Caring Together game teaches healthy lifestyles

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A new board game is hoped to bring the new generation of Aboriginal people closer to traditional, healthier lifestyles. Caring Together is an interactive game developed by a panel of Native educators and health officials. Unlike other board games, Caring Together isn't about winning. It is a game which relies on the responses of the participants to bring everyone to the finish at an equal level.

"There are no winners," said Dr. Vincent Tookenay, with the Native Physicians Association and one of the researchers for the game. "All the players are playing to achieve wellness."

The many objectives of the game include how responsible lifestyle choices can be made, developing better life skills, increasing the awareness of health issues and learning more about Aboriginal culture and tradition. Other objectives of the game, which received its core funding from the Brewers Association of Canada, focus on responsible alcohol consumption. It urges that women consume no alcohol during pregnancy and that Aboriginal youth know the importance of drinking responsibly.

The objectives are inter-woven within hundreds of question cards.

Life skills questions deal with self-esteem, responsible drinking, suicide, education, pregnancy and relationships where players have to make decisions. The decisions are based on the traditional teachings of the Medicine Wheel. Those teachings mean a player must answer questions based on love, caring, truth, respect, courage, humility and wisdom. Other players then decide if the person answering the question incorporated all the principles of the Medicine Wheel in their response.

There are no right and wrong answers to questions about life situations. Answers are judged on the use of the Medicine Wheel principles. Other questions dealing with health and culture are true or false.

"The game is really a primary prevention in getting the information to the younger individuals early in life," said Tookenay."

At the games unveiling at Edmonton's Native Friendship Centre on Jan. 12, visitors got a chance to play.

"I see a lot of the old and new teaching in the game," said an Edmonton man named Chekotah. "I like it."

Donna Woodward, the executive director at the friendship centre said by using fictional situations, players can speak openly about the situations without feeling embarrassed.

"You can open up without getting into your own personal issues," she said.

Not everyone who tried the game liked it, however. Cam Demarre, 23, said he didn't think children or youth would stay interested in the game.

In a world of Nintendo and fast moving toys, a game involving a lot of talking may notinterest younger people, he said.

"I don't think it's really a game for the youth or the kids," he said.

Mel Buffalo, the president of the Indian Association of Alberta, believes the opposite. He sees more and more young people playing board games again.

"A lot of people think that all kids are doing now is playing videos and watching TV, but board games are very popular with the young people," he said.

Buffalo said the association is in full support of the game and what it stands for.

"It promotes community wellness and anything of that nature should be supported by our people," he said.

Although geared at educating children about making healthy choices, Buffalo sees the game being useful to adults also.

"There are probably people out there who haven't ever dealt with some of these issues [in the game] are in adulthood," he said.

Caring Together is to be used in Aboriginal schools, health and social service facilities across the country. It is hoped to be a tool for parents, health care and social service workers and educators to teach Aboriginal youth the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.