MESSAGE FROM CHIEF DORIS BILL

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2 MESSAGE FROM CHIEF DORIS BILL On behalf of Council and the Kwanlin Dün people, I welcome you to this gathering and to our traditional territory that we share with our neighbour the Ta an Kwäch än Council. We are honoured to be your host. While Indigenous cultural traditions and protocols differ across the country, we hold in common respect for family, community and the hospitality that we enjoy when we gather together. In this spirit, together with our partners, we have developed an agenda that is relevant and compelling. Release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report and the Auditor General s Report on Corrections is raising awareness in Canada of the history of First Nation people, the injustices we have suffered and the harm done to Canadian society. We gather over the next three days to share, to learn and to contribute to the healing of all our nations. Our sharing will translate into responsive and caring services for Indigenous people and support reconciliation. Thank you to our partners the governments of Canada, Yukon, and First Nations, and to the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, for your financial support, your engagement and enthusiasm. You have made this gathering a reality. Thank you to all who participated in planning this conference, the representatives of wellness teams from across the country, speakers, presenters and you, the participants, for your unique and wonderful contributions. Enjoy your time in our traditional territory and we wish a warm Yukon experience! Chief Doris Bill Kwanlin Dün First Nation 1

3 NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE GATHERING BRINGING OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN WELLNESS Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon AGENDA COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CRISIS RESPONSE PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP Tuesday March 29, :30 am Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 am Opening Prayer and Sacred Fire Lighting, Phil Gatensby 9:00 am Welcoming Remarks, Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) 9:15 am First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework and Link to Community Safety and Crisis Response Jeanie Dendys, KDFN Director of Justice and Carol Hopkins, Executive Director Thunderbird Partnership Foundation 9:45 am Introduction to Crisis Response and Emergency Response Planning for Communities 10:15 am Break 10:30 am KDFN Planning Process and Community and Emergency Response Plan (CERP) 11:00 am Crisis Response Planning and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Training and Implementation SK Examples Onion Lake Cree Nation Prince Albert Grand Council 11:45 am Large group discussion, questions and answers 12:00 pm Lunch Provided 1:00 pm Small Group Discussion: Crisis Response for Communities Needs, Planning and Training 2:00 pm Groups Report Back 2:30 pm Break 2:45 pm Community Crisis Case Study Group Exercise 3:45 pm Group Debrief 4:30 pm Closing prayer 2

4 Wednesday, March 30, :30 am Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 am Opening Prayer 8:40 am Welcoming Remarks Chief Doris Bill, Kwanlin Dün First Nation Deputy Chief Michelle Telep, Ta an Kwäch än Council Premier Darrell Pasloski, Yukon Government Dr. Patricia Wiebe and Pam Schmid, Health Canada 9:00 am Creating Emotional Competency in Families and Communities Dr. Lee Brown, Keynote Speaker 10:30 am Networking Break 11:00 am Saskatchewan Mental Wellness Teams Panel 4 Mental Wellness Teams White Raven Healing Centre Athabasca Health Authority Onion Lake Cree Nation Prince Albert Grand Council 12:00 pm Lunch Provided 1:00 pm Mental Wellness Team Presentations Anishinabe Mekina-Ayawin (AMMA) Manitoba Raising the Spirit Ontario Maliseet Nations New Brunswick 2:30 pm Networking Break 3:00 pm Mental Wellness Team Presentation Nunatsiavut Newfoundland / Labrador 3:30 pm Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) and Cree Nation of Chisasibi (Quebec) Panel (culturally founded program design and links to community justice) 4:30 pm Closing prayer 6:00-9:00 pm Cultural Gala and Dinner with Yukon s entertainment Diyet, Kevin Barr, Boyd Benjamin, Ed Peekakoot and the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers 3

