The Healthy Aboriginal Network

The Healthy Aboriginal Network, a British Columbia incorporated non-profit society, creates comic books on health and social issues for youth. Some titles:

Level Up is about Terry, a kid who is contemplating dropping out of school. But before he gets a chance, he’s asked to spend some time with his cousin Dave, a successful game developer in the city.
Staying in School

Darkness Calls is the story of a teenager who is bullied at school, is misunderstood by his teacher and feels socially isolated from his family. This suicide prevention comic book is about to go into its third print run –once again on high quality coated paper (which turned out much sharper and brighter than the first printing).

Darkness Calls is also available in a moving short, in color, in a First Nations languag (Gitxsan, from the Hazelton, BC area) for the additional benefit of language retention.

On the Turn is about a young woman that quite unexpectantly gets hooked on poker at school. Gambling addiction comic book

But through counselling at her local friendship centre and the support of her parents, she is able to make amends to the people she hurt the most –her family. When we were focus group testing the story with youth, one young woman volunteered that she was learning poker from her father. She questioned whether she even wanted to continue to learn the game; she was so moved by the story. Talk about making it all worthwhile.

An Invited Threat is about a young boy and what he likes to eat more than anything – junk food. His family exercises and they eat together at the table, but they don’t always have time to prepare a healthy meal. And it’s about someone who has the ability to change the dietary habits of his people –the local store manager.

This comic on Diabetes Prevention was over a year in the making. The story was focus group tested with youth and health professionals for its ability to convey the idea of what is, and what is not healthy food. Everyone involved in its creation is Aboriginal.

For the full article...

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!