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Evening gatherings for men's mental health and wellness in Aklavik have grown so popular that the Aklavik Indian Band (AIB) is fielding calls for how to set up wellness nights in other communities.

Tipi Talks, part of AIB's Community Wellness 'Cultural Connections' initiative, hosts evening meals on Monday and Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for men and Thursdays for women. Elders are also welcome.

Wellness support worker Frederick Arey said the group was initially established in August 2023. Originally, they began hosting Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous groups, but the stigma surrounding those two organizations was causing some people to stay away. So they reorganized the evenings around traditional knowledge and feasts, and they've been a hit ever since.

"We start off by doing a quick roundtable of check-ins to see how everybody's doing," Arey said. "From there, we like to offer resources for AA, SmartRecovery and also a traditional component.

"It's a really interactive group."

Attendees pick a topic they want to discuss and then Arey said he finds educational material, usually a T.E.D. Talk, about the subject. The group watches the video and pauses it to discuss at key points, or to make sure everyone is able to follow along with the subject matter.

Topics include culture and healing, life skills, repairing relationships and establishing healthy friendships.

Arey acknowledged he too is a substance abuse survivor, now two-and-a-half years sober, so he can relate to attendees on the struggles they're coping with. He added he also maintains the local 24-hour crisis line and said anyone in need of someone to talk to can call him for help any time.

Reception from the community has been overwhelming, according to Arey. The group held a two-week on the land program in spring 2025.

"We collaborated with a bunch of organizations to host a community wellness on-the-land program," said Arey. "It was designed to showcase who we are as Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and Metis people. One of the things we highlighted and we do in each session is to talk about rights of passage for men.

"We like to gear programming to cultural components, like working with caribou, beaver, fish or muskox."

Talks are also in the works with the Inuvik Men's Support group with the hopes of organizing a Beaufort Delta regional men's gathering.

Funding for the program is provided through the Department of Justice, which has money available for men's support groups.

Arey invited any other groups who want to establish mental health gatherings to reach out and he would help guide them.