The Helping Circle: First Nations Peer Support Network

PREFACE

The Helping Circle is a training curriculum developed for people who want to implement a peer support program. We have attempted to present the training materials from a First Nations perspective, using culturally relevant activities whenever possible. The modules are designed to offer facilitator a wide range of skills and issues to choose from. In addition, the range of exercises in each of the modules include didactic, skill building and experiential activities. We recommend the facilitator choose the activities that are most appropriate for their target group. There are far more activities in this curriculum than could possibly be used in training. Therefore, it is not necessary to use all of the modules or to use the modules in the order they are sequenced in here. One approach in training peer support givers is to offer skill development on a weekend, followed by either weekly or bi-monthly sessions. Another possibility is to offer weekly sessions of two hours each. A complete description of the modules and the training methods are described in Module One. We would like to dedicate this manuscript to all the First Nations students who participated as peer support givers at the First Nations House of Learning, at the University of British Columbia.

Honoré France

Dr. France's research interests are cross-cultural counselling, Transpersonal psychotherapy, group dynamics, and child psychology. He is presently a Professor in the Department of Psychological Foundations of Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. Canada. [He is a member of the Cherokee Nation.]

Rod McCormick

Dr. Rod McCormick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselling Psychology and Director of the Native Indidan Teacher Education program at the University of British Columbia. His primary interests are in First Nations teacher education, cross-cultural counselling and out-door education. [He is a member of the Mohawk nation.]