Strengthening Spirit Impacted by Addictions & Mental Health
with Stephanie Stephens (Waabishka Miigwan)

2-Day Gathering

Date: Tuesday, March 21st - Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm 

Where: Manitoulin Hotel & Conference Centre, 66 Meredith Street East, Little Current

This workshop is for community members, frontline workers, counsellors, child and family service workers, mental health & addictions clients or anyone living with mental health and addictions. 

• lunch provided
• draws/giveaways
• youth Drum Group
• community/partner booths
• guest speakers

AGENDA

Day 1 - Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Past: Unsettling History & Worldview

Description: This will involve a condensed look at colonial history through the lens of Windegokaan - a protective spirit that confronts a negative W entity (greed, ego, selfishness). The infected colonizers spread this W spirit-virus across Turtle Island, infecting First Nations. Together we will remember the old ways of our ancestors before infected at contact, to better understand what Mino Bimaatisiwin really means. Traditional stories and teachings will be incorporated to provoke an awakening of your spirit. This will be a shame-free and experience for those who struggle

Day 2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Present & Future: Reconnecting to Identity & Purpose

Description: It takes community-level change for people to move beyond a life consumed by addictions and mental health struggles. This is not a problem with the individual - it is a W-infected social environment that keeps perpetuating problems. Time to stop victim-blaming and empower the ones who are struggling the most. Strengthening spirit involves reconnecting to our inherent responsibilities, our ancestors and spiritual gifts. It involves everyone shifting into Anishinaabe worldview, while confined to Western systems, policies and processes. “Journeying Together to Unlearn, Unsettle, Remember & Rekindle” About the Facilitator: Stephanie Stephens (Waabishka Miigwan) is Anishinaabe, Bear Clan, member of Garden River First Nation. She comes with 25+ years of experience learning and working in Indigenous Healing & Wellness as a social worker and educator. She is an anti-colonial, critical thinker who swears by the resurgence of our Old Anishinaabe ways of knowing, being, understanding and doing in the world as the only thing that will help our communities survive ongoing assimilation and colonial violence. waabishkamiigwan@gmail.com www. waabishkamiigwan.com

To register, please contact:

Rob Wabegijig
Community Addictions Support Worker
rob.wabegijig@noojmowin-teg.ca
Mobile: (705) 348-0344