Stitching Wellness: Sewing Circles for Northern Patients

The Cause

Residents of the Northwest Territories often need to travel to Edmonton, Alberta, to access advanced medical care. For those from remote communities, these journeys can be fraught with challenges—missed appointments, stress, and difficulties adhering to treatment plans. Long stays away from home also impose physical, financial, and emotional burdens.

Goba Care, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization based in Edmonton, supports Northern patients and their families in navigating the complexities of medical travel. Our goal is to ensure successful medical journeys, enabling patients to return home healthier and more quickly. In doing so, they can resume their lives and contribute to the social and economic well-being of their families and communities.

Founded in 2021 by Melinda Laboucan from Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, Goba Care has rapidly expanded to serve clients from over 30 communities in NWT and Nunavut. Driven by Melinda’s passion for strengthening Northern communities, Goba Care offers vital services, including in-person and virtual support before, during, and after medical appointments, as well as connections to cultural and community resources.

Many of Goba Care's clients stay in Edmonton for extended periods, whether for cancer treatment, childbirth, or physical rehabilitation. During these long stays, patients often experience homesickness and isolation, as they are far from the familiar traditions and ways of healing found in their communities. To address this, Goba Care seeks funding to expand our cultural offerings through "Stiching Wellness." We plan to provide sewing kits for patients to work on independently, along with hosting sewing circles where patients and caregivers can gather and create together. Goba Care staff, including Executive Director Melinda Laboucan and Project Coordinator Brittney Ullulaq Porter have worked with Elders and knowledge keepers to learn about traditional materials and techniques and have extensive teaching experience.

Cultural gatherings hosted by Goba Care in the past have been well-attended and deeply appreciated by participants. With the support of community partners who donate time and space, we are eager to extend these opportunities to more Northern patients.

Who Will it Benefit?

This project will directly benefit residents of the Northwest Territories, particularly medical travel patients, their families, and caregivers. Beyond helping participants pass time, it will have a direct impact on their health and well-being. As Emanuelson et al. (Soc Sci & Med, 2020) note, “Sewing brings people together at a time when social isolation is becoming more apparent, and gives women the chance to learn vital, tangible skills that maintain social, economic, and cultural significance. Sewing is also a form of healing that helps ease the mind and provides a sense of self-worth and value.”

Recent research has highlighted the deep connection between creative expression and well-being. For many Northern communities, sewing and traditional arts are essential to cultural continuity and collective health. Studies show that loneliness has serious negative impacts on health, while gathering for a shared purpose fosters social support and resilience, reducing stress and improving both mental and physical well-being.

Families and caregivers will also benefit indirectly as patients experience reduced isolation and improved emotional well-being, making it easier for loved ones to focus on their own mental and physical health. This expanded sense of connection and cultural engagement will ultimately ripple through Northern communities, further strengthening social ties and cultural traditions.