5 NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE GATHERING BRINGING OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN WELLNESS Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon Thursday, March 31, :00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 am Greetings Minister Mike Nixon, Yukon Health and Social Services 8:40 am Culture as Foundation: Implementing the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework (FNMWCF) Carol Hopkins, Executive Director, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation 9:40 am Small Group discuss the implementation of the FNMWCF as it links to community priorities and the work of Mental Wellness Teams 10:15 am Break 10:30 am Healing Together with Land and Culture Video Launch Jeanie Dendys, Director of Justice, Kwanlin Dün First Nation 11:00 am Our Way of Life: Re-building Balance and Harmony Panel of Elders 12:00 pm Lunch Provided 1:00 pm Break out Session #1 (details on page 5) A) Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma Dr. Lee Brown and Tonya Gomes B) Native Wellness Assessment Carol Hopkins, Executive Director, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation C) Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Self-care and Working with People Diane Strand, Director, Community Wellness Department, Champagne and Aishihik First Nation D) Working in Circle for Self-care and Working with People Joe Migwans, KDFN Jackson Lake Wellness Team and Rema Pahtayken, Onion Lake Cree Nation, SK E) Tour to Jackson Lake Healing Camp (3 hours off site) Johnny Brass, Phil Gatensby and Andy Nieman, Jackson Lake Wellness Team 2:30 pm Break 2:45 pm Break out Session #2 (details on page 6) A) Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma Dr. Lee Brown and Tonya Gomes B) Flexible Funding Arrangements and Partnerships Pam Schmid, Health Canada, Carmen Gibbons, KDFN Health and Lori Duncan, Council of Yukon First Nations C) Finding Our Way Through: Navigating Loss and Grief in First Nation Life End-of-Life First Nation Project (eolfn.lakeheadu.ca Lakehead University) Gaye Hanson, KDFN and Sandra Hansen, Athabasca Health Authority, SK 4:00 pm Reflections on the Gathering and Way Forward Closing of the Sacred Fire and Prayer, Phil Gatensby 5:00 pm Tour to Jackson Lake Healing Camp (2 hours with a light dinner) Johnny Brass, Phil Gatensby and Andy Nieman, Jackson Lake Wellness Team 4

6 Breakout Session # 1 A) Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma Dr. Lee Brown and Tonya Gomes Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma is a body-centred approach in Indigenous cultural perspectives. Tonya and Lee will present the work of the Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy team and highlight land-based relationships for working B) Native Wellness Assessment Carol Hopkins, Executive Director, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation The Native Wellness Assessment (NWA) is an assessment tool that was created over 3 years of research by a group of organizations led by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation (formerly the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation), University of Saskatchewan, Assembly of First Nations and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The tool is the first of its kind and available with complex trauma and intergenerational and vicarious wisdom/trauma. This workshop will include a variety of Aboriginal/Indigenous knowledge exchange methods including experiential exercises, story-telling, ceremonial processes and land-based healing practices. for use across the country through the Addictions Management Information System (AMIS). The NWA instrument is comprised of a self-report form for the client to assess their wellness and an observer rating form for the helper to use. In this session, Carol will provide an introduction to the Native Wellness Assessment and provide information on the training available to support implementation. C) Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Self-care and Working With People Diane Strand, Director, Community Wellness Department, Champagne and Aishihik First Nation The world of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has many different healing practices and modalities. Working with energy, plant medicine and other practices are parallel to some of the approaches used by Indigenous people throughout the world. Diane will use her life experience and learning from her educational program in energy medicine to provide an introduction to some of the aspects of CAM. Examples will be used from the range of available options for supporting self-care and working with others. The workshop will be experiential and respectful of values and beliefs of the participants. D) Working in Circle for Self-care and Working with People Joe Migwans, KDFN Jackson Lake Wellness Team and Rema Pahtayken, Onion Lake Cree Nation, SK Joe and Rema will hold a circle to engage the participants in sharing how they experience circle as a method for finding support for themselves and working with people they help. The experience of sharing life experience, stories and teachings in a E) Tour to Jackson Lake Health Camp (3 hours) Johnny Brass, Phil Gatensby and Andy Nieman, Jackson Lake Wellness Team Members of the Jackson Lake Wellness Team will host a tour to the Jackson Lake Healing Camp which is approximately 30 minute drive into the mountains from the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. The hosts will lead a tour of the facility which includes meeting spaces and accommodation for 16 program participants, respectful and supportive circle environment will assist participants in finding new ways to use circle in their lives. When gathering in circle, we know we are all equal and our voices are welcome in contributing to the experience of the group assembled. cooks, camp staff and resource people. The JLWT will provide an overview of the 4 week program for men and women that has been offered regularly since 2010 and the new ideas for shorter land-based programming for youth and other wellness program participants. 5

