Colonization and racism are root causes of trauma for Indigenous peoples in the NWT. The impacts of isolation and evacuation due to climate disasters and the global pandemic have also contributed to collective trauma for all NWT residents. Individual, collective, and intergenerational trauma is behind too many of the health and social challenges impacting NWT families and communities. The GNWT is taking steps to provide equitable, person-centred, anti-racist and trauma-informed care to all residents in ways that connect and coordinate programs and services. To prevent, interrupt and address the effects of trauma, the GNWT will:

1. Ensure that policies and programs are designed and renewed with a trauma-informed, anti-racist and cultural safety lens that is informed by residents;
2. Support Indigenous governments and other partners to develop and deliver culturally appropriate, northern and regional trauma treatment, mental wellness and addictions programming by removing administrative barriers and streamlining supports;
3. Enable residents to focus on healing by making programs and services easier to access through an integrated and person-centered service delivery approach and by working in collaboration with Indigenous governments, community governments and other partners;
4. Encourage community wellness and self-determination by supporting the development and delivery of community-based wellness programs to address mental wellness, prevention, early intervention, and holistic health.