Outline

Support for men who are tired of doing it alone

1. Introduction to the men’s program and its benefits

Purpose

Create a welcoming environment, establish trust, and set the tone for the course.

Topics

  • The Seven Sacred Teachings as guiding principles.
  • Why personal growth and healing are essential for men in First Nations communities.
  • Course overview and expectations.

Activities

  • Icebreaker: Share one strength and one goal participants want to develop.
  • Personal reflection: “What brought me here today?”

2. What is a man? What do you say about men? What do you say about being a man?

Purpose

Explore and redefine masculinity through a cultural and personal lens.

Topics

  • Traditional roles of men in Indigenous cultures vs. societal stereotypes.
  • Personal definitions of masculinity and manhood.

Activities

  • Group discussion: “What does being a man mean to you?”
  • Reflective writing: “Who taught me about being a man, and what did I learn?”

Key question

How do traditional teachings align with or challenge modern ideas about men?

3. Focusing so that you can access your emotional memories

Purpose

Develop self-awareness and begin processing past experiences.

Topics

  • The importance of emotional awareness in personal healing.
  • Mindfulness techniques to explore emotional memories.

Activities

  • Guided visualization to connect with a significant emotional memory.
  • Journaling: “What emotions have shaped who I am today?”

4. Strategies for mapping your emotional world

Purpose

Teach practical tools to identify, organize, and navigate emotions.

Topics

  • The spectrum of emotions: Understanding feelings beyond “good” or “bad.”
  • Using emotional mapping tools (e.g., emotion wheels, diagrams).

Activities

  • Create a personal “emotional map.”
  • Group exercise: Share and normalize emotions like vulnerability or sadness.

5. Empathic listening so that you can shift from competition to collaboration

Purpose

Foster communication skills that emphasize understanding and connection.

Topics

  • What is empathic listening?
  • Barriers to collaboration, including toxic competitiveness.

Activities

  • Role-play scenarios to practice active and empathic listening.
  • Pair exercise: “Tell me about a time you felt heard.”

6. Mastering the four major challenges of being in relationship

Purpose

Build healthy relationship skills rooted in mutual respect and emotional intelligence.

Topics

  • Communication, trust, boundaries, and accountability.
  • Applying the Seven Sacred Teachings in relationships.

Activities

  • Group discussion: “What challenges have you faced in relationships?”
  • Workshop: Role-playing healthy boundary-setting conversations.

7. Understanding Emotional Suppression and Aggression

Purpose

Examine how suppressing emotions can lead to destructive behaviours.

Topics

  • Cultural and societal causes of emotional suppression.
  • Links between suppressed emotions and aggression.

Activities

  • Reflective journaling: “What emotions do I find hardest to express?”
  • Group discussion: “What are healthier ways to process anger or frustration?”

8. The consequences of conforming to toxic masculinity

Purpose

Challenge harmful behaviours and beliefs that result from toxic masculinity.

Topics

  • Identifying toxic masculinity traits.
  • The impact on individuals, families, and communities.

Activities

  • Case study: Examples of toxic vs. healthy masculinity.
  • Create a personal statement of “What kind of man I want to be.”

9. The failure to seek help from the company of healthy men

Purpose

Encourage support networks and mentorship among men.

Topics

  • The stigma around asking for help.
  • Building a circle of trust and healthy male relationships.

Activities

  • Group exercise: Share a challenge you’ve faced and ask for advice.
  • Create a “support system map” to identify healthy role models.

10. Integrating all that you have learned and bridging to the future

Purpose

Reflect on progress and commit to ongoing growth.

Topics

  • Reviewing the Seven Sacred Teachings and their applications.
  • Setting personal goals for the future.

Activities

  • Group sharing: “What have I learned, and what will I take forward?”
  • Ceremony: A closing ritual to honor personal and group growth.