WELCOME TO NECHI INSTITUTE:
CENTRE OF INDIGENOUS LEARNING

Thank you for considering Nechi for your professional training. Over forty years ago, this organization was built on the sacred foundation of traditional, cultural, and spiritual practices. Nechi Institute is committed to assisting Indigenous communities with wellness and healthy lifestyles. Our approach to training, research and health promotions is comprehensive, holistic, and balanced, focusing on the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions of the individual.  We are proud to serve the Indigenous communities of Alberta and throughout Canada.  It is our belief that Indigenous people know what they need and must be able to contribute to their own healing and wellness, a process that happens daily on the our training set and throughout the country.  We are committed to continuing our mission to renew and strengthen our programs and services; assist in the advancement of health and wellbeing in all communities. We need you to help construct this future. Our curriculum is the result of guidance and direction from our Elders on the healing that is much needed in the communities, as well careful academic research and decades of practitioner experience working with Indigenous students. The training you will receive at Nechi is experiential and built on a solid spiritual foundation that will guide you through your life journey. We invite you to build your career on it!

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Nechi Institute:  Centre of Indigenous Learning (Nechi) is a non-profit organization, positioned as a leader in Indigenous Wellness Training, where integrity is key, high performance and functioning matters, and potential is acknowledged.  Continuous improvement is a cornerstone in Nechi’s evolving transformational culture and Indigenous knowledge, and is critical to our pursuit to becoming an organization that redefines Indigenous Education excellence in western Canada and abroad.

Nechi Institute is an Indigenous instructional leader in the areas in which we operate and we continue to provide transformational teaching models that apply comprehensive theory and experiential components of learning.  Our curriculum is uniquely blended with western academia and traditional Indigenous culture: a powerful combination that ensures a greatly altered frame of reference.  These shared spiritual and traditional values result in a solid foundation of Indigenous awareness that enhances self-esteem, personal growth, and greater respect for individuals, families, and communities.  Nechi holds the principle that addictions free lifestyle creates stronger self awareness and healthier environments.

Although the work begins here, the result is seen in our communities as we, Indigenous people, live addiction free lifestyles.

OUR LOCATION

Kirk Centre
13535 122 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5L 2V7

THE HISTORY OF NECHI

Nechi Institute was established in 1974, by a small group of committed individuals, to meet the growing need for addictions prevention and recovery resources for Indigenous people. Today, through culturally sensitive training, research and health promotions initiatives, Nechi provides counsellors, health care workers, social workers, educators, community service agencies, government agencies, and other members of the helping professions with the tools and resources to help heal the pain and devastation caused by addictions and abuse. Internationally recognized as one of the finest Indigenous training, research, and health promotions centres in the world, Nechi Institute is a powerful resource for Indigenous people and communities addressing issues such as drugs, alcohol and gambling addictions, family violence, and prescription drug abuse. Nechi Institute uses the Experiential Learning Model, encouraging students to “learn through doing.” Courses in each series are comprised of structured exercises, large and small group as well as individual work assignments, brainstorming sessions, support groups, energizing exercises, role play and other exercises which provide opportunities to practice new skills. Students are encouraged to participate in all aspects of training and are required to complete a written assessment at the conclusion of each course. Nechi Institute offers a number of accredited programs that are transferable to many universities and colleges. “What was once the vision of a few is now the hope of many”.

MISSION, PHILOSOPHY, BELIEFS

MISSION STATEMENT
Nechi Institute:  Centre of Indigenous Learning is committed to transformational education through igniting the spirit.

PHILOSOPHY
Nechi’s philosophy is founded upon spirituality of Indigenous Peoples for our collective well being. It is through the Indigenous ways of knowing, healing and learning, that our Indigenous people master our challenges and determine our destinies.

NECHI BELIEFS

• The vision and spiritual development of Nechi’s Staff and Board of Governors are rooted in the well being of the collective Indigenous Community.
• Each person has the ability to make a commitment to personal well being which is a natural state of being.
• Each person is a teacher, learner and healer.
• The cultural context for training and treatment of Indigenous people is critical to success. The process of management of staff, training, research and health promotions must embody Indigenous ways of knowing, healing and learning through self discipline.
• Our approach to training, research and health promotions must be holistic and balanced, focussing on the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual dimensions of the individual.
• The people we serve will be honoured. People know what they need and must be able to contribute to their own healing and wellness.
• Nechi and the communities it serves are involved in a healing process.
• Healing and wellness must be components of training, research and health promotions. The approach must be comprehensive, addressing the individual in the context of the Indigenous Community. Healing and wellness of the individual contributes to healing of the family and community.
• Recovery from addictive dependencies is possible and supported.
• We believe voluntary service contributes to the wellness of individuals, families, agencies and communities.

The Nechi Institute Moved to online training In September 2022 due to the world pandemic and continues to offer Offsite Training to the following communities:

• Pine Creek, Sask – I.A.S.D Year One
• Birch Narrows, Sask – I.A.S.D Year One
• Onion Lake, Sask – I.A.S.D Year One
• Rankin Inlet, Nunavut – I.A.S.D Year One & Two
• Timmins, Ontario – Pharmacology
• Iqaluit, Nunavut – Pharmacology