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Indigenous Wisdoms in Practice Part I: Land-Based Tools for Wellness

October 20 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm MDT

While the field of psychology continues to move toward greater cultural sensitivity, research, education, and practice remain grounded primarily in dominant Euro Western approaches. Such approaches perpetuate colonial narratives and practices in assessment, diagnosis, conceptualization, and treatment, limiting clinical effectiveness with Indigenous people. This workshop draws on community-based Indigenous research and national reports, engaging attendees in understanding how they may better serve Indigenous people, from Indigenous perspectives. Participants will learn how to begin restor(y)ing colonial narratives of pathology using Indigenous counter narratives of survivance, resilience, resistance, and resurgence that move Indigenous people and communities toward individual and collective wellness, balance, and harmony. This workshop will engage attendees in considering how they may transform their work through applying a medicine bundle framework that incorporates community-based perspectives on best practices that are based in love, good relationships, Indigenous knowledges, living a good life, responsibility, identity and belonging, and land. Land-based Indigenous approaches to psychotherapy and complex trauma work will be introduced, including how to bring an “all my relations,” land-based, strength-based, culturally responsive, holistic, and historically sensitive approach to therapeutic work through the application of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Learning Objectives

Following the workshop, participants should be able to:

  • Articulate what decolonizing means in the context of psychological practice
  • Understand Indigenous counter-narratives and concepts that challenge; conventional approaches to psychopathology and disease, and how these contribute to personal and collective wellness among Indigenous people;
  • Implement basic land-based tools that support (re)connecting with, (re)opening to, and (re)engaging one’s personal and collective wisdom and medicine for healing;
  • Move toward decolonizing and Indigenizing their practice in a good way.
Dr. Karlee Fellner

Dr. Karlee Fellner is a member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation of Alberta, a Registered Psychologist (Alberta), and CEO and Founder of ᒪᐢᑭᐦᑭᕀ maskihkiy wellness. Dr. Fellner worked for over 10 years as a Professor of Counselling Psychology-Indigenous Education at the University of Calgary before resigning her tenured position to focus on community-based clinical work. Dr. Fellner is a prominent clinical scholar activist who has been working in the fields of iyiniwak (Indigenous) healing, wellness, and psychologies for over 14 years. Her program of research focused on Indigenous approaches to therapy and trauma work; Indigenous research, curriculum and pedagogy; culturally appropriate counselling; complex trauma; and holistic and traditional approaches to wellness. She has been working with people in clinical practice for over 17 years, and has been designing and implementing land-based, culturally-rooted programming in mental health and addictions for over 9 years. Dr. Fellner has a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and completed her internship in Clinical Psychology at the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis. In addition to her work in mental health and addictions, Dr. Fellner is a visual artist, mother, and traditional jingle dancer. She is also the host of the Soul Medicine: Ancient Psychologies for Wellness podcast.

Recommended Key Resources

Canadian Psychological Association & The Psychology Foundation of Canada. (2018). Psychology’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Report. Toronto, ON: Author. Available at: https://cpa.ca/docs/File/Task_Forces/TRC%20Task%20Force%20Report_FINAL.pdf

Duran, E. (2019). Healing the soul wound: Trauma-informed counseling for Indigenous communities (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press: New York.

Fellner, K. D. (2019a). Iskotew & crow: Reigniting narratives of Indigenous survivance & trauma wisdom in the classroom. In S. Carr-Stewart & J. Ottmann (Eds.), Knowing the Past, Facing the Future: Indigenous education in Canada (pp. 143-170). Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.

Fellner, K. D. (2019b). Therapy as ceremony: Decolonizing & Indigenizing our practice. In N. Arthur (Ed.). Counseling in Cultural Contexts – Identity and Social Justice (pp. 181-201). New York: Springer.

Turcotte, S., & Schiffer, J. J. (2014). Aboriginal Focusing-Oriented Therapy. In G. Madison (Ed.), Emerging practice in focusing-oriