigenous partners that deliver and manage Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy programs and services, including many of the founding members of the strategy.

Government partners

Additional resources

Find provincial and federal government support for the health, healing and wellness of Indigenous peoples in Ontario.

Government of Ontario

Government of Canada

Indigenous health

Shelters

If you have questions about these services, please contact the service provider.

Contact us

Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy Office
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Tel: 416-326-6905
ihws@ontario.ca