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Arctic Rose Wellness Centre: Our Story
"I seek to make mental, emotional physical and spiritual wellness accessible in Northern communities...Donating will benefit the people in my community Dawson City Yukon and beyond to other communities. The funds will be used for obtaining a business loan to secure our location. The location is ready for operations but I wont be able to reopen without securing supports. "
Above: Me in the spring at the Peel River camp circa 1990s
Bottom From Left to Right: Aunt Arlene, Grandfather John, Grandmother Pearl, Mother Dolly and Great Uncle Fred at our camp on the Peel River, Northwest Territories, Canada
I am a traditional knowledge keeper. I am an Inuvialuit Gwitch'in medicine woman. I am a Northern woman from the territories of Canada raised in cabins on trap-lines, hunting and harvesting with my family. I was 15 years old when I realised I needed to do something different.There are so many that struggle to understand what mental emotional physical spiritual health is, and even just reaching out for health help or resources, is so difficult to do. If we can just bridge that gap in any way possible. I see everything as a success.
People need multidimensional help. At 17 I drew a doodle of what my Wellness Centre would look like. I've kept it as a reminder of what I was working towards. For years I held onto trinkets and supplies and would say “this will be in the centre someday” I grew up, moved south and was educated in many different types of health and wellness mediums. I am a certified Natural Health Practitioner. I have been working in northern communities since 2012 in health and wellness fields.
When we look at mental health resources in the North, we’re very lucky with whats available in our communities. However, when you look at the resources that are available, the wait times are quite long. They can take five to six months, depending on where you get triage in that system. When you look at the services that are available within the North, and give consideration to our unique folks who chose to be here, climate induced living conditions, lifestyles and Indigenous population, and the differences between, I guess you could say southern ideas/ western medicine versus traditional roots medicine, many of the services that are available are not culturally or maybe collectively appropriate for the Northerner seeking wellness. I strive to make Arctic Rose a safe and inclusive space for everyone who has heard the call of the North. I like the idea of accommodating all forms of wellness as long as it harm none.
Waiting long periods of time to access supports is not a supported support system. The North is a complex place to live, we deal with all types of health and wellness issues brought on by climate, isolation and hard times unique to our demographic. Given the history of residential schools, the 60’s scoop, the trauma that Indigenous people have faced: this is but a glimpse of whats happening in our communities. By the time anyone has gotten the strength and the courage to go reach out for health resources, it’s mostly not going to meet them where they’re at and meet their needs, individually. Working years in the non-for-profit sector I was mandated to who and how and when I could help people, that model is overburdened and many slip through the cracks. I believe Arctic Rose can help meet some of these needs. I seek to make mental, emotional physical and spiritual wellness accessible in Northern communities that isn't being supplied and/or run by the governmental bodies. One spurred by the people for the people.
Me: 2014 overlooking Dawson City from Moose hide Slide
In 2014 Dawson became my homestead. Dawson City chose me. The land of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and people I have met here are amazing and they inspired me to take the next step into making lifelong dreams of wellness in the North accessible. 2 years ago I began the process of buying a building located in the heart of town with so much potential. I worked multiple jobs for multiple years to save up to start Arctic Rose Wellness Centre. Many locals over the years have heard me talk about my dream and when I took possession of the building many showed up to help! The people who’ve given their time, energy input and skills to be able to make this building what it is-has left me utterly speechless. My dreams were their dreams. As we worked and as the dream grew it became clear that there was a need for wellness services that expanded past what was available.
Spring 2019: Indoor painting and building furniture, wall art and trim with reusable material: wooden pallets
Summer 2019: Outdoor painting it completely changed the space!
Fall 2019 sign making. I used a old table donated from a friend to make the sign. The logo is the painter version of the family flower my grandmother used on her bead work.
After a year of work and planning we open November 2019! Things were going great! I hosted workshops, had rental space booked, events, local consignment goods, film screenings, my natural health practice was budding and this was during the slow season! I was feeling pretty good.
March 2020 came with Covid-19 and life stood still. For the world. I closed my shop out of precaution March 2020 Thaw di Gras weekend and have not reopened since. I went back to working multiple jobs and kept wondering when and if I could reopen. I had not been applicable for any government business incentives as I had only been in business a short while. I started to wonder if we were meant to be here. I was seeking a business loan: The banks told me my projections and business model-that had once been glowing with praise-now meant nothing. I needed help. Being the independent I am, I buckled down and thought if I just worked hard enough...I’d fix all of this. There are so many in need. I want to be there for them. But how?
Then the messages started to come. People started to ask me for help, and they wanted to know when I'd be open. I know I have to do something other than work to save. I need help. I need to find a way to connect to people. I was very worried, I suppose I still am. Then someone said to me:
“I know what your thinking ““My space isn't as important as say some fund about something else somewhere else.”” but f*%#ing legit it is. You aim to make healing accessible and that's a gift in itself.”
