(Photo: Cumberland House Cree Nation Members and Victoria Health Staff, provided by Christopher Merasty)
Men of the North have announced an expansion to Cumberland House.
The men’s and boy’s empowerment group formed in La Ronge in 2020 and has grown significantly throughout the years.
“It’s been very heartwarming and very inspiring considering the fact that when we started this program five years ago, basically we started it with a couple of guys going around just helping out, delivering groceries, and helping out wherever we could within the community of La Ronge,” stated founder and director Christopher Merasty.
Around a year and a half ago, Cumberland House invited Men of the North to do a presentation with the community. Since then, they’ve worked on solidifying a partnership agreement and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Victoria Laliberte Memorial Health Centre in Cumberland House.
Some of the programming that Men of the North offers includes healing workshops, sweat lodge ceremonies, and traditional drum teachings. Merasty explained that once services are offered in Cumberland House, they will start with workshops and let the community decide what other programming they’d like to see down the line.
“From there the community itself can grow into alternative programs and services, whatever works for that community, because it’s not for us to come into the community of Cumberland House and say, ‘This is what you guys need to do.’ It’s more like, ‘Okay, we’re going to help you develop the programs, supports, and services,’” explained Merasty.
Men of the North plan on expanding further and have been in talks with Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and expect that programming could be offered in four more communities by the end of 2025.
The organization is currently in search of a full-time project coordinator to work in Cumberland House, and a job description can be found on their Facebook page. To learn more about Men of the North, visit Menofthenorth.net.
“If people are interested and willing to become part of the Men of the North, please reach out; don’t be afraid, because I know that for many individuals there’s a lot of anxiety built up, especially through uncertainty, and if they make that initial step to reach out to us, we will try to get to them fast and make it effective and comfortable,” said Merasty.