Meet Brian Nootchtai.
Brian is a respected Elder on the Whitefish Lake First Nation in Naughton, Ontario. He is a family man who enjoys spending time with his friends and loved ones. Brian works as a Mental Health Case Worker for the North Shore Tribal Council and is committed to improving the quality of life for all Aboriginal people. As a child, Brian experienced the devastating psychological effects of sexual abuse. He has lived with depression and anxiety throughout his life, which eventually led him to seek help through traditional Aboriginal healing methods, such as the teaching of the medicine wheel, to deal with his mental health and addiction issues and seek balance and wellness in his life. Brian faces each day with gratitude for his Ojibway culture and is always willing to share his story in a way that honors his Aboriginal heritage. Brian wants others to understand that the stigma of mental illness is real, and hopes to show that people with mental illnesses can, and do lead fully functional and fulfilling lives.