There it was: the simple truth is mental emotional physical and spiritual health is important.
I have to ask for help. As the months went by I worked found an investor and things were looking good. I got connected to a business writer with 30 years of experience. I paid out of pocket for this and for developing a web platform. Years ago I met Allyssa Kidd in Dawson who wanted to be a web designer. I told her my dreams too. As I write this she's in the thick of creating Arctic Rose’s website. People supporting people is the answer.
I thought I had everything ready this November 2020. I had an investor fall through a year to the day of last year's opening. I cried and sat forlorn for a night. And now after trying the last few weeks to make 40’000 more I don't have materialise. I realise I need to ask the greater collective for help.
November 8th 2019 last years first monthly calendar
I seek to make mental, emotional physical and spiritual wellness accessible in Northern communities.
Donating will benefit the people in my community Dawson City Yukon and beyond to other communities. The funds will be used for obtaining a business loan to secure our location. The location is ready for operations but I wont be able to do that without securing the building. I have personally saved up $23’915.00 of the 60’000 needed for a business loan while maintaining the building at a $4000.00 monthly personal cost. I work 4 jobs, pick up side work wherever in hopes to reopen. I want to do what I was put on this earth to do. Heal.
These funds need to be raised no later than February 2021 or I must give the property back to the previous owner losing everything I have put into it with no return on my investment of over 100'000 over the last 2 years. I entered into a personal lease to own agreement that must come to a close. I feel displaced guilt and shame for not being able to bring this centre to the community on my own. I will continue to give it my all. I will continue to cook nutritious foods heal through tradition and learning and keep spreading joy. I will continue to save money to try to make the February 2021 deadline. Those who are close to me know I am a hard worker and would never ask if I did not have the urgent need to do so.
My grandmother used to say “The heart that gives, gathers”
To receive any type of help would mean so much to me.
I have put my heart into this dream and the many people who helped me get this far, I want to thank you. Giving really makes a difference. I'll go about smudging homes, giving a helping hands and sending blessings no matter the outcome of this fundraising campaign. I cannot live this life only for my own security, and I will continue to help people with the knowledge and gifts I have. We are living in times where healing traditional knowledge and science are interlacing. I want to be apart of that journey and help people find health and happiness.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey to become Arctic Rose. I promise to do all that I can to contribute to community growth and wellness.
"I seek to make mental, emotional physical and spiritual wellness accessible in Northern communities...Donating will benefit the people in my community Dawson City Yukon and beyond to other communities. The funds will be used for obtaining a business loan to secure our location. The location is ready for operations but I wont be able to reopen without securing supports. "
Above: Me in the spring at the Peel River camp circa 1990sBottom From Left to Right: Aunt Arlene, Grandfather John, Grandmother Pearl, Mother Dolly and Great Uncle Fred at our camp on the Peel River, Northwest Territories, Canada
I am a traditional knowledge keeper. I am an Inuvialuit Gwitch'in medicine woman. I am a Northern woman from the territories of Canada raised in cabins on trap-lines, hunting and harvesting with my family. I was 15 years old when I realised I needed to do something different.There are so many that struggle to understand what mental emotional physical spiritual health is, and even just reaching out for health help or resources, is so difficult to do. If we can just bridge that gap in any way possible. I see everything as a success.
People need multidimensional help. At 17 I drew a doodle of what my Wellness Centre would look like. I've kept it as a reminder of what I was working towards. For years I held onto trinkets and supplies and would say “this will be in the centre someday” I grew up, moved south and was educated in many different types of health and wellness mediums. I am a certified Natural Health Practitioner. I have been working in northern communities since 2012 in health and wellness fields.
When we look at mental health resources in the North, we’re very lucky with whats available in our communities. However, when you look at the resources that are available, the wait times are quite long. They can take five to six months, depending on where you get triage in that system. When you look at the services that are available within the North, and give consideration to our unique folks who chose to be here, climate induced living conditions, lifestyles and Indigenous population, and the differences between, I guess you could say southern ideas/ western medicine versus traditional roots medicine, many of the services that are available are not culturally or maybe collectively appropriate for the Northerner seeking wellness. I strive to make Arctic Rose a safe and inclusive space for everyone who has heard the call of the North. I like the idea of accommodating all forms of wellness as long as it harm none.
Waiting long periods of time to access supports is not a supported support system. The North is a complex place to live, we deal with all types of health and wellness issues brought on by climate, isolation and hard times unique to our demographic. Given the history of residential schools, the 60’s scoop, the trauma that Indigenous people have faced: this is but a glimpse of whats happening in our communities. By the time anyone has gotten the strength and the courage to go reach out for health resources, it’s mostly not going to meet them where they’re at and meet their needs, individually. Working years in the non-for-profit sector I was mandated to who and how and when I could help people, that model is overburdened and many slip through the cracks. I believe Arctic Rose can help meet some of these needs. I seek to make mental, emotional physical and spiritual wellness accessible in Northern communities that isn't being supplied and/or run by the governmental bodies. One spurred by the people for the people.
