Our facilitators

Patrick is from Maskwacis Territory where he served on Samson Cree Nation council for 9 years. Facilitating in Equine Assisted Learning, he is a Master in Complementary Therapies and Mind Management.  His focus has been on community wellness and healing for 30 years. Totamaso means to do it yourself in Newiyawin.  Kisikaw presents information that helps participants to understand how to help themselves by freeing themselves from past traumas and memories that would otherwise keep them stuck. Everything starts with a thought. How do thoughts determine a person’s behavior and choices in life? Thought is energy, energy is a language. Kisikaw will demonstrate energy and thought. He will do actual stress and trauma release in a safe and non-intrusive way. All participants will benefit by learning techniques for self management.

Kathleen has a lifelong learning path including environmental sciences, psychology and theology. She works as a Career Development Practitioner: advising organizations for development of holistic employee support programs and coaching individuals about meaningful employment training for both getting a job and keeping a job. She helps youth  learn how to story their lives as if soul and spirit matter by including artistic expression.

Orest is a person of Metis ancestry born and has spent the last 23 years working closely within the Indigenous community.  To date, he has touched the lives of thousands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous People through reconciliation work, public talks, personal development workshops and coach training for Indigenous organizations’. He is a skilled workshop facilitator and  has spent thousands of hours studying, researching and participating in workshops and seminars gathering teachings and lessons from Elders and Change-Makers on how to live authentically aligned with personal mission, vision & truth.

Mary McDermott is a Cree Mother/Grandmother who was raised by her Grandmother along the shores of Lesser Slave Lake in the hamlet of Grouard. She grew up learning the importance of family and community and uses those teachings in her work. Although her background is in social work, receiving both her diploma and BSW at Blue Quills First Nation College, she has been blessed to complete her master’s degree in Indigenous People’s Education there also. It was within the University where she learned to utilize Indigenous knowledge to do research and build communities. She is a strong advocate for families and believes in empowering them to use their voice. She has been a Circle facilitator / trainer for the past 17 years and enjoys working with people. Currently Mary resides in the Edmonton where she continues to utilize her knowledge to build bridges for all people.  

Certified as a Conflict Resolution Specialist through the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution Centre, Jason is passionate about teaching tools to handle conflict in a healthy way. As a proud member of Thunderchild First Nation, he was raised with the old ways and lives his culture as his way of life. His path led him into becoming a pro MMA fighter and he holds his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt which ultimately led him to finding his calling practicing and teaching conflict resolution tools from the context of being a nehiyaw. In his spare time, you will find Jason singing on the pow wow trail and creating works of art  as a silversmith artisan.  

Charlotte is a Waldorf teacher where imagination, acceptance and presence are cultivated, inviting the natural wisdom and curiosity for learning, of all to unfold. As a practitioner of Integrative Energy Healing, she inspires others to awaken to their inherent capacity to heal and awaken to wholeness in all aspects of their being, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Charlotte co-developed and co-facilitated an energy awareness program, Anahata, promoting the healing and wellness of the participant’s whole self through the balancing of the chakra system and energy body.

Dale is a member of Samson Cree Nation but experienced early life on the Pigeon Lake Indian Reserve #138A and is currently working towards his Ph.D Candidacy in Secondary Education with a focus in Indigenous ways as formalized education. As a nehiyaw scholar, under the supervision of Dr. Dwayne Donald, he also aspires to explore working with nehiyaw kehte-ayak (Elders) in places of higher learning. Responding to the mandate of kehtey-ayak expressing concerns for “Indian Control over Indian Education”, and developing the capacity for local control as salient. 

Dawn shares her love and light as a Practitioner of Integrative Energy Healing, supporting clients to awaken their natural healing response with the goal of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual transformation.  She has co-developed and co-facilitated Anahata, an energy awareness workshop, exploring chakra focused practices, mindfulness and sacred ceremony. As an Educational Assistant, Dawn has supported children with special needs (ASD, FASD) in a play based curriculum within an interdisciplinary team.  She deeply values her volunteer experience at Pilgrim’s Hospice Society's Day Program and the Expressive Arts Grief Program.