MW Foundation Projects

The KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp provides 327 acres of open space, kilometers of beach and forest, access to water, and a world of possibilities for children, youth, and families who’ve had to navigate difficult paths. This camp, owned, operated, and maintained by the 8 KCA member First Nations, serves as a new treatment, cultural, recreation, and reconciliation centre to address the multiple determinants of health and socioeconomic challenges in the communities. The camp creates a safe but connected space for activities and programming to enhance strengths-based programming to support community members through the Anishinaabe culture. KCA’s goal is to have the strengths of their programs, staff, and community members engage children & youth in social participation and resilience-building activities in a safe way that is not always available within the First Nation communities.

The operation, programs and capital of the Youth and Family Wellness Camp is a priority for fundraising by the MW Foundation. The following are the projects that the Foundation supports.

The Indigenous Rookie League is proof of the positive influence of culturally relevant sports programs. Begun in 2016, this collaboration between Jays Care and the Kenora Chiefs Advisory now unites 25 First Nations.

Construction on a state-of-the-art baseball diamond has begun at the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp.  Another diamond along with bleachers, washrooms, dugouts, and lights for night games is being planned. This will allow for the expansion of the Rookie League, and the potential to host National tournaments on-site at the Camp.

More than teaching baseball, the league instills healthy coping mechanisms, strengthens cultural bonds, encourages academic achievement, and fosters integration. It’s a platform for Indigenous youth to forge their own paths towards wellbeing.

The Equine Program brings the healing power of horses to the forefront, providing a place for individuals to explore their physical and mental well-being. The program has proven to be transformative, assisting individuals through significant life events, fostering youth engagement and stability, nurturing life skills, and uplifting moods.

Horses, with their innate ability to connect with people, offer a unique and impactful approach to healing, wellbeing, and lasting transformations. Participants establish deep connections with the horses, fostering positive changes in their personal lives.

The Equine Therapy service continues to support mental health and addictions, cultural programs, and local organizations in the Treaty 3 area which support First Nation children and youth, including KCA programs, schools, families from Communities and Kenora, community partners and family services.

The facility is home to a diverse array of animals, including eleven horses, five ponies, two miniature horses, four rabbits, four cats, and six chickens. Regular training, feeding, watering, farrier visits, and veterinary care are integral to maintaining the health and vitality of these cherished animals.

Binesi Waziswon is an Anishinaabe-led residential youth treatment program that blends both traditional healing, and Western approaches to the treatment of complex mental health needs and is situated on our 327-acre Youth and Family Wellness Camp water-front property located approximately 15 minutes outside Kenora, Ontario.

Binesi Waziswon aims to bridge the care continuum between Schedule 1-Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Units, and community-based MHA programs for youth in the North region, specifically those aged 12 to 17. This voluntary, live-in stabilization and treatment program offers a safe, supportive environment for clients who may be stepping up from community-based supports, where without more intensive therapeutic interventions, will likely lead to an admission to an inpatient unit. Alternatively, youth accessing this program may be stepping down from an inpatient unit but have an identified need for additional support as they transition back to home, and community.

The program is now at a point of full maturity and has begun reach outs to catchment areas that expand beyond Kenora and cover Northern Ontario.

Currently, a Community Hockey Rink is being developed out at the property. The project endeavors to construct a covered outdoor rink with a multifaceted goal of addressing various community needs and aspirations.

Primarily focused on improving youth mental health, the rink will serve as a sanctuary for young individuals, offering a conducive environment for recreational activities and social interaction. Moreover, the project aims to foster reconciliation by facilitating collaboration and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. By integrating cultural elements into its programming, the rink endeavors to preserve and celebrate Indigenous heritage, thereby nurturing a sense of identity and pride among youth. It will also stimulate economic development by employing staff to operate the rink and attracting visitors from neighbouring areas, particularly during hockey tournaments and events.

Until the new Community Hockey Rink is built, a temporary seasonal ice rink at the camp for recreational skating and hockey has been supported by the Foundation for the past 2 winters.

KCA’s proposed Rookie League Volleyball Program will follow a similar framework as the baseball league. In addition to teaching the rules and skills of the game, the league will build resilience against poverty, discrimination, family dysfunction and loss of identity by promoting health & wellness and social connection among children, youth, families and communities.

The Rookie League Volleyball Program will follow the same points system as the baseball league, to encourage the involvement the whole community. Points are earned for player & coach attendance at games/practices; families, Elders, Chief/Council members watching games and playing during “family” innings; volunteers helping out at games; and Home Team families providing food/water for players and fans. With a special reward provided to the team with the highest points for each season.

Beach and indoor volleyball is a popular sport among the youth in the area and an organized league has come by request from our communities. Currently, multiple Beach Volleyball courts have been developed out at the KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp. In addition to skills and leadership development, the league will include Indigenous role models as speakers as well as incorporate social/emotional skills training before/after games.

Part of the continued development at KCA Youth and Family Wellness Camp, the art centre will provide onsite dedicated space for Anishinaabe art related programming and teachings (such as painting, making ribbon skirts/shirts, hide work, beading etc) showcasing the vibrant culture of KCA’s 8 member communities and all of Treaty 3’s ancestral lands, event and activities and generate visitors and revenue as a cultural tourism destination for sustained operations of the property.

The art program will reduce mental health and addictions issues, promote wellness, increase cultural connections, social connections, support cultural knowledge transfer, reduce isolation, support development of identity.