First Nations Women's Yoga Initiative announces second cohort coming Winter 2022
FNWYI Announcement
The First Nations Women’s Yoga Initiative (FNWYI) is a culturally-rooted, trauma-informed program created for First Nations women and two-spirit people that provides virtual and in-person training, and resources to promote body-based practices and community connectedness.
In February 2021, we launched the first cohort welcoming twenty diverse First Nations women to a virtual 80-hour trauma-informed curriculum weaving Kwakwaka’wakw culture, Kwak’wala language, women’s teachings, and practices with the philosophy and science of Yoga, trauma theory and frameworks. We have 5 graduates of the FNWYI cohort who will receive full scholarships generously provided by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to complete the 200-hour Yoga Outreach Certification Program (YOCP).
This initiative is in partnership between the Yoga Outreach Society and Cedar and Gold, co-directed by Jessica Barudin and Nicole Marcia. Our curriculum has been developed in collaboration with First Nations women, knowledge keepers, fluent speakers, and yoga educators.
We are excited to announce that the FNWYI will commence the second cohort in February 2022! This cohort will integrate a hybrid learning model of virtual classrooms and practice as well as in-person gathering. This training is free of cost to participants and we provide resources and supports to ensure participants are set up for success to complete the training. Applications and training details will be announced in November 2021.
To receive updates about the FNWYI (i.e. application pathways, public workshops) sign up on our contact page
To connect with the FNWYI online community and resources - follow our Facebook page or @indigenousyogamovement on Instagram
Feedback from Cohort 1 Graduates
“I’m a different person… I’ve been reborn as my actual self...It was so empowering, changed my daily communication, connected to self, co-regulation with daughter, not in a trauma response” - Samantha, Kwakwaka’wakw
The FNWYI was life saving for her
It was transformational, impacted her daily life
It was an amazing resource as she left an abusive relationship
“This program has not only provided a lot of useful tools and resources for myself and my own healing, but as I am in the field of education and language revitalization, I can see how beneficial it will be to incorporate into my teaching practice as an educator. Trauma-informed practice is starting to be highlighted and implemented within the education system and this program has opened my eyes to more opportunities for implementing different aspects of the program into education and language teaching. I was able to weave a lot of our Kwak'wala language throughout the program and especially within our practicum component. Through doing this, I was able to visualize more of how I can utilize the tools and resources gained from the program into creating a trauma-informed space for uplifting spirits, language revitalization, connection to the land, water, and air, and honouring the roots of yoga and how beneficial it can be to healing. I am also really looking forward to being able to collaborate with my practicum group and other program participants in our community to begin implementing these important practices at home with our Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw people.” - Gloria, Kwakwaka’wakw educator and language learner
“It was life changing and transformative and the FNWYI training brought in the final pieces of reclaiming my identity.” - Avis, Kwakwaka’wakw and Haida
The program has become a foundational part of all her work
She is using the framework to create a suicide prevention program for FN youth who live with the spirit of suicide. This was directly inspired by and is grounded in how the FNWYI was built and delivered
Learning to breathe and be embodied is an act of resistance to the ongoing impacts of colonization that she wants for all of her people