7 NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE GATHERING BRINGING OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN WELLNESS Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon Breakout Session # 2 A) Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma Dr. Lee Brown and Tonya Gomes Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma is a body-centred approach in Indigenous cultural perspectives. Tonya and Lee will present the work of the Aboriginal Focusing Oriented Therapy team and highlight land-based relationships for working B) Flexible Funding Arrangements and Partnerships Pam Schmid, Health Canada, Carmen Gibbons, KDFN Director of Health and Lori Duncan, Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) Two aspects of the First Nation Mental Wellness Continuum Framework are the need for flexible funding arrangements and partnerships. Working together using collaborative arrangements can help in filling funding gaps and optimizing use of available resources. Health Canada has led a process in the Yukon that has resulted in new funding agreements with complex trauma and intergenerational and vicarious wisdom/trauma. This workshop will include a variety of Aboriginal/Indigenous knowledge exchange methods including experiential exercises, story-telling, ceremonial processes and land-based healing practices. with KDFN Health and CYFN to support enhanced crisis counselling services and crisis planning support for Yukon First Nations throughout the territory. This session will speak to this arrangement as an example of how funding streams and partners can come together to make innovative arrangements to better meet the needs of First Nation people. C) Finding Our Way Through: Navigating Loss and Grief in First Nation Life Gaye Hanson, KDFN and Sandra Hansen, Athabasca Health Authority The workshop will be based on a two day educational workshop developed as part of the End-of-Life First Nation Project (EOLF) led by Lakehead University. Gaye was a co-investigator on the three year research project that supported needs assessment and local palliative care program development in four First Nation communities in Ontario and Manitoba. The workshop was created by the research team and pilot tested in several communities before finalizing it. Second Tour Opportunity - Tour to Jackson Lake Health Camp (2 hours leaving at 5 pm with light dinner) Johnny Brass, Phil Gatensby and Andy Nieman, Jackson Lake Wellness Team Members of the Jackson Lake Wellness Team will host a tour to the Jackson Lake Healing Camp which is approximately 30 minute drive into the mountains from the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. The hosts will lead a tour of the facility which includes meeting spaces and accommodation for 16 program participants, Sandra was a local cultural resource and co-presenter of the workshop in Stony Rapids and provided feedback which informed the final version of the materials. The workshop addresses how to navigate our own losses and how to help others going through a loss. The unique features of First Nation life that can complicate loss and the special strengths that can be there for support will be highlighted. cooks, camp staff and resource people. The JLWT will provide an overview of the 4 week program for men and women that has been offered regularly since 2010 and the new ideas for shorter land-based programming for youth and other wellness program participants. 6

