Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory

09/04/2026

08/31/2026

International Overdose Awareness Day 2026 | August 31

Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) brings people and communities around the world together to remember lives lost to overdose, support those affected, and take action to prevent future deaths.

IOAD began in 2001 as a BBQ and social gathering for people impacted by overdose at The Salvation Army needle exchange in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2012, Penington Institute has led International Overdose Awareness Day, helping transform a local gathering into a global day of action.

For Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory, IOAD is an opportunity to honour the voices and experiences of people with lived and living experience, share evidence-informed knowledge, and strengthen community-led approaches to substance use and overdose prevention.

Remember. Educate. Act.

Together, we can:

• Honour and remember those we have lost to overdose

• Support families, friends, and communities

• Reduce stigma through compassion, education, and understanding

• Promote evidence-based overdose prevention and harm reduction

• Centre the knowledge and leadership of people with lived and living experience

• Build healthier, safer, and more connected communities

Overdose is preventable. Every life matters, and every community has a role to play.

This August 31, let’s move beyond awareness toward action, connection, and change.

Learn more and access IOAD campaign resources through the International Overdose Awareness Day initiative led by Penington Institute: https://www.overdoseday.com

💜 Remember. Educate. Act.

08/20/2026

The Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory extends our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and community of four-year-old Jusi Padlayat of Ivujivik, Nunavik, a child who died August 3 after becoming seriously ill.

Jusi's death is a tragedy, and it is the direct result of a health-care system that keeps failing Indigenous children in the North. His family says they pleaded for care repeatedly. By the time he reached Montreal, it was too late.

We grieve with Jusi's family and community, and we name this for what it is: systemic neglect. Twelve of Nunavik's fourteen Inuit communities have no hospital. This pattern has to end.

We support the coroner's investigation and demand it stay accountable to Jusi's family first.

Every Indigenous child deserves timely, safe, culturally safe care, regardless of postal code or plane schedules. Jusi deserved better. Every child after him deserves the same chance to live.

08/17/2026

🔥 Join Our Upcoming Webinar! 🔥
Ogíyes’a – One Who Helps / Helper (Nakoda Language) Webinar Series

Join us for the next event in our Community Connections Series, an initiative of the Saskatchewan and National Indigenous Women’s HIV & STBBI Wellness Hubs.

🔥 What We Bring to the Fire: Holding Space for the Water
📅 Monday, August 24, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM CST
📌 Registration is required: https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/d7bktYDVSWyVCKM0QoNabg

Presenter: Jenelle McArthur, Community Connections Facilitator

What if community is like a fire that we all have a responsibility to tend? This lived experience presentation explores the campfire as a metaphor for connection, belonging, nourishment, and shared learning. Each person arrives carrying their own stories, strengths, emotions, and experiences- their own water. Together, we learn that everyone has something to bring, everyone has something to share, and every person has a place around the fire.

Who should attend?
• Healthcare providers
• Community supporters
• Healthcare advocates
• Community members

Learn more about the Saskatchewan and National Indigenous Women’s HIV & STBBI Wellness Hubs: https://research.uregina.ca/roots-to-wellness/research-projects/hiv-stbbi/

07/28/2026

Today is World Hepatitis Day. 💚

Someone you love could be living with Hepatitis and not even know, because it can affect anyone and often has no symptoms.

Hepatitis C can often be cured; Hepatitis B can be prevented with vaccination.

Knowledge is Medicine. Know the facts. End stigma. Get tested.

07/24/2026

July 24 – International Self-Care Day 🌿

Self-care is more than taking a break. It is about nurturing our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being while staying connected to our culture, community, and the land. It is an ongoing practice that may look different for everyone and is woven into our everyday lives.

This International Self-Care Day, the Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory invites you to explore our Indigenous Self-Care Bingo. Inspired by Indigenous ways of knowing, these activities encourage meaningful moments of reflection, connection, movement, creativity, and community.

Whether you're spending time outdoors, connecting with an Elder, listening to traditional music, creating art, participating in ceremony, or caring for the land, every small act of self-care contributes to a healthier, more vibrant life.

Together, these everyday practices create a path toward personal and collective well-being.

Take a moment to explore the bingo card and reflect on the self-care practices that are already part of your journey—or perhaps discover a few new ones. Share your card and inspire others to embrace self-care as an ongoing practice.

07/16/2026

There's still time to register!

🔥 Join Our Upcoming Webinar! 🔥

Ogíyes’a – One Who Helps / Helper (Nakoda Language) Webinar Series

Join us for the second event in our Community Connections Series, an initiative of the Saskatchewan and National Indigenous Women’s HIV & STBBI Wellness Hubs.

🔥 The Power of Community
📅 Monday, July 20, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM CST
📌 Registration is required: https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/1tOtLj2qR_qfZfwUnyHsaA

What does the campfire represent? More than warmth, it is a place where people gather, share stories, build relationships, and strengthen community. Join Community Connections Facilitator Jenelle McArthur as she shares lived experiences of transforming isolation into connection and explores how we can intentionally co-create thriving, supportive communities.

Who should attend?
• Healthcare providers
• Community supporters
• Healthcare advocates
• Community members

Learn more about the Saskatchewan and National Indigenous Women’s HIV & STBBI Wellness Hubs: https://research.uregina.ca/roots-to-wellness/research-projects/hiv-stbbi

07/16/2026

🌿 What a meaningful afternoon of connection and learning!

Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory was honoured to welcome a group of visiting university students from Yucatán, Mexico, participating in the STEM English Language Enhancement & Cultural Program 2026.

Together, we shared stories, perspectives, and culture through a hands-on beading activity designed by Jayda and facilitated by Kiana, with support from Hunter, a youth from our Indigenous Regalia-Making and Pow Wow Dance Club. There was laughter, conversation, reciprocal learning, and new friendships.

We also engaged in thoughtful discussions about cybersecurity, AI, Indigenous data sovereignty, and the ethical governance of data—timely conversations that resonate deeply with our commitment to advancing Indigenous health, wellness, and self-determination.

Thank you to the University of Regina International Study Abroad & Global Mobility Office for making this wonderful cultural exchange possible. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn with and from one another. 💛

UR International Study Abroad & Global Mobility

07/02/2026

🍁 Canada Day: A Time to Reflect and Learn 🍁

Canada Day means different things to different people.

For many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, July 1 is a time to remember the harm caused by colonization, the loss of their lands, broken promises, and the residential school system. These events have affected Indigenous families and communities for many generations.

At Roots to Wellness Research Collaboratory, we believe everyone has the right to be healthy and well. We know that many Indigenous communities still face unfair barriers to healthcare, education, housing, and other important supports.

Reconciliation means more than saying sorry. It means learning, listening, and acting. We are committed to working with Indigenous communities in respectful ways and supporting Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and community-led research.

This Canada Day, we encourage everyone to:
- Learn about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action.
- Take time to learn about the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
- Support Indigenous-owned businesses and community organizations.
- Listen to Indigenous voices and help build a fairer future for everyone.

Healing begins with learning, respect, and working together.