Workshops

Cultivating Safe Spaces

Facilitated by Elaine Alec

Workshop Description: Cultivating Safe Spaces utilizes indigenous stories, teachings and language to cultivate safe spaces for healing, communication and learning.

Bio: Elaine is from the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation and Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation and is a member of the Penticton Indian Band in the Interior of British Columbia. She has been a political advisor, Chief of Staff for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, Community Planner for her own First Nation, employee for the Province of BC and Federal Government and Entrepreneur. Elaine has spent over 20 years in over 100 communities across Canada to promote healing and wellness. She is a partner of an Indigenous owned and operated planning company called Alderhill Planning Inc. Elaine is a first-time author of “Calling My Spirit Back” a memoir about growing up as an Indigenous girl in Canada and the impacts of colonization. It also provides Indigenous knowledge, teachings on how to cultivate safe spaces for diversity and inclusion.

Expanding on the issue of Violence Against Women

Facilitated by Verna McGregor

Workshop Description: The workshop will commence with an overview or teaching on the issue of violence against women and girls and traditional understandings including our role as humans as caretakers of Mother Earth. A group discussion will follow on ideas on how one can also heal Mother Earth as one is becoming more aware of healing the issue of violence against women and girls. Everything is interconnected. Developing your vision of healing to walk forward after the Moosehide Campaign fast!

Bio: Verna McGregor is from the First Nation Algonquin Community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg which is approximately 120 kilometres north of Ottawa, Ontario. Ottawa and Gatineau form part of the Algonquin Nation’s traditional unceded lands. Verna has remained firmly grounded in her community and nation by being part of also the group of traditional Grandmothers (Kokomisag) and Elders. This includes the importance of promotion of retention of the Algonquin language and culture which is so important when addressing issues from a cultural perspective.

Indigenous families talking about intergenerational affects

Facilitated by Vince Kicknosway

Workshop Description: Discussing as our family has and have been addressing intergenerational affects/effects with the 7 grandfather teachings / how we as individuals an d families can bring awareness to our behaviours interrelated to the ongoing resilience and love for ourselves.

Bio: Vince Kicknosway – father of 4, grandfather of 13, great grandfather of 1, a member of Walpole Island – Loon Clan. Vince recently retired after 44 years working at the Odawa Friendship Centre.

Lateral kindness and trauma informed lens on lateral violence

Facilitated by Victoria Pruden

Workshop Description: Exploring Lateral Kindness as an antidote to Lateral Violence in our lives, work and relationships. We will focus on tapping into your empathy, compassion, and kindness. Explore nurturing your gentleness in difficult situations. Participants will participate in an experiential “kindness exchange” which always proves to be powerful and transforming.

The Physical and Spiritual Benefits of Fasting

Facilitated by Dr. Lee. Brown

Workshop Description: This workshop will explore the elements of spiritual and health fasting. Principles of healing surrounding the fasting process will be discussed in relationship to the four doorways of health and healing. The goals of fasting in relationship to our spiritual path will be presented in the context of the need to reduce violence in our communities.

The Story of the Moose Hide Campaign

The Moose Hide Campaign began as a BC-born Indigenous-led grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending violence towards women and children. It has since grown into a nationwide movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians from local communities, First Nations, governments, schools, colleges/universities, police forces and many other organizations – all committed to taking action to end this violence.

Since the Campaign began over 10 years ago along the Highway of Tears, thousands of communities and organizations across Canada have held Moose Hide Campaign events and joined the annual Moose Hide Campaign Day ceremony and fast. People of all ages, genders and backgrounds are invited to take part in Moose Hide Campaign activities.