8 FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS DR. LEE BROWN Dr. Lee Brown is the former Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Health in the College of Health Disciplines and the Indigenous Doctoral Program in the Department of Educational Studies at The University of British Columbia where he wrote his Doctoral Thesis entitled: Making the Classroom a Healthy Place: The Develop of Affective Competency in Aboriginal Pedagogy. He is the Co-author of The Sacred Tree, an educational curriculum based in Aboriginal values and epistemology. Lee has also contributed to the Round Lake Native Healing Centre in Vernon, BC during the last Thirty years in a number of capacities including clinical supervisor and currently as a cultural resource to the centre. He has been the keynote speaker at over one hundred Aboriginal conferences. He has been an invited to share his knowledge of culture and healing in over five hundred indigenous communities in North America. Dr. Brown has developed a theory of holistic emotional education that is predicated upon six principles of emotional competency that arise out of his research in the area of affective education and learning. Lee also facilitates the annual Emotional Education Conference and is a co-founder of the Global Emotional Education Association. Lee is published in Academic Journals on the subject of Emotional Education including the Canadian Journal of Native Education and AlterNative: A New Zealand International Journal of Indigenous Scholarship. Lee has also served as the guest editor of the UBC Educational Leadership Journal. CAROL HOPKINS Nozhem ( Mother Wolf ), of the Wolf Clan, is from the Delaware First Nation of Moraviantown, Ontario. She is the mother of 4 and grandmother of 6. Carol Hopkins is the Executive Director of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, an organization whose mandate is to support Canada s First Nations Addictions programs. Carol came to this position from Nimkee NupiGawagan Healing Centre Inc., a youth solvent abuse treatment centre that is founded on Indigenous culture and life ways, where she was the founding Director for 13 years. Carol was the Co-Chair, First Nations Addictions Advisory Panel whose mandate was to develop a renewal framework for the national Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Youth Solvent Abuse programs. Carol now co-chairs the Leadership Team whose mandate is to implement the renewal framework. This process is a partnership between the Assembly of First Nations, National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. Carol s work in the field of addictions also included serving as the Chairperson for the National Youth Solvent Addiction Committee (YSAC) from 2000 to This national committee has maintained a partnership with many groups to develop best practice guidelines for culturally based inhalant abuse treatment. Carol has represented First Nations clients on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Council for Health Services Accreditation, now known as Accreditation Canada. With YSAC, Carol was involved in the development of the Accreditation program and standards. She also was a Surveyor for CCHSA in both the mainstream health care system within Canada and within First Nations community health and addictions organizations. Her strength in the health profession is the ability to blend western and Native traditional health & healing practices in a competent and responsive manner. In this regard, Carol has taught for various post secondary institutes, including Anishinabek Education Institute, Native Social Work program at Laurentian University and currently is also a Professor in the Social Work Program at Kings University College of the University of Western Ontario. She holds a Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Toronto. Carol has received the Walter Dieter Award from the Assembly of First Nations in recognition of academic achievements made in the field of Social Work with First Nations. Carol has presented national and internationally to indigenous audiences, government, health care professionals, and to academic audiences. 7

9 NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE GATHERING BRINGING OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN WELLNESS Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon SPEAKER BIOS JOHNNY BRASS Johnny Brass was born into the community of Key First Nation. His community made the Great Trek in the early 1800 s to land around Swan River Manitoba but due to flooding most of the Headman and families moved to the Key First Nation North of Canora Saskatchewan. His Ojibway name is Nojakanapanac Hunting Hawk that was given to him by his late Uncle Campbell Papequash. At the age of three, he and his twin Joe were taken away from their parents and siblings and never were reunited. In the history books they call this the sixties scoop. Later in life Uncle Campbell became his Elder, teacher and mentor who provided him with the traditional values to work with the teachings of the sacred Fire. Johnny feels that the Fire has many attributes and many teachings that it imparts to all of us when we are ready. The Fire gives us life and is an integral part of our wellbeing. The Fire when used in a respected way will reciprocate. His roots may be in Saskatchewan but he currently resides in Whitehorse Yukon and is the Aftercare Outreach support worker for Kwanlin Dun First Nation as part of the Jackson Lake Healing Camp team. He is also the caretaker of the Jackson Lake Healing Camp facilities. Johnny received his addiction training through Malaspina College and Tillicum Lehlum in Nanaimo B.C and is a certified A&D counsellor. He blends the traditional teachings and mainstream approaches to advocate and support all those he comes into contact with. JEANIE DENDYS I am a member of the Tahltan First Nation from Northern BC and also of Norwegian ancestry and I was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon. I am the youngest daughter of Thelma and Vern Norby and a Granddaughter of Tahltan Elders Grace and George Edzerza. I m a proud wolf women and mother to sons Colin and Jedrek. With a background in criminology, business and most recently First Nation Governance I have spent most of my career, over the past 26 years, advancing the hope of reclaiming First Nation justice values and principles for my people. I assisted the Tahltan, Kaska, Fort Nelson and several other Yukon and BC First Nations in the establishment of long standing community based justice initiatives that are grounded in First Nation values and principles. For the past 7 years I have proudly served as the Director of Justice for the Kwanlin Dun First Nation (KDFN) in Whitehorse Yukon, which is one of the largest Yukon First Nations. My mandate includes child welfare, community justice and safety, land based healing and negotiations of administration of justice agreements under the KDFN self-government agreements. Under my direction, the KDFN Justice team graciously accepted the challenge of establishing a land based healing program that has led to the establishment of the ground breaking Jackson Lake Land Based Healing program. I am often called upon by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments to advise and assist on issues regarding justice, policing, corrections, child welfare and now land based healing relating to Indigenous People, which I humbly accept when I can. I am so passionate and very dedicated to advancing the dream of wellness and selfsufficiency for all First Nation people and will continue to dedicate my work towards realizing that dream. 8

