Integrating Resilience Coaching, Wellness Services and Sustainability Goals

"Indigenous knowledge and practices offer significant insights into the importance of creating solutions, programs, and policies that incorporate within them ways to build connection, show compassion, and nurture strengths of both the individual and the community together." By LaVerne M. Demientieff, L, MSW, Ph.D., UAF Clinical Associate ProfessorBy LaVerne M. Demientieff, L, MSW, Ph.D., UAF Clinical Associate Professor

Alaska is home to at least 20 distinct official Native American and Indigenous communities including Ahtna, Unangam Tunuu / Aleut, Alutiiq / Sugpiaq, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Eyak, Gwich'in, Haida, Han, Holikachuk, Inupiaq, Koyukon, Tanana, Tanacross, Tlingit, and Tsimshian.?

Dragon Global Solutions, LLC, an Alaskan based female disadvantaged business offers global virtual life, career, coaching, Human Resources, Project Management, Social Media Management, Leadership development and various administrative services. Our coaching packages are named after our Alaskan Indigenous and Native American communities to support and provide an additional income stream to share the stories that were passed down from their ancestors and elders.

In an increasingly complex and fast paced world, the importance of resilience cannot be overstated.

Resilience-the ability to adapt to adversity and bounce back from challenges--which has become a focal point in coaching and wellness practices. While modern psychology offers various frameworks for fostering resilience, there is a wealth of wisdom in Native and Indigenous cultures that can enhance our understanding of this vital trait. By integrating these traditional perspectives into contemporary coaching and wellness services, along with enhancing the awareness of sustainability goals, we can cultivate a more holistic approach to resilience.

Native and Indigenous cultures have long recognized the interconnectedness of all life. This worldview emphasizes relationships--not only with other people but also with nature, ancestors, and the spiritual realm.

Dragon Global Solutions, LLC would like to introduce a resilience coaching package called "Gwich'in." in honor of the Gwich'in, The People of the Caribou. The "Gwich'in coaching package will incorporate (3) coaches into this package aligning with a holistic approach with Mind, Body and Soul sessions. Our sessions for this package will include a Native American and Indigenous storyteller, along with a Fitness Trainer, (virtual fitness coach) and Management 1.0 (Leadership trainer) sessions.

Universities can incorporate this coaching package to prepare students for the workforce, and organizations can incorporate this package into their Health and Wellness and Sustainability Programs.

A brief summary about the Gwich'in People.

They are one of the most northerly Indigenous peoples on the North American continent, living at the northwestern limits of the boreal forest. Only the Inuit live further north. They are part of a larger family of Indigenous people known as Athapaskans, which include peoples such as the Slavey, Dogrib, Han and Tutchone but our language and way of life is distinct.

At the time of contact, they lived in nine different bands with lands stretching from the interior of Alaska through the Yukon and into the Mackenzie Valley. They still maintain close cultural and family ties with our Gwich'in relatives living in 15 communities in Alaska, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.

Traditionally, their lands extended from the mountain headwaters of the Peel and Arctic Red Rivers in the south, to the Mackenzie Delta in the north, from the Anderson River in the east, to the Richardson Mountains in the west.

The Gwich'in life and culture have traditionally been based on the Porcupine Caribou herd, the people's main source of food, tools, and clothing. Fish and other animals supplement their diet. The Gwich'in practiced a nomadic lifestyle until the 1870's, when fur traders came into the area to establish forts and trading posts that later became settlements.

Many families still maintain summer and winter camps outside their communities. Hunting, fishing and trapping remain important both culturally and economically, with caribou, moose and whitefish being staples of their diet. (https://aasb.org/cultural-strength-and-resilience/)

Here are some key principles and factors that influenced how our "Gwich'in" Coaching Package was created, particularly in the context of sustainability.

Incorporating Native American and Indigenous Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool in many Native cultures. It serves not only to pass down knowledge but also to help individuals make sense of their experiences. While our Dragon coaches partner with Native American and Indigenous coaches, they will help identify strengths, past successes in overcoming challenges, this strengths-based approach can empower individuals and help them build self confidence in their ability to navigate future adversities, both personally and environmentally. This process can foster a sense of belonging and validation, which are essential components of resilience. Moreover, stories that highlight sustainable practices and environmental stewardship can inspire clients to adopt and learn about these values also bringing awareness of cultural values and practices while focusing on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Creating Safe Places

Establishing a safe and inclusive environment is crucial. Open dialogue while comfortably engaging in various stories without fear or judgement. This includes discussions about sustainability goals and the role community in achieving them.

Holistic Well-Being

An approach to wellness that includes a holistic view that encompasses, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Resilience coaching can benefit from this integrative perspective by promoting practices that nurture all aspects of well-being.

Coaching resilience through the lens of Native and Indigenous cultures, with a focus on sustainability, offers valuable insights and practices that can enhance contemporary wellness services.

Are you a university or organization that can offer these coaching services to your students and employees?

For inquiries about these services, pricing, and/or investment opportunities.

Please reach out to me:

Email: [email protected] or let's connect on LinkedIn.

Website: Http://www.dragongs.com

Thank you for reading this article. I am looking forward to our connection and collaborative efforts to BE the change this world needs.