Storytelling in Drag

Facilitated by Anita Landback

Athanasius “Tanas” Sylliboy, warmly self-proclaimed as “your favourite aunties’ favourite auntie,” Anita LandBack, originates from the Eskasoni First Nation in Mi’kma’ki. As a devoted Two Spirit Lnu (Mi’kmaw) Nurse Practitioner and talented Drag Artist, Tanas/Anita is driven by a passion for fostering acceptance, visibility, and representation for marginalized communities. They masterfully balance their careers in nursing and drag to break down barriers and amplify the voices of Indigenous, Black, Asian, 2SLGBTQ+, and other underrepresented groups. Their inspiring presence infuses a gentle touch of fun and warmth into every space they inhabit

Storytelling through song

Facilitated by Fawn Wood

Fawn Wood is a Cree and Salish musician from St. Paul, Alberta, Canada.[1] She is most noted for her album Kakike, for which she won the Juno Award for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022.[2] She is the daughter of Earl Wood, a musician with the traditional Cree group Northern Cree,[3] and the cousin of Joel Wood, a musician who was a fellow Juno nominee in the same category in 2022.

Francophone workshop – Storytelling through song

Facilitated by Sandrine Masse

Sandrine Masse started her career as a violist of classical background. Her love for folk, prog rock and traditional music brought her to collaborate with groups and artists of diverse genres and from around the globe, as a violist, back-up singer and composer. With her musical and cultural baggage, Sandrine records a first ep that blends folk, traditional rhythms and alt rock. Her songs make us travel through atmospheres of timeless soundscapes, that weave into stories that she tells from her perspective as a Wendat and Québecoise artist.

Storytelling through journalism

Facilitated by Mike Graeme & Jenessa Joy Klukas

Janessa Joy Klukas Bio: Jenessa Joy Klukas is an Indigenous woman of Xaxli’p and Métis descent. She grew up on the land of the Haisla Nation in Kitimat. She was an intern at The Tyee through the Journalists for Human Rights’ Indigenous Reporters Program. Klukas has a bachelor of fine arts in writing from the University of Victoria. When she is not working, she writes screenplays and memoir. She currently works at IndigiNews as their education and child welfare reporter. Klukas worked in the child-care industry for 11 years and she is passionate about ensuring that children are safe, protected and nurtured fairly and with compassion. 

Storytelling through performance 

Facilitated by Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors

We are Mi’kmaq Legends, Atlantic Canada’s premier Indigenous theatre group, based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Our company began in 2009 with the creation of a piece based on eight Mi’kmaq legends which were turned into a script by director Cathy Elliot. Since then our group has continued to grow and evolve with every new show we present.

We are proud to offer three distinct programs for different audiences in search of authentic Mi’kmaq Culture: Mi’kmaq Legends, Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors and Next Gen Legends. We can provide a wide range of artistic, theatrical and Cultural talent for events such as festivals, workshops, presentations, training and schools. We offer beautiful opening and closing for events including prayer, smudging ceremonies, drumming, singing and dancing. We also provide Traditional Cultural teachings on medicines, the seven sacred teachings, reconciliation and artisans in our Indigenous Community. Join us to learn Mi’kmaq songs, drumming and dances. Book time with our storytellers and learn valuable lessons from our past in a beautiful peaceful way from the stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Storytelling through puppetry and dance 

Facilitated by DerRic Starlight (featuring Kendra Jessie)

DerRic Starlight is from the Tsuut’ina Nation west of Calgary, Alberta, and can also trace his ancestry to the Blackfoot Confederacy. He is a comedian, puppeteer, screenwriter, and pro-wrestling promoter. DerRic has created his own cast of Native puppet characters and has travelled all over North America since 1997. He has starred in many different television productions with The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and has won the prestigious Gemini Award of Canada as a voice actor. In 2021 DerRic became an official puppeteer with The Jim Henson Company.

Traditional Stories

Facilitated by Julie Pellissier-Lush

Julie Pellissier-Lush M.S.M is an actress and bestselling author of My Mi’kmaq Mother, Poet Laureate for PEI, recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2013, the Meritorious Service Medal recipient in 2017, and the Senator’s 150 Medal in 2019. She grew up all over eastern Canada and spent a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before coming back home to Prince Edward Island. Julie is a graduate from the University of Winnipeg with a double major in Psychology and Human Resource Management. She writes, acts, and does photography to preserve the history and culture of the Mi’kmaq for future generations. Julie is a talented storyteller and joins us from Epekwitk (PEI) to tell us the creation story of the Mi’kmaq people. This story is open to all ages! Within this resource you will find a primary grades workshop plan and a middle grades+ workshop plan.