Relationships and sexual health

Chii Kayeh Iyaakwaamiih is a school-based program aiming to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and unplanned pregnancies, as well as to improve self-assertiveness. Its overall goal is to empower school kids with necessary skills and ability to deal with the many challenges associated with transition to teenage and adult life, and to help them attend to their own wellbeing and that of their friends, their family, their community and their Nation. 

This program is given each year to Sec. 1, Sec. 2 and Sec. 3 students in secondary schools across Eeyou Istchee.  

This program is offered in schools, and is a collaboration with the Cree School Board.  

This program was developed with suggestions from youth, Elders, teachers, public health officials, education specialists and community members. In the program, you learn about healthy relationships and develop competencies in a series of lessons developed by the Cree Health Board and the Cree School Board. These lessons focus on understanding what makes a healthy relationship, and they aim to help you to 

• Connect with Cree values and culture 
• Be assertive and resist peer pressure 
• Identify your personal goals  
• Improve your self-esteem 
• Solve problems, both personal and interpersonal 
• Wait until you are fully ready to have sex – and to not be pressured into it 
• Use a condom to prevent STIs and unplanned pregnancies if you are sexually active  
• Work together and share knowledge with others 

While the CBHSSJB is involved in producing the teaching materials, the teaching methods and classroom planning is left for individual principals to implement under Cree School Board supervision. 

Starting in Sec 1 and continuing through Sec 3, students receive four chapters of program content each year, so by the end of Sec 3 they will have received all 12 chapters. Each chapter is expected to run for one week.  

All students receive this service from the teachers of the Cree School Board, who teach the program to students in the classroom, with support from workers from the local CMC. 

For more information, contact your local secondary school’s principal.