Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention

2 years – Ontario College Diploma

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Overview

Upcoming Intake: Fall 2026: College Drive – North Bay

Gain the skills and knowledge you need for employment in a variety of addiction settings through practical, hands-on learning. The curriculum is based on the holistic teachings of the Medicine Wheel, with a focus on the root causes of addiction within Indigenous communities. You will learn both cultural and mainstream approaches to addictions counselling. Training ranges from pharmacology to traditional methods including Sacred Circles, Teaching/Learning Circles, and the use of the four sacred medicines – tobacco, cedar, sage and sweet grass.

There is a placement component in this program.

Your Future Career

  • Traditional medicine
  • Alcohol and drug treatment units
  • Family resource centres
  • Young offender residential centres

What You Learn

  • Traditional healing, learning and teaching
  • Cultural specific helping
  • Challenges facing Indigenous communities
  • Interviewing, reporting, and documenting
  • Addictions counselling skills
  • Relapse preventions
  • Multiculturalism
  • Psychology and sociology

Flexible Exit Options: Exit with a College Certificate after one year or exit with an Ontario College Diploma after two years.

OSSD or equivalent, ENG4C or ENG4U

If English is not your first language you must provide proof of English competency.

View current English Language Proficiency Requirements.

Semester 1

CMM125 College Communication
GED100 Environmental Citizenship
IWA113 Introduction to Substance Abuse Counselling and Teaching
IWA114 Contemporary Challenges Facing Native Communities
IWA117 Introduction to Cultural Specific Helping
IWA120 Connecting with Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being & Doing
IWA121 Intergenerational Impacts on Indigenous Identity and Wellness

Semester 2

CMM230 Workplace Communications
GENED General Education Elective - Online
IWA200 Substance Abuse in Families and Native Communities
IWA204  Introduction to Community Development
IWA208 The Accountable IWAP Worker
IWA217 Indigenous Healing Approaches in Helping Practice
IWA218 Navigating Indigenous Mental Health and Addictions Across Service Systems

Semester 3

GENED General Education Elective - Online (IW Sem 3)
IWA209 Evaluating Information
IWA212 Indigenous Languages in the Modern Context
IWA213 Ensidamwaad Mskiki-Understanding Medicine
IWA219 Recovery Support Strategies
IWA220 Prevention and Balancing Wellness
IWA221 Placement and Employment Preparation

Semester 4

IWA215 Field Placement
IWA222 Field Placement Seminar

2025-26 – 2 years – Ontario College Diploma

College Drive Campus – Domestic
Year Tuition Ancillary Fees Material Fee Trip Fee Total
1 $2720.24 $1587 $210 - $4517.24
2 $2720.24 $1423 $60 - $4203.24

2025-26 – 2 years – Ontario College Diploma

College Drive Campus – International
Year Tuition Ancillary Fees Material Fee Trip Fee Total
1 $15547.54 $1975.5 $210 - $17733.04
2 $15547.54 $1811.5 $60 - $17419.04

Mandatory Non-Academic Requirements for Placement:

Work-Integrated Learning (also called Placement, Field Placement, Practicum, Clinical Placement, etc.) provides students with rich and meaningful experiences wherein they have the opportunity to apply and extend the learning they gain from the classroom in real-word contexts. View placement requirements here.

Textbooks:

Check out the Campus Bookstore to not only purchase your textbooks but also view your book list before the semester starts. 

Technology/Devices:

Canadore College has implemented Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to enhance your learning experience in and out of the classroom while ensuring flexibility in learning.

To learn more about BYOD and to find out what is required for your program, please visit https://www.canadorecollege.ca/BYOD

Indigenous Certification Board of Canada (ICBC)

Graduates of the IWAP program are eligible to become accredited through the ICBC. ICBC’S certification is rooted in the belief that Aboriginal communities have unique and legitimate healing needs that demand equally unique spiritual and philosophical approaches and solutions.

Learning outcomes represent culminating demonstrations of learning and achievement. In addition, learning outcomes are interrelated and cannot be viewed in isolation of one another. As such, they should be viewed as a comprehensive whole. They describe performances that demonstrate that significant integrated learning by graduates of the program has been achieved.

View Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

View course outlines

Find out more about General Education program requirements here.

Placement

Students will participate in mandatory placement where they will have the opportunity to integrate classroom learning into real world contexts. Students are responsible for costs associated with transportation to and from assigned placements, which may require travel to adjacent or nearby communities in the region.

There are many options available to students who already have some postsecondary education.

Whether you are looking to study at Canadore from another school,  continue your education at Canadore, or looking to pursue further education elsewhere, we can help find the right path for you!

Whether you want to Transfer TO Canadore, Transfer WITHIN Canadore, or prepare to Transfer FROM Canadore, we've got you covered!

Learn more about Credit Transfer and Pathway opportunities here.