Zine - Expressions of our health: Perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and youth
December 2025
From May to July 2025, the NCCIH, in partnership with Birchbark Collaborative, undertook a national digital storytelling and workshop project, Stories of our health: Perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth. With funding from the TD Bank Group, this project explored the concept of health and well-being, through stories shared by young Indigenous people from across Canada.
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. This included drawings, cartoons, short stories, poems, paintings, collages, or any media that they felt would help them express their thoughts and feelings about health. All submissions received are included in the zine along with artwork and artist statements.
In all, 40 First Nations and Métis artists, ranging in age from 5 through 18 and located within six provinces and one territory, submitted 50 artworks for this publication. Together, their art, and in some cases artist statements, express how these youth understand their own health and wellness. Health and the creation of art are wellness promotions in action.
Learn more about the project in our webstory | View or download the youth art zine (PDF)