10 PHIL GATENSBY Phil Gatensby a 65 year old man of Tlingit ancestry works in many ways to impart unique insight into the workings of the human being, ensuring that these ways are easily passed on to the participants, enabling them, in turn, to pass this knowledge on to others. Phil has worked as a teacher, a helper, a facilitator /trainer, and is considered a Spiritual Leader. For over thirty years Phil has worked with human beings using a value- based transformational approach to human development. This approach is facilitative in nature, drawing on life experiences, Tlingit values, counselling techniques and the unique perspective of having emerged victorious both from residential school and the correctional system. His approach is based on the idea of creating healing opportunities that people may draw on their own resources to make healthy choices for themselves, their families and their communities. The approach is profound in its inherent simplicity and powerful in its unfailing ability to transform the lives of those who choose to participate. Phil has applied this approach across North America, and Europe, in diverse settings with people of all ages, from all walks of life. Street people, christian groups, gangs and supreme court judges have equally found great value in this visiondriven combination of universal truths and modern principles. Phil has worked as a Cultural Facilitator and Cultural Counsellor over the Past 6 years within the Jackson Lake Land Based Healing program. COLLEEN GEDDES Colleen Geddes is a member of the Teslin-Tlingit First Nation, from the Kukhhittan Clan. She is the coordinator of the Jackson Lake Wellness Team responsible for coordinating the Jackson Lake Landbased healing program. Her role also includes working with the team in supporting participants in after care and prevention, community outreach and crisis response. She believes culture and tradition are essential for all First nation people, especially those who are on their healing journey. She has previously worked many years in the justice field, assisting people in trying to better their lives and move forward in a healthy way. She loves being on the land and knows the healing power that the land holds. CARMEN GIBBONS Carmen Gibbons has dedicated her nursing career to First Nations communities in Manitoba, British Columbia and the Yukon. This has included several remote native communities throughout the north, as well as in urban environments. Carmen achieved her Bachelor of Physical Education through the Universities of New Brunswick and Manitoba, followed by her Registered Nurse designation at the Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Winnipeg. Carmen has worked with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation in Whitehorse, Yukon for nearly 20 years. Initially, Carmen served as a nurse manager for ten years, followed by another ten years in her current role as the Director of Health and Social Development. The Kwanlin Dün Health Centre provides a wide range of community-based health services, integrated with professional standards and cultural sensitivities, and is the only First Nation Health Centre north of 60. In 1995, KDFN settled their lands claims agreement and immediately implemented their health services. The KDFN Health Centre has a staff of thirty-two and has a client rate of 27,000 contacts per year. Through her decades of work with First Nations people, Carmen has gained a true understanding of the social determinants of health in First Nations communities, as well as many of the causal effects including residential school, and the related generational and intergenerational impacts on families and communities. Carmen continues to enjoy not only the opportunity to work with and help First Nations, but also the sharing of culture, friendships and humour. 9

