The students of Ditidaht Community School took part in Wellness Day activities as part of a First Nations Health Authority initiative. The event took place in the school gymnasium on June 18 and was open to the community.
Tables were set up around the gym, each offering the children fun opportunities to learn about health and first nations culture. Groups of children spent time at each table doing fun activities centered around health and wellness, while parents and grandparents looked on.
Resource people were brought in from the surrounding communities to help the children learn about everyday health and safety.
Dental therapist Melanie Braker of First Nations Health Authority was there to teach children how to care for their teeth and had plenty of dental care goodies to hand out.
Popular with the children was the handwashing station operated by staff from the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Child & Youth program. Children were invited to apply sanitizer to their hands and they were asked to wash them as if they were washing with soap and water. Then they put their hands under a special light that caused their skin to glow in areas they missed with the sanitizer.
An RCMP officer provided pointers for internet safety and nursing student Jennifer Phillips talked to the children about bicycle safety, including the use of helmets.
VIHA dietician Helene Dufour had an interactive game that teaches children about healthy, traditional foods and NTC’s Health Promotion Worker Matilda Atleo taught the children the concept of holistic wellness.
The children spent the morning going to each of the tables to learn fun things about wellness. They were treated to a lunch of chili and hotdogs complete with fresh fruit.
The day wrapped up with door prizes that included restaurant gift certificates and funky new bicycle helmets.
