This publication is available for download at: nccih.ca.
All NCCIH materials are available free of charge and can be reproduced in whole or in part with appropriate attribution and citation. All NCCIH materials are to be used solely for non-commercial purposes. To help us measure impact of these materials, please inform us of their use.
La version française est également disponible au ccnsa.ca sous le titre : Expressions de notre santé : perspectives des enfants et des jeunes des Premières Nations, inuits et métis.
Citation: Birchbark Collaborative. (2025).
Expressions of our health: Perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth. National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health.
For further information or to obtain additional copies, please contact:
National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH)
3333 University Way
Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9 Canada
Tel: (250) 960-5250
Fax: (250) 960-5644
Email: nccih@unbc.ca
Web: nccih.ca
ISBN (print): 978-1-77368-652-3
ISBN (online): 978-1-77368-653-0
Stories of our health: Perspectives
of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth
The NCCIH has many resources on First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples’ health; however, few specific to Indigenous youth. Over 2025, the NCCIH undertook a national digital storytelling project, Seeing the stories of our health: Perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth to better understand what health and well-being mean to Indigenous young people.
Digital storytelling - the art of combining oral tradition with digital technology - is a community-based, learner-centred approach to generating knowledge. It involves using computer software to create a 3-5 minute video to illustrate a personal story. Three digital storytelling workshops took place in Winnipeg, Prince George, and Ottawa with Indigenous youth (aged 14-20). These resulted in eleven digital stories.
An accompanying guide on digital storytelling has been created so that First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, communities, and organizations have the tools at hand to be able to undertake a successful digital storytelling project and workshops with Indigenous youth.
In addition to the digital stories, this project included the development of a podcast series, Hearing the stories of our health: Perspectives of First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth. Nine of the digital storytellers participated in this podcast series where they could further reflect on their lives, their communities, and what health really means to them in a world that often forgets to ask them.
The Expressions of our health: Perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth zine came about through a call for submissions for a zine art contest for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and youth. Youth, aged 5 through 18, were asked to creatively express what health and wellness meant to them, through any type of artwork that could be translated to a print format.
North Island Métis Association, Campbell River, British Columbia
Drawing, 9x12”, 2025
Charlee feels calm and happy when she hears the bees buzz and birds tweet.
ELLIANA
5 YEARS OLD
Cowichan, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Booklet, 2025
This booklet of drawings includes “Health and wellness”, “Oregon grape” “Camas lily”, “Heart”, “Dandelion”, “Fireweed”, “Salay”, and “Huckleberry”.
ALESSIA
6 YEARS OLD
La Ronge, Saskatchewan
Markers and crayons, 8.5x 11”, 2025
“Family activities”
BEN
6 YEARS OLD
Beaumont, Alberta
Drawing, 8x11”, 2025
Ben is showcasing he and his friends enjoying a fun game of soccer for what health and wellness means to him.
EMERSON
6 YEARS OLD
Qathet Métis Community Association, Powell River, British Columbia
Fish painting, 2025
Emerson loves to paint things he loves, especially fish, as his aunty is a fish biologist and recently taught him how to fly fish.
ANNIKA
8 YEARS OLD
Métis Nation, Ontario
Drawing, 8x11”, 2025
“Healthy foods”
BELLA
8 YEARS OLD
Cowichan, Vancouver
Island, British Columbia
Booklet, 2025
This booklet of drawings includes: “Health and wellness”, “I love the earth”, “Mother tree”, “Camas lily”, “Canoeing”, “Dandelion”, and “Fishing”.
BREELYN
8 YEARS OLD
Roseau River Anishinaabe
First Nation, Manitoba
Beadwork, 2025
Beadwork bracelet with charm.
MEADOW
8 YEARS OLD
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Acrylic on canvas, 8x10”, 2025
I just love art. These paint pens are really juicy and my painting is also very juicy.
NATHAN
8 YEARS OLD
Wendake, Quebec
Felt-tip pen drawing, 11x8.5”, 2025
“Health”
PABLO
8 YEARS OLD
Ermineskin Cree Nation, Alberta
Pencil, marker, paper, 2025
These drawings are things I am doing and things I want to do! I have tried doing a bicycle kick lots of times, and I have a yellow soccer jersey with Ronaldo’s number on it. I wish to be on a soccer team one day, wearing a black and red jersey like in my drawing. I love to swim, it’s my favourite thing to do, and am in swimmer level 5. My drawing is of me under the water holding my breath for a long time. My mom has promised to put me in jiu jitsu soon, and my drawing is of me doing jiu jitsu and karate!
WESTON
8 YEARS OLD
La Ronge, Saskatchewan
Pencil and marker, 8.5x11”, 2025
“My family”
YUMI
8 YEARS OLD
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Saskatchewan
Pencil sketch, 2025
The drawing is called, ᐱᓯᑦ (pîsim). In Cree, the word pîsim means both sun and moon. We chose the name pîsim together because it expresses how 1 word (or in this case, 1 image) can mean more than one thing. The sun and rain nourish our growth.
The moon and stars represent the night which gives us time to rest. It is not just a moon or a sun, it is both. Likewise, it is not only stars or rain depicted, it is both. The rest of the image is a little less abstract: The soil (earth) is filled with love. The pot is home, and the poppies mean peace. Three poppies signify community.
EDWYN
9 YEARS OLD
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Mixed media collage, 8x10”, 2025
“My culture, nature and health”
EMBER-LING
9 YEARS OLD
Qathet Métis Community Association, Powell River, British Columbia
Beaded earrings, 2025
Flower painting, 2025
Art especially beading helps me keep calm and focused when I worry. It helps being creative.
AYDEN
10 YEARS OLD
Edmonton, Alberta
Pencil on paper, 8x11”, 2025
“Somewhere calm”
HUDSON
10 YEARS OLD
North Island Métis Association, Campbell River, British Columbia 9x12”, 2025
“Mountains”
LANA
10 YEARS OLD
Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, Alberta
Poem, 2025
“The path of healing”
SHAYLA
10 YEARS OLD
Roseau River Anishinaabe
First Nation, Manitoba
Digital art using iPad, 2025
“Procreate” represents healing and friendship.
CLARA
11 YEARS OLD
Essipit, Quebec
Drawing, 2025 “Meadow”
HUDSON
11 YEARS OLD
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Photography, poetry, 8x10”, 2025
“My strong juicy arms”
JOYCE
11 YEARS OLD
Sandy Lake, Ontario
Crayon and pencil, 2025
I like when the sun goes up. It makes me feel great.
OLIVIER
12 YEARS OLD
Métis Nation, Quebec
Photographs, 2025
“Young Métis working to repair road camp”
Since he’s been included in the camp chores, he’s gained a lot of confidence. His speech and his approach to us show that he’s a young man on the rise. He’s finding his place while remaining modest.
The fact that he’s a responsible driver demonstrates his progress. Our trust in him makes him feel secure.
PIERRE
12 YEARS OLD
Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Digital art, 2025
“Starry Sunset” This piece captures a moment where the world slows down—where the sun dips below the waves and the stars quietly take their place. The cool blues and soft greens represent calm and clarity, while the rising stars remind us that even after a long day, there’s always light in the darkness. The peaceful horizon is a reminder to pause, breathe, and know that healing happens in small, gentle moments. This is what wellness looks like when the mind finds rest.
RAYDEN
12 YEARS OLD
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Pencil on paper, 11x9”, 2025
“My shadow”
ARABELLA
13 YEARS OLD
Mid Island Métis Nation, Nanaimo, British Columbia
Painted acrylic, 8x10”, 2025
“Sacred insight” is how I see my health and wellness as a Métis youth. The eye shows vision and selfawareness, looking inward while staying connected to the world. Water is sacred in Métis culture. The swirling fish in the iris represent life, movement, and connection to nature.
MAISIE
13 YEARS OLD
Métis Western Region 2A, Saskatchewan
Digital drawing and poem, 1624x1588px, 2025
“When I am …”
SOPHIA
13 YEARS OLD
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Acrylic on canvas, 8x10”, 2025
Earlier this summer I saw lights in the sky and I’m sure it was a UFO. I love spaceships and I love to draw.... both of those things make me happy.
AYRIANNA
14 YEARS OLD
Neyaashiinnigmiing, Ontario
Painting and paper art, 11x8.5”, 2019
Ayrianna is now 14 years old and to this day just as passionate in self-care through introspection and belief in her knowing of self, and pursuing wholistic health care through a naturopath doctor and personal growth and development.
Pencil crayon, paper, 8.5x11”, 2019
FARRAH
14 YEARS OLD
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Watercolour on paper, 8x9.5”, 2025
“Trees with colourful skies”
LIAM
14 YEARS OLD
Edmonton, Alberta
Photograph, 2025
“Saskatoon jam”
TEIESWATETAH
14 YEARS OLD
Kahnawake, Quebec
Digital drawing, 2025
When you are not well, it doesn’t immediately show, but there can be signs. When you are not well, you isolate, withdraw and shut down. This is a native character that I designed, but he has no name which I did on purpose. He could represent anyone. He’s sitting and watching everyone else have fun. He’s feeling anxious, afraid to be judged, and afraid to be seen.
This is the same character. Being unwell is slowly creeping up on him. The goodness and healthiness of him is leaving his body. The colours in the picture also get more duller to show this.
The skin walker is keeping anything healthy from him. It’s a metaphor for someone putting on a mask or pretending they are well when they are not.
There’s more to this story because it’s part of a longer comic book that I drew. The skin walker prevents him from sleeping, which makes him cranky and everyone gets put off by that. His friends try to help him, but he gets more mad.
My message is: Check in even if you think the person is doing fine because they may not be.
BELLA
15 YEARS OLD
Tillicum VNFC, Victoria, British Columbia
Collage,
2025
The “Living Collage” was inspired by the Zine, a mural of resources and reminders for all. Hopefully the image speaks for itself!
Collage and pencil drawing, 2025
The page of the drawing of herself holding our family cat is a display of happiness “Wellness = Joy”, it explains that if you keep your wellness a priority it will turn to joy! Proves wellness is crucial for wellbeing.
Collage,
2025
The “Revive Nature” is a display of “unplugging” off devices and into the natural world which is part of who we are as humans and essential for feeling fully alive”! In hindsight Wellbeing, feeling connected and grounded with Creator!
I’m SO proud of my Bella! 15, turning 16! Her ways, thinking and art truly show that there is hope for those who seek self-care, wellness and awareness in this broken world!