11 NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE GATHERING BRINGING OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN WELLNESS Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon TONYA GOMES Tonya, of Peuye and Caribbean Black descent, is a skilled presenter with proven therapeutic, clinical supervision and educator skills. She holds a Master degree in Counselling Psychology /Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC) and is also a Supervising Focusing Therapist & Trainer (SFTT). With 20 years clinical and educator experience in Aboriginal and non-aboriginal institutions, programs and agencies, Tonya has worked in curriculum and program development. She has delivered many workshops and is well-experienced in conference design and facilitation for the purpose of building community awareness and capacity. In her current role as Clinical Practice Initiatives Lead Aboriginal Health Services for Vancouver Coastal Health, she provides leadership in clinical practice to achieve effective and efficient quality of care for Aboriginal community members and leads in the planning, development and implementation of clinical policies and programs. Tonya works collaboratively to achieve excellence in Aboriginal client and family centered care across the Heath Services and provides clinical leadership and supervision for Aboriginal Health Services and VCH staff. In her clinical practice, Tonya does individual, family and group therapy for Elders, adults, youth and children and case consultation/ case management in the fields of mental health, addictions, concurrent disorders, trauma, residential school, and family violence. Therapeutic modalities used include: Aboriginal Focusing Orientated Therapy for complex trauma, trauma informed, Response Based, Somatic, Narrative, Solution Focused and Play/Art Therapies. Individual and group clinical supervision for graduates of Aboriginal Focusing Orientated therapy for complex trauma is also one of her many roles. SANDRA HANSEN Sandra was born and raised in Stony Rapids, she completed grade nine at Stony Rapids School and live in Stony Rapids all her life. Sandra is married with three children and two grandchildren. Since Sandra was at age to work she has started her first job at the Northern Stores at the age of 15 years of age. Since then she had work in the Athabasca area in different Careers such as Air Sask, Transwest Air, Black Lake First Nation Health & Education, Areva Mining and Athabasca Denesuline Child & Family Services. In 2009, Sandra was elected as a Mayor Stony Rapids plus working full time job for Service Canada. With all the careers Sandra has done, her passion is helping people so she gone back to Athabasca Health Authority in 2013 as addiction counsellor till June 2014 she was promoted as Mental Health & Addiction Manager for Athabasca Health Authority. 10

12 GAYE HANSON Gaye is an Aboriginal leader of Cree ancestry with a life-long commitment to service to communities. As a community health nurse, Australian educated midwife and former health care system executive in both the federal and Yukon territorial governments, Gaye brings a diverse perspective to her practice. Following a series of nursing and management positions in the federal government, Gaye moved to the Yukon in 1990 when she became ADM and then Deputy Minister involved in the Yukon health transfer as well as holding responsibility for social services and youth justice. After leaving government, she established Hanson and Associates in 1994 and over the past 22 years she has worked to support self-determination a variety of planning, negotiation, program design, policy development and evaluation roles serving primarily First Nation governments across Canada. Gaye has worked in the area of cross-cultural awareness, professional development in cultural competency for health care providers and supporting intercultural competency at relational, organizational and system levels. Her recent work with Lakehead University in aboriginal palliative care and First Nation grief and grieving has supported the completion of a major research project currently in dissemination. She is a former president of the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, served on the First Nation, Inuit and Métis Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada and maintains a passionate interest in culturally founded land-based healing and services to rural and remote regions of Canada. Gaye is adjunct faculty member with the University of Saskatchewan s Faculty of Graduate Studies and a research affiliate with Lakehead University. Ms. Hanson holds a degree in Nursing and a Master s in Public Administration. JOE MIGWANS Joe Migwans, originally from Manitoulin Island, is a resident of Whitehorse, and an adopted member of the Wolf Clan, He has been an active community social programming facilitator. Many of the teachings he lives by were learned from Elders. He practices the teachings with his family and community. He is currently the Cultural Counselor for the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Jackson Lake Wellness Team. ANDY NIEMAN Andy is Northern Tutchone born and raised in Whitehorse. He is of the Crow clan a member of the White River First Nation. He is an Author, Social Worker, former Officer of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, a Pastor, Owner/Operator of GETTING BETTER CONSULTING SERVICES, a Step-dad, Grandfather, Musician and Poet. Andy attended Lower Post Indian Residential School for 3 yrs. and is a survivor of sexual abuse in that system. Andy has spent 10.5 yrs. in prison, over 10 yrs. on Vancouver s Skid Row as a homeless person, was a chronic alcoholic for 27 yrs., a heroin, cocaine addict for 23 yrs. and is now going on 23 yrs. of being clean and sober. Andy obtained a Bachelor of Social Work Degree through the University of Regina graduating in He is a Clinical Counselor on the Jackson Lake Wellness Team specializing in addressing the effects of trauma and has worked in three different substance abuse wilderness treatment centers. Andy has worked in every Yukon community and in Northern B.C. communities. He is an Author having published his autobiography titled, FREE MAN WALKING (of which he has copies). He is married to one of the most amazing women on planet earth, ESTELLE and has two stepsons, three grandchildren, 6 dogs and 2 cats. 11

13 NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE GATHERING BRINGING OUR VOICES TOGETHER IN WELLNESS Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon REMA PAHTAYKEN My name is from Onion Lake Cree Nation. I was born and raised in my home community. My Cree name is Wāpiskisiw Pihēsiw Iskwēw or White Thunderbird Woman. I was raised in a traditional way, my father was a lodge keeper and a pipe carrier and my mother was a medicine woman with a bundle. I attended St. Anthony s Residential School in Onion Lake until I was in grade 8. I attended the University of Regina for part of my formal education. I achieved my business diploma and worked in the area of education, justice, and now I am currently employed at Onion Lake Community Healing and Wellness Program as a Cultural Support Worker and female Elder. My role relies on my knowledge, experience, and teachings of my Elders. I use the teachings that I have been taught to help my community. Some of the things I do for healing are: land based healing camps, drumming, singing, Calling the Spirit Home ceremony, Moon Lodge Ceremony, Healing Circles, medicine picking, medicine teaching, Clearing and Brushing, teachings of the roles of women, belly button teachings, and healing through reconnecting with Mother Earth. Most of all I support our community members in times of crisis, grief, and ceremonies using my traditional knowledge and teachings. PAM SCHMID Pam Schmid is the Senior Manager, Program Delivery, First Nations Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Health Canada and is located in Whitehorse, Yukon. After working over 13 years in the private health sector, in Ontario and Alberta, she joined the Federal Government, Health Canada in 2004 and started her public service career with FNIHB s Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program in Ontario Region. Over this tenure, she held a number of positions including NIHB program analyst, consultant and program manager for 134 medical transportation contribution agreements. In 2009, Pam was appointed as Manager of the FNIHB s National Orthodontic Review Centre where she oversaw the NIHB orthodontic benefit for all eligible First Nations and Inuit in Canada. Between 2011 and 2014 she joined Northern Region s management team in Ottawa as the NIHB Program Manager for Northwest Territories and Nunavut where she gained an appreciation for the unique culture, traditions and health challenges individuals face in the North. In 2014, she was appointed as Northern Region s Senior Manager for FNIHB Program delivery in Yukon, which includes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program for all three territories. Pam and husband, relocated to Whitehorse from Ottawa in the fall of 2014 where they are actively involved in animal rescue. Pam currently participates in a number of working and advisory groups including the First Nation Mental Wellness Continuum Framework Implementation Team, Northern Region s mental health cluster lead, Mental Health Sub-Committee, Yukon, NIHB/IRS Manager s working group, Yukon Federal Table and Yukon Health Commission. Pam continues to dedicate her career to improving overall health outcomes for First Nations and Inuit. 12

14 CULTURAL GALA DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT March 30, 2016 Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre Starts at 6:00 pm Join us for an evening of Northern Hospitality featuring Yukon s best performers featuring: Diyet Born in a tent, raised in a two room cabin, classically trained in opera, now an alternative folk artist. This sub-arctic-southern Tutchone-Japanese- Tlingit-Scottish-Yukoner is your typical Canadian the result of a long cold winter. Diyet s music is like her life a mix of this and that but deeply rooted in the values of a traditional northern life. Kevin Barr Kevin first picked up a guitar at the age of 9 and has been playing professionally for the past 35 years. His repertoire is vast and varied, from 3 tours in Europe with the Undertakin Daddies to opening for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, BJ Thomas and Ian Tyson; he has also shared the stage with Peter Roewen of New Riders of the Purple Sage, KD Lang, Willie P. Bennett, Penny Lang and Phill Lloyd. Kevin is a well known face at festivals across Canada and the US along with sharing album credits on many prestigious recordings. Boyd Benjamin From a long line of fine Gwitch in fiddlers, Boyd Benjamin was destined to take up the traditions of his home community of Old Crow, Yukon. With an ideal balance of natural talent and formal training, Benjamin s repertoire features a staggering gamut of songs, styles, and techniques. Ed Peekeekoot Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and story-teller, Ed Peekeekoot is a skilled and seasoned performer. He has a timeless kind of cool that appeals to audiences of all ages. The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, from the Southern, Yukon Territory of Canada, work to bring opportunity of cultural revitalization and social transformation within our communities by reclaiming our languages, traditional values through the art form of singing, drumming, dancing, and storytelling. We strive to present our culture with the outmost respect to cultural protocol and with the highest form of artistic integrity. 13

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