The Black Advocacy Coalition upNorth (BACupNorth) is hosting a Community Circle for Black families on today at 6:00 p.m. at the Big Lake Eatery in Hay River.

The group is not for profit advocacy organization mobilizing for the rights, equity, and inclusion of the Black community in Canada’s North. The organization is dedicated to creating safe and empowering spaces and addressing systemic barriers.

One way they are doing this is by mobilizing health supports for the Black community in the N.W.T. The group has announced the establishment of Soulful North, which is led by a  community of health care professionals including therapists and counsellors, who are available for Black individuals and families.

“We’re excited to launch a new initiative bringing culturally grounded mental health support to Black families in Yellowknife, Behchokǫ̀ and Hay River,” said organizers in an announcement on social media.

The initiative brings together health care advocates and interdisciplinary professionals, building connections grounded in lived experience as members of the Black community across the North.

“We’re building a sustainable network that connects Black mental health professionals with local community liaisons to provide support rooted in the lived experiences of Black families in the North.”

“From cultural disconnection to limited access to care, Black families in the North face specific challenges. The initiative is our response, built by those who truly understand.”

True North FM reached out to BACupNorth and Soulful North for more details on the initiative.