Available Workshops
**EDI CPD credit is indicated where applicable
1. Visioning: Moving Forward 4h30m EDI CPD
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2. Law From Traditional Story 2h35m EDI CPD
3. The Medicine Wheel & Mediation 2h15m EDI CPD
4. Indigenous Harm Reduction & Law Making (on reserve)
5. Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness
6. Welcome to Mushkegowuk Territory
7. Weaponize Your Privilege
8. An Introduction to Understanding First Nations
9. What Not to Teach About First Nations Parts 1 & 2
10. Drafting Land Acknowledgements
11. Oral Tradition Introduction
12. Genocide in Canada
13. Doctrine of Domination
14. Assimilation is not Equity
15. You! With a Personal Reconciliation Plan.
16. Who are First Nations in Canada?
17. Canadian Laws Impact on Reserve Lands
18. EDI? It's all about YOU.
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​What is different about these workshops?
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First Nation specific content
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Accredited by the Law Society of Ontario
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General public is welcome to register/attend
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Casual setting
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Who should attend?
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All courtroom officers, staff, judiciary, and employees in the judicial system
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Mental/health practitioners
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Social workers
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Teachers
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Public servants
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First Nations people
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General public (18+)
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Why?
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Personal interest
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You would like to work with First Nations people and/or communities
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You want to improve your policies and programs but don't know where to start
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You are looking for actual First Nation experience and are confused about where to find this
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You know something is not quite 'right' about the story you have been told...
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Workshop content comes from personal 'lived experience'
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You (or your organization) is looking for an easy way to create/fulfil education plans for yourself (and/or staff) about First Nations peoples
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Earn EDI Professionalism credit (LSO)​
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Learn some truth/unlearn myths & stereotypes one workshop at a time
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Background information:
I unschooled my daughters all their lives. Based on their experience, they came up with a "curriculum" for Indigenous families who found themselves in the same boat (no real resources that didn't need to be adapted to their lives for homeschooling or 'after-school' activity purposes). They have not yet launched this program but it is there for when they are ready to do so. In addition to creating this authentic Indigenous resource, my daughters wanted to find a way to create scholarships or educational bursaries of some type for First Nation students....
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So, where do your $$ go?
- you are immediately supporting 3 young First Nation ladies as they begin their venture into creating their own lives
- your support will mean occasional contribution to First Nation and/or community member needs or initiatives (this can mean something as simple as contributing to an elder's grocery order, supplying a winter's worth of firewood, or buying a garden swing for someone with limited mobility, etc.) - we quietly pick what (so there is no concern about authenticity or actual need)
- and if this becomes sustainable, you will be helping create that scholarship/bursary for a First Nation student
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I look forward to meeting you. I have 19 accredited workshops; the list below is my work in progress (web page creation problems!) I have selected one date for the first workshop so far.
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Email me at friendoffirstnations@gmail.com to book a time.
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Short descriptions are below. More information coming. Please scroll.
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*Visioning
(Moving Forward)
5h
Moving Forward from Trauma & Stress
Why we (First Nations people) are the way we are. An introductory summary of where we have been to help us understand what we need to do to move forward.
What?: a foundation of knowledge that will be helpful in determining what types of 'programming' is necessary to unravel generations of damage, and/or to inform your personal/organizational reconciliation plans. I understand the word 'trauma' is thrown around in everyday language; this workshop is about cycles, stress, impacts of these and how to plan a way out of these.​
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Who? This is meant for:
*Allies looking for effective initiatives to support or build with First Nations
*Service providers
*First Nations people
*Anyone is welcome
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#Self-care #how do your stress levels compare? #what is trauma #what does it do #historical and current sources of trauma #First Nation specific sources #physical impacts of trauma #counter the impacts #next steps​​
Though you may not intend to support work needed in First Nation communities anytime soon, this workshop will apply to and benefit you individually.
(*this is the most 'popular' workshop so far)
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This program contains 4 hours and 30 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.
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The Medicine Wheel
& Mediation
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Balance skills from various types of mediation
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Identify your strengths
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Improve your interviewing (intake) & screening skills (especially with First Nations people, stereotypes, etc.)
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Build your mediation 'tool kit'
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learn about the medicine wheel, different outlooks & philosophies, etc.
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build your cultural awareness
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build self awareness & communication skills
The Medicine Wheel has become a pan-American Indian symbol and is used here only as a tool to present information.​
This program contains 2 hours and 15 minutes of EDI Professionalism content.
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Law From Traditional Story
3h
Our laws have been passed down through generations and continue to survive and exist. Due to loss of language and removal from our lands, documenting our laws for ourselves, our way, without outside influence or control is becoming more urgent. This workshop is about a method I use to collect 'story'. I will share some of my findings so far.
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Our language speakers are integral to preserving our knowledge and translating it for use today and into the future. You can play a role whether you speak your language or not because your cultural fluency and competence matters. Our laws remain relevant and need to remain relevant as we rebuild our communities and Nations. Canadian society dismisses our legal traditions as invalid or inferior; we must break that messaging for ourselves for the benefit of our grandchildren.
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There are great challenges from both internal and external sources in doing this work e.g. impacts of residential schools, lateral violence, Canada, etc.
Who should attend? Service providers, students, First Nations people. All are welcome.
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*Note: this is not to be confused with "Aboriginal law".​
This program contains 2 hours and 35 minutes of EDI Professionalism content.
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Indigenous Harm Reduction
& the Limitations of Law
Making on Reserve
Like other communities across Canada, First Nations are experiencing increased drug related crises.
Recognition of the effectiveness of Indigenous Harm Reduction practices is growing; come learn from one another and share your experiences.
Challenges faced by First Nations in accessing services ordinarily available off reserve usually means that leadership turns to the law-making authorities of the Indian Act to address the problems their communities face.
Come learn the law-making procedures & authorities found under the Indian Act and their limitations.​​
This program contains 5 hours and 15 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.
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What Not to Teach About First Nations
We will discuss objectification, misconceptions, zero, the wheel...
we will also do some math :) and get a syllabic writing lesson.
​*This is about stereotypes and unlearning what "we" were all taught in school and in society; i.e. this is not limited to teachers.
This program contains 3 hours of EDI Professionalism Content.
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What Not to Teach About First Nations part 2
This program contains hours and minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.
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Welcome to Mushkegowuk Territory
2h
This is a welcome to our Territory. (Description coming).
This program contains 1 hour and 30 minutes of EDI Professionalism content.
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Weaponize Your Privilege
This program contains hours and minutes of EDI Professionalism content.
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Law Making on Reserve (Indian Act)
3.5 h
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An overview of the law-making authorities found in the Indian Act.
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Misconceptions about the Indian Act (Canadians appear to be under the impression that the Indian Act is somehow self imposed
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Delegated Authority/Jurisdiction​​
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Enactment/Amendment/Repeal procedures
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Publication/Enforcement/Prosecution
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The role of the Chief generally
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BCRs versus laws
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Impact of December 16, 2014 repeal of Ministerial Disallowance Authority (for s. 81 laws)
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You! With a Personal Reconciliation Plan
This program contains hours of EDI Professionalism Content.
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For further information:
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The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice include those Calls reproduced below. You can read the full reports here):
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Culture
2.6 We call upon all governments to educate their citizens about, and to confront and eliminate, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. To accomplish this, the federal government, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and provincial and territorial governments, must develop and implement an Anti-Racism and Anti Sexism National Action Plan to end racist and sexualized stereotypes of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The plan must target the general public as well as public services.
Attorneys and Law Societies
10.1 We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and Canadian law societies and bar associations, for mandatory intensive and periodic training of Crown attorneys, defence lawyers, court staff, and all who participate in the criminal justice system, in the area of Indigenous cultures and histories, including distinctions-based training…./
The Calls for Justice also call on all Canadians.
We call on all Canadians to:
15.2 Decolonize by learning the true history of Canada and Indigenous history in your local area. Learn about and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ history, cultures, pride, and diversity, acknowledging the land you live on and its importance to local Indigenous communities, both historically and today.
15.7 Create time and space for relationships based on respect as human beings, supporting and embracing differences with kindness, love, and respect. Learn about Indigenous principles of relationship specific to those Nations or communities in your local area and work, and put them into practice in all of your relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
Also, the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (full text here) include those reproduced below.
Professional Development and Training for Public Servants
57. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties, and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
Business & Reconciliation
92 iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
©2021 by MChakasim. Email: friendoffirstnations@gmail.com