ROOTED IN WHITE BEAR FIRST NATIONS
A Place to Belong, Prepare and Lead
Heart Hill Oskapewis is a community-led Indigenous youth and men’s leadership initiative based in White Bear First Nations, Saskatchewan. It creates opportunities for participants to strengthen identity, confidence, discipline, responsibility, wellness, cultural connection, brotherhood, practical life skills, and leadership.
The work reaches beyond one activity or event. Through physical preparation, mountain expeditions, land-based learning, community service, cultural involvement, mentorship, positive group activities, and meaningful challenges, participants are encouraged to prepare consistently, communicate honestly, support one another, make safer decisions, and take responsibility for the people they are becoming.
Heart Hill is rooted in White Bear First Nations, where most of its local activities and community involvement take place. Selected expeditions, camps, gatherings, and leadership opportunities may also welcome participants and collaboration from other First Nations and communities when capacity, preparation, safety, supervision, and resources allow.
The goal is not only to complete an activity. The goal is to help people build the identity, relationships, discipline, and responsibility they can carry home with them.
Heart Hill Oskapewis
Identity. Brotherhood. Leadership.
A community-led Indigenous youth and men’s initiative rooted in White Bear First Nations and built through culture, responsibility, wellness, service, brotherhood, and experience on the land.
"The mountain is not the final goal. The person who returns from it is."
A Place to Belong, Prepare and Lead
Heart Hill Oskapewis operates as a year-round mentorship community where local Indigenous youth and men meet twice monthly to build capacity, engage in physical wellness, and plan for upcoming expeditions. These sessions create a consistent space for belonging and personal accountability, ensuring that the lessons learned on the land are integrated into daily life in White Bear. Heart Hill Oskapewis began two years ago and continues to grow through the commitment of participants, families, and community supporters.
Activity is focused on building “The Whole Man.” We recognize that leadership requires balance. Our programming includes intentional physical training (rucking, hiking, and fitness), mental and emotional tools for overcoming challenges, and spiritual grounding through traditional Indigenous protocols and ceremony.
The name “Oskapewis” refers to the traditional role of a helper or servant-leader. By centering our work on the land, we move away from static environments and into a space where responsibility is immediate and consequences are tangible. This land-based approach accelerates maturity and deepens the bond of brotherhood between participants.
Beyond individual growth, the initiative fosters a community of support. Families are involved in celebrations and milestones, and participants are encouraged to take their leadership back into their households and workplaces, creating a ripple effect of wellness across the community.
Rooted in White Bear, Open to Connection
Heart Hill Oskapewis serves Indigenous young men and boys who are seeking a deeper connection to their identity and a stronger sense of purpose. While our roots and primary base of operation are within the White Bear First Nations, our vision extends to the broader network of Indigenous communities across the region.
We believe that brotherhood and leadership are not confined by borders. By strengthening our own community, we create a beacon for others to follow. We welcome young men who are ready to commit to their own growth, respect the land, and honor the traditions that have sustained our people for generations.
Our doors are open to those who are looking for more than just an activity—they are looking for a community. Whether you are from White Bear or a neighboring nation, if you are looking to prepare yourself for the challenges of the future while remaining grounded in the wisdom of the past, you belong here.
What We Do
Our Wellness Framework is built upon land-based leadership, cultural connection, and a community-led Indigenous-led human development process.
Holistic Wellness Programs
Comprehensive human development programming focused on emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental wellbeing.
Leadership and Human Development
Workshops and activities designed to build character, resilience, communication skills, and personal responsibility.
Wilderness and Mountain Expeditions
Land-based experiences that challenge comfort zones and build brotherhood through the shared goal of navigating the land.
Culture and Ceremony
Connecting with Elders, traditional land knowledge, and ceremonial processes that center identity and belonging.
Land-Based Skill Building
Practical skills—from fire building to navigation—that provide a sense of capability, self-worth, and preparation for any path.
Community Service
Giving back to the community through projects that foster connection and establish participants as capable role models.
The Mountain Leadership Experience
The Mountain Leadership Experience is more than just a hike; it is a profound journey of self-discovery and collective growth. Participants are challenged to push beyond their perceived limits while remaining grounded in their cultural identity and responsibility to one another.
Guided by experienced mentors and land-based educators, youth and men navigate rugged terrain, learning that leadership is not about personal glory but about ensuring the strength and safety of the whole group.
The experience integrates traditional teachings about the land with modern survival and leadership skills, creating a unique environment where brotherhood is forged through shared effort and mutual support.
We prepare for months before stepping foot on the mountain, ensuring that every participant is physically, mentally, and spiritually ready for the challenges that lie ahead on the trail and in their lives.
\"The summit starts with the first step—but leadership is built through every step that follows.\"
Connected to Culture and Community
At the center of Heart Hill Oskapewis is a profound commitment to Indigenous identity and the revitalization of culture. We believe that leadership is not an abstract concept but one deeply rooted in the protocols, ceremonies, and teachings passed down through generations. Our program is a bridge, connecting young men to the wisdom of elders and the strength of their ancestors.
