I strive to intrigue the mind, touch the heart and activate the spirit in participants.

Building Capacity in First Nations Organizations

Types of Sessions I Offer:

2 - 4 Full Days in person is the preferred format for all sessions. A transformational journey involves opening and closing ceremonies to connect to spirit, trust building through relationship activities connecting people at a heart level. This is essential for deep learning preparation. The journey also involves unlearning, curiosity building, and personalizing the content before the new learning of awakening happens. It requires trust in Anishinaabe ways of learning and growth and trust in Spirit. Guiding people to move from their head to their heart is not something that is to be rushed. Consider this creating openings for individual growth and collective empowerment. It is definitely not your typical training and it's often described as inspiring and healing.

1/2 Day Zoom Sessions are offered through Zoom for teams and groups across Ontario. These are typically a 2 - 3 hours long and often run as lunch & learn, team P.D. or public community sessions. A large variety of topics can be selected from the menu below or this can be participant driven as a Q&A style or sharing circle style.

Conferences & Keynotes are typically not taken on as I prefer to have access to the audience for longer periods of time for more meaningful impacts. However, I have done full day workshops within conferences or pre-conference full day sessions. I would be open to Keynote Address if accompanied by a full day workshop or series of workshops.

Let's Connect to Talk About a Potential Session:

EMAIL ME at waabishkamiigwan@gmail.com

Please email me with any questions or inquiries you have about future engagements. I prefer to schedule Zoom meetings for potential sessions to build trust & good relations and to gain information to customize content. If your event is calling for presentation proposals, feel free to email me the information to invite a proposal.

Q&A:

Sessions can be as large as 200+ people or as small as a 4 person team. Interactive multi-day intensive sessions are best with 40-60 people.
I usually travel with a traditional healer/medicine person who supports the session and participants with ceremony, openings, closings, spiritual support, and don't require local Elders to open or sing however, they ate always welcome to attend the sessions.
I give preference to on-reserve organizations and First Nations, and encourage all non-Indigenous and off-reserve organizations to host their sessions within their local First Nations community.
At this time I am not travelling into the north beyond Sault Ste. Marie as high travel costs and time challenge my ethics.

Possible Themes for your Next Session:

Leadership Rejuvenation

Prevent burnout and rekindle the passion for your work through team building activities that build trust, induce belly laughs, foster connection at a heart level and activate your spiritual gifts.

Engaging activities and content will be customized to address specific struggles that may include managing front line staff, communication, time management, creative consultations, special project development, etc.

Kindness is Our Medicine

Gizhewaatisiwin (Kindness) is the 1st Law governing how to be Anishinaabe. It is one of the 13 Grandmother Teachings and one of the 4 Original Instructions from Spirit on how to be human. This session highlights the critical need for increased kindness in all aspects of our communities. Experiential learning will demonstrate how this is done to foster good health, connection, boost oxytocin, and reduce negative energy and

The Root of All Colonial & Historic Trauma

I share the untold TRUTHS of colonial history not being shared in Western education. A viral infection (W) freezes the heart, cuts us off from Spirit and colonizers brought it to Turtle Island with their capitalism and greed. Anishinaabe knew this was coming, warned us and have remedies in our traditional teachings to reverse the sickness.

Intensive Worldview Shifting

I strive to facilitate a one-of-a-kind transformative experience that leaves people contemplating and enlightened. I focus on awakening from a Shut Eye Dance of normative/colonial violence through decolonizing the mind. We will unlearn together in relationship with trust, and restore the healthy, kind ways of knowing, being, understanding and doing that our spirits long for.

Uprooting Lateral Violence

This is based on traditional law and calls out the harm being done to one another in stable ways on a daily basis. It involves understanding why we do this to reduce shame and guilt, so we can face ourselves, commit to doing better, and start healing as a collective. We have turned a blind eye to unkindness long enough and it's time to shift from individualism to communal caring.

Kindness is Our Medicine

CLICK on Workshop Menu to OPEN PDF, Save or Print

Since 2020, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with over 50 Indigenous & Non-Indigenous organizations across Ontario, completing over 100 sessions.

Miigwetch to the Following:

Algoma University, Anishinabek Nation & AEI, Argyle, Atikemeksheng Anishinaabek, Atlohsa, Barrie Native Advisory Circle, Carea Community Health, Centre Passerelle Pour Femmes, Chippewa Health Centre, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, Debaakinagewin Naakinagewin, Ellevive, ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency, Fierte Canada Pride, Fierté Timmins Pride, Garden River Wellness Centre, Ginoogaming First Nation, Jack.org, Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services, Lovesick Lake Native Women's Association, Mattagami First Nation, Michipicoten First Nation, Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre, National Sixties Scoop Foundation, Native Horizons Treatment Centre, Ngwaagan Gamig, Nokiiwin Tribal Council, Noojmowin Teg Health Centre, North Bay Indigenous Hub - Giiwedno Mshkikiiwgamig, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, ONECA, Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, Pavilion Women's Centre, Public Health Sudbury & District, Sheshegwaning Health Department, Sheshegwaning St. Joseph's Anishinanbek School, Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, The Indigenous Network, Timmins & Area Women in Crisis, Union of Ontario Indians, Wabun Tribal Council, Wakenagun Healing Lodge, Weecheetowin Support Services, Women’s Rural Resource Centre.

Also offering Cultural Awareness & Allyship Workshops for Non-Indigenous Organizations

My approach to this kind of work involves being down-to-earth, focusing on no shame or blame, and looking at a dark, colonial history as something that connects to a shift in humanity in the Western world 12,000 years ago. This impacted all humans sharing Mother Earth today and Indigenous perspectives on this often spark critical reflection.

Whether you want to call it reconciliation, cultural safety or competency, or training on how to have good relations with Indigenous people, a customized, experiential workshop for your staff is available.

CONTENT SAMPLES

Mino Bimatisiwin: Our Original Instructions -

Humans Being - Fundamental Culture-Based Interventions: Original instructions shared by The Old Man are gizhewaatisiwin (kindness), gwayakwaadisiwin (honesty), miigiwewin (sharing) and zoongide’ewin (spirit strength) are essential to combat complex symptoms of historic trauma.

Traditional Laws: Cause & Effect

Intro to Traditional Philosophies: Philosophical discussion to draw traditional laws from Anishinaabe Atisokaanan (traditional stories).

Understanding Pastahowin: This profound concept of causality and interrelationality informs all behaviours and is considered one of the most universal traditional laws for Indigenous peoples. It is also the basis of understanding traditional restorative practice, and helps explain some of the Indigenous ethical practices that differ from some worldviews.

Why Things Are The Way They Are

Historic Analysis: Examining a meta-narrative of historic trauma & exploitation through social environments before and after contact is essential for a deep understanding of why things are the way they are for Indigenous people today.

Know Where you Come From: For healing to take place, it is essential for people to ‘know where we come from’ to know where we’re going.

Understanding Intergenerational Trauma: Gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of trauma on the brain, emotions and behaviours while sharing ideas on best practices in trauma-informed education.

Thousands of Recommendations Summarized: Unpacking the many recommendations for Indigenous collective healing from decades of reports - it comes down to 2 things.