She is the 'safe person' for her nieces. Now she runs the Auntie Program for other Indigenous girls

Maxine Peigan says the Auntie Program was inspired by her own nieces.

"I have six nieces between the ages five to 16," she said. "Each of them are impacted by the social issues that we're all faced with here in Canada."

Peigan, a registered mental health therapist originally from Pasqua First Nation in Saskatchewan, created the eight-week Auntie Program, which focuses on social issues that impact young Indigenous girls in smaller First Nations communities.

She takes pride in providing a safe and supportive place for her nieces when they needed to talk.

"If I could be a safe person for my nieces, I need to create a program for other children, other than just counselling. That's kind of the core of how it all kind of snowballed together."

Last month, Peigan was invited to Peepeekisis Cree Nation, located 115 kilometres northeast of Regina, to work with a group of girls from the ages of 12 to 17 years of age at Pesakastew School. They went over eight main topics, but also branched off into deeper conversations.

When discussing healthy relationships and boundaries, Peigan said a comment from one of the girls stuck with her.

"I understand why my mom is the way she is now," Peigan remembers her saying.

It was meaningful for her to help these girls recognize these things in their own lives and learn to heal. 

Cherish Desomie-Bird, from Peepeekisis Cree Nation, said she enjoyed the program.

"We learned about our historical ways, and the ways that we lost them when residential schools took all that away from us," she said. "Now they're trying to bring it back to us and I'm thankful for that."

Desnomie-Bird said the program has helped her speak confidently in a group setting.

"I think I'm gonna keep that with me, because I'm shy sometimes and I feel overwhelmed, and I can't find the right words," she said. "But when I came here and when she started talking about stories … I started to come out of my shell."

Desomie-Bird said she wants to make her mushum and kokum proud, especially after the discussions about residential schools. 

"My mushum and kokum went to residential school and I know they had a hard time."

The program included talking circles where they spoke about suicide ideation, grief and loss, healthy relationships and boundaries.  

Peigan said a lot of the girls are dating, so they went through red flags in relationships — what they look like and how to protect yourself. She also talked to them about substance abuse and healthy ways of living. 

"A lot of these girls have their own stories, and they have their own hurts," she said. "They come here, and they resonate, they relate, they cry. Some talk, some are just listening."

Alani Desnomie, another participant, said she was glad she had a chance to be part of it and would recommend it to others. 

"I learned a lot about mental health, and that nobody's perfect."

She said learning about the different life cycles — from childhood to young adulthood to adulthood — really stood out for her. 

"I will probably remember everything until I am older," she said. 

Peigan also invited an elder from Pasqua First Nation to speak with the girls about praying and medicines. 

They learned how to make medicine bags and took part in art therapy. 

They also went over rites of passage and the girls' moon time. She said some of the girls don't have moms or aunties they can have those conversations with, or are too shy to ask for self-care items. She provides self-care baskets at the end of the program. 

"I grew up in my dad's home and I didn't have my mom there to buy me pads and to do those things for me. So I know how it is," she said. 

Peigan said the feedback after the program is always heartfelt.

"It's almost like grief is visiting because they don't want it to stop. They want us to keep coming back, or wishing we're in the school every Wednesday afternoon to be there with them. So it is a need."

The program for Peepeekisis ended last Wednesday, but Peigan said the girls can always reach out to her after the program is done.

"I always tell them, "if you're going through something, reach out to me, text me." I usually keep my phone on and if I'm available, I'll get back to you." 

She said it's about bridging those connections and creating a safe place.

"Some of the girls still reach out today that I've taught in other schools."