Land-based learning is the primary classroom for Heart Hill. By spending time in nature—learning to track, harvest, and respect the cycles of the earth—participants develop a tangible connection to the territory and their responsibility as stewards of the land. These experiences are grounded in traditional values: humility, courage, honesty, and wisdom.
Ceremony is integrated into every phase of the Heart Hill journey. From sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies to spiritual guidance from local knowledge keepers, we ensure that every participant has the opportunity to explore their own spiritual health within a safe, guided community environment. This process allows for the healing and self-discovery necessary for true leadership to emerge.
Heart Hill is not just for the individuals in the program; it is for the community of White Bear First Nations and beyond. We activey participate in community events, support families, and encourage our members to be visible, positive roles models who give back to the circle of life that sustains them.
Leadership Through Service
Service is central to the Oskâpêwis identity. We believe that leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about having the humility to serve the community, look after the land, and support the elders who carry our history.
Whether it’s helping with wood hauling, community events, land clean-ups, or supporting families in times of need, our participants learn that true strength comes from being someone that the community can depend on when the work needs to be done.
This practice bridges the gap between generations, allowing our young men to earn the respect of their community while developing a deep sense of pride and belonging that only comes from meaningful contribution.
What We Are Building Toward
Heart Hill is more than a set of activities—it is a long-term commitment to the health of our community. As we grow, we are working to establish permanent foundations that ensure every Indigenous youth and man has a space where they truly belong.
A Permanent Land-Based Youth Center
Establishing a home base for land-based learning, traditional medicine gathering, and community events on White Bear First Nations.
Expanded Annual Mountain Expeditions
Growing our leadership capacity to facilitate multiple mountain journeys per year, reaching more youth and men in our community.
Inter-Community Brotherhood Network
Building stronger formal connections between White Bear and other First Nations to share leadership models and land-based knowledge.
Certified Peer-Leadership Training
Developing a structured certification program for Heart Hill graduates to become junior mentors and expedition co-leads.
Heart Hill Cultural Archives
Creating a physical and digital space for the stories and cultural knowledge shared during Heart Hill activities to be preserved.
Sustainable Long-Term Partnerships
Securing multi-year community and corporate sponsorships that guarantee the accessibility of Heart Hill programs for all participants.
Together, we are not just planning for the next activity; we are building a legacy of leadership for the next seven generations.
What Heart Hill Is Working On
The work of Heart Hill is continuous. We are always preparing for the next journey, organizing community events, and finding new ways to support our brotherhood.
Community Update
Winter Land TrainingÂ
Heart Hill Oskapewis is exploring a winter land-based training opportunity focused on cold-weather preparedness, outdoor safety, navigation, teamwork, resilience and connection to the land.
Participation, dates and locations will be shaped by community interest and available partnerships.
Note: Heart Hill Oskapewis only shares updates through its verified social-media accounts and community bulletins.
There Is More Than One Way to Be Part of Heart Hill
We welcome participants, mentors, families, community partners, and sponsors. Whether you are looking to join an expedition, support a community project, or invest in the future of Indigenous youth, your contribution matters.
Help Create the Next Opportunity
Heart Hill Oskapewis grows through the generosity of those who believe in the potential of our youth and men. Whether through direct sponsorship of an expedition, donation of gear and supplies, or corporate partnership, your support directly funds the experiences that build leadership and resilience. Join us in sustaining a community-led movement rooted in culture and service.
How BearPeak Supports the Work
BearPeak Health and Wellness serves as the organizational home and primary supporter for Heart Hill Oskapewis. Through administrative backing, strategic guidance, and a shared commitment to Indigenous-led wellness, BearPeak ensures that the Heart Hill initiative has the resources and stability it needs to grow. This partnership allows Heart Hill to focus on its mission of land-based leadership while remaining rooted in the broader vision of community health and human development.
Mountain Leadership
Community Service
A visual journey through our Indigenous-led programs, captured on the land and within the heartbeat of White Bear First Nations.
Training and Preparation
Culture and Connection
Heart Hill in Action
Brotherhood
Group Activities
Land-Based Learning
The Journey Ahead
Photographs of our community members are shared with respect and only published with permission.
Building for the Future
Heart Hill Oskapewis is more than a program; it is the seed of a self-sustaining ecosystem of Indigenous leadership. As we grow, we remain focused on creating a permanent legacy that will serve White Bear First Nations and beyond for generations to come. Our future is measured by the strength of the men and youth who walk this path today.
Take the Next Step With Heart Hill
Whether you are a young man looking for a brotherhood, a community leader looking to collaborate, or a partner seeking to invest in Indigenous excellence, there is a place for you at Heart Hill. We invite you to join us in this work.