Me: 2014 overlooking Dawson City from Moose hide SlideIn 2014 Dawson became my homestead. Dawson City chose me. The land of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and people I have met here are amazing and they inspired me to take the next step into making lifelong dreams of wellness in the North accessible. 2 years ago I began the process of buying a building located in the heart of town with so much potential. I worked multiple jobs for multiple years to save up to start Arctic Rose Wellness Centre. Many locals over the years have heard me talk about my dream and when I took possession of the building many showed up to help! The people who’ve given their time, energy input and skills to be able to make this building what it is-has left me utterly speechless. My dreams were their dreams. As we worked and as the dream grew it became clear that there was a need for wellness services that expanded past what was available.
Spring 2019: Indoor painting and building furniture, wall art and trim with reusable material: wooden palletsSummer 2019: Outdoor painting it completely changed the space!Fall 2019 sign making. I used a old table donated from a friend to make the sign. The logo is the painter version of the family flower my grandmother used on her bead work. After a year of work and planning we open November 2019! Things were going great! I hosted workshops, had rental space booked, events, local consignment goods, film screenings, my natural health practice was budding and this was during the slow season! I was feeling pretty good.
March 2020 came with Covid-19 and life stood still. For the world. I closed my shop out of precaution March 2020 Thaw di Gras weekend and have not reopened since. I went back to working multiple jobs and kept wondering when and if I could reopen. I had not been applicable for any government business incentives as I had only been in business a short while. I started to wonder if we were meant to be here. I was seeking a business loan: The banks told me my projections and business model-that had once been glowing with praise-now meant nothing. I needed help. Being the independent I am, I buckled down and thought if I just worked hard enough...I’d fix all of this. There are so many in need. I want to be there for them. But how?
Then the messages started to come. People started to ask me for help, and they wanted to know when I'd be open. I know I have to do something other than work to save. I need help. I need to find a way to connect to people. I was very worried, I suppose I still am. Then someone said to me:
“I know what your thinking ““My space isn't as important as say some fund about something else somewhere else.”” but f*%#ing legit it is. You aim to make healing accessible and that's a gift in itself.”
There it was: the simple truth is mental emotional physical and spiritual health is important.
I have to ask for help. As the months went by I worked found an investor and things were looking good. I got connected to a business writer with 30 years of experience. I paid out of pocket for this and for developing a web platform. Years ago I met Allyssa Kidd in Dawson who wanted to be a web designer. I told her my dreams too. As I write this she's in the thick of creating Arctic Rose’s website. People supporting people is the answer.
I thought I had everything ready this November 2020. I had an investor fall through a year to the day of last year's opening. I cried and sat forlorn for a night. And now after trying the last few weeks to make 40’000 more I don't have materialise. I realise I need to ask the greater collective for help.
November 8th 2019 last years first monthly calendar I seek to make mental, emotional physical and spiritual wellness accessible in Northern communities.
Donating will benefit the people in my community Dawson City Yukon and beyond to other communities. The funds will be used for obtaining a business loan to secure our location. The location is ready for operations but I wont be able to do that without securing the building. I have personally saved up $23’915.00 of the 60’000 needed for a business loan while maintaining the building at a $4000.00 monthly personal cost. I work 4 jobs, pick up side work wherever in hopes to reopen. I want to do what I was put on this earth to do. Heal.
These funds need to be raised no later than February 2021 or I must give the property back to the previous owner losing everything I have put into it with no return on my investment of over 100'000 over the last 2 years. I entered into a personal lease to own agreement that must come to a close. I feel displaced guilt and shame for not being able to bring this centre to the community on my own. I will continue to give it my all. I will continue to cook nutritious foods heal through tradition and learning and keep spreading joy. I will continue to save money to try to make the February 2021 deadline. Those who are close to me know I am a hard worker and would never ask if I did not have the urgent need to do so.
My grandmother used to say “The heart that gives, gathers”
To receive any type of help would mean so much to me.
I have put my heart into this dream and the many people who helped me get this far, I want to thank you. Giving really makes a difference. I'll go about smudging homes, giving a helping hands and sending blessings no matter the outcome of this fundraising campaign. I cannot live this life only for my own security, and I will continue to help people with the knowledge and gifts I have. We are living in times where healing traditional knowledge and science are interlacing. I want to be apart of that journey and help people find health and happiness.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey to become Arctic Rose. I promise to do all that I can to contribute to community growth and wellness.