THUNDER BAY – The Board of Directors and the Executive Director of local Thunder Bay charity, Blue Sky Community Healing Centre, are excited to launch their new Indigenous Worldview Training, One Tribe. There is a strong desire of mainstream society to understand and learn more about the Indigenous culture as evidenced by the weekly requests received by Blue Sky for this training.
Blue Sky has a team of qualified Facilitators ready to take you on an adventure of learning through an interactive coaching series of cultural awareness training. These Facilitators are from the north and have first-hand experience showing you how to initiate and foster successful working relationships with the Indigenous community.
Blue Sky’s coaching service is unique in providing factual information and practical recommendations, in order to better serve international community. The coaching carries insightful knowledge and experience working with and travelling to Indigenous communities that could assist you in initiating a respectful dialogue and better understand Indigenous worldviews. The One Tribe workshops are non-judgmental and open to people of any ethnicity, since Blue Sky believes that education is the key to promoting mutual understanding. Blue Sky provides a comfortable environment within which to learn and exchange experiences. Professional workshops are tailored to specific needs and participants may earn certificates.
The highlight of this story is that the coaching proceeds will fund Blue Sky’s social mission, affectionately referred to as All My Relations. Cynthia Coons, Treasurer, commented that “We are on-the-ground – with the people”.
The Social Mission
The ‘gidinawemaagineanag’ All Our Relations project will hire a ‘Coffee and Conversation’ Project Facilitator provide a safe and nurturing environment for the targeted groups to share experiences, teachings and the culture; chat over coffee and snacks; laugh and joke about old times; learn and practice cultural ceremonies i.e. smudging, pipe, sharing circle, healing circle; traditional crafts such as beading, dreamcatchers, tobacco bags, and so on; and, provide support to each other. The gatherings will be informal and plenty of time for interaction.
The ‘gidinawemaagineanag’ All Our Relations project will also hire an ‘Anishnaabe Language’ Project Elder providing simple and interactive ways to learn the Anishnaabe language for all ethnic backgrounds and ages.
The proposed activities have been well tested and are culturally appropriate to enable important, shared teachings and experiences based upon the wisdom, traditions and practices of the Aboriginal culture.
Connect with Blue Sky directly to arrange for tailored session(s) for your staff at a convenient time and location for your organization.
These are some of the topics that are discussed however we are able to customize workshops specific to your needs:
1. Introduction to the Indigenous Community
2. Residential School System and Unfamiliar Impacts
3. Ralph Rowe Overcomers (new)
4. Anishinaabe Cultural Practices
5. Overview of Ancient First Peoples and Archaeology in Northern Ontario
6. Medicine Walk (plant identification, harvesting and uses)
7. Economic and Holistic Benefits of Working with the Indigenous Community
8. Land Use Planning Then and Now
9. Truth About Treaties – Before, During, After, Now (new)
“Our company has utilized the services of Blue Sky Community Healing Centre in the past to deliver cultural training to our staff. Cindy and her associates have been most accommodating and provide an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere in which to discuss and learn about Aboriginal Culture. We intend on using her services again and highly recommend her services to anyone, stated Cheryl Lesperance, Manager, Aboriginal Affairs, Greenstone Gold Mines.
