The Portage Rotary Club held their weekly lunch meeting yesterday, and those in attendance had the opportunity to learn about an important service here in the community.

Wawokiya Program Coordinator Brendan Schaan spoke at yesterday's meeting and explained what the Wawokiya program is and what they bring to the community. He explains over the past couple of months there has been an upswing in the number of people coming to the office looking to learn more about the program.

"It's awesome to see people come in and have those questions and have the desire to make a change for themselves. Even if you aren't a fit for the Wawokiya program, I still like to sit down with people and I like to offer resources in Portage that might help them get in the right direction," explains Schaan, adding there are a number of people in various stages of the program and it's exciting to see different people's progress.

During the meeting, Schaan also spoke a little about the Moose Hide Campaign, a nationwide campaign of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys standing up against violence toward women and children. He notes in times such as the ones we live in, the message of standing together in unity for what is right is an important one. You can learn more about the campaign here.

The Wawokiya program brings together a committee of government and community agencies to support individuals and families and give them the resources they need to reach their goals and change their lives for the better. If you have questions about the program, Schaan encourages you to reach out and call the office at 204-240-7272 or send them an email at wawokiya@portagecrc.com.