Introduction 

As more and more of us confront the fact that the world is not equitable for all, it is crucial for us to understand what our role is in supporting one another and together, figure out the systems and society that work for everybody. One step that we’re taking at the Centre for Social Innovation is piloting a new event series that focuses on creating safe spaces for us to ask questions, challenge assumptions, learn about what makes each individual unique and complex, and what makes us one. The kinds of questions we hope to ask include, but are not limited to: How do I check my privilege? How can we engage in a conversation around identity, oppression, and colonialism? How do I support someone else’s cause? How do we learn from each other? How can I be an ally? If you want to be an ally, please join us for our first two events in this series. We have asked leaders from the CSI community to speak about their lived experiences, their professional practice building bridges among communities and to share their thoughts on how someone could be their ally. This will be followed by a facilitated Q&A and smaller group discussions.

How to be an Ally: Indigenous Awareness

Indigenous Awareness & Cultural Sensitivity session for individuals, groups, organizations, agencies and corporations wanting to expand Indigenous knowledge using the Circle of Life/ Medicine Wheel Framework. Topics that will be covered:

• Introduction to smudging
• The Medicine Wheel
• The four directions
• Concept of self
• Concept of connectedness
• Four aspects of everyone’s nature
• Four stages of life
• Concept of the four seasons
• Concept of vision
• Concept of the four elements
• Concept of Balance
• Concept of learning
• Four sacred medicines

Speaker: Jason Rocky Carter

Jason Rocky Carter is a Nehiyaw from Onion Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. He is a passionate medicine wheel facilitator, teacher and trainer. His pursuit of indigenized education began in Edmonton, AB, at Nechi Institute Centre for Indigenous Learning and found his identity in spirituality, culture and healing. He embraced his culture and began sundancing and committing his life to working across Turtle Island in healing lodges, treatment centres, detox centres, wellness centres and volunteering at elders’ gatherings to improve the quality of life for his family, community and Nation. At Brandon University, MB, he completed a Bachelor of First Nations and Aboriginal Counselling Degree. He is also certified with four levels of medicine wheel counsellor training and three levels of medicine wheel facilitator training. He moved to Toronto, Ontario to continue his Graduate degree. For two decades, he enjoys his work in sharing the wisdom of the medicine wheel with many people and organizations across Turtle Island. Jason Rocky Carter continues to progress his passion for giving indigenous elders and spiritual leaders a voice by sharing indigenous wisdom and knowledge creating Indigenous Awareness on the intergenerational effects of Indian Residential Schools and his enthusiasm for wholistic education and training that creates balance and harmony for all of the human family and the next generations. He is the founder of Bear Standing Tall & Associates.

Register for the Event here

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About the cost and accessibility

The cost was a hard piece for us because we want this to be accessible to everybody, but we also wanted to honour the time of our facilitators and attach fair value to their work and ours.The cost of tickets is still reflecting a discount from both parties, but we’re comfortable with this if it means more people can attend. If you find the cost prohibitive, we are offering 5 bursaries for each session on a first come, first serve basis. You do not need to a provide an explanation and we trust that these bursaries will go to people who really require them. For anyone requiring bursary or other accommodation (i.e. tokens, child minding), please email Shilbee (shilbee@socialinnovation.ca). We’re constantly learning and exploring different ways to live up to our value of creating healthy cultures and we’re always open to feedback!

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Will there be more “How to be an Ally” events?

In addition to this topic, we had previously hosted "How to be an Ally: Anti-Oppression 101" and you can learn more about it here. These two events consist of our pilot and based on the interest, we will look into rolling it out again and diversifying our themes (i.e. How to be an Ally: Islam, Accessibility, Gender, etc.) so please reach out to shilbee@socialinnovation.ca if you’re interested in being a future speaker or want to propose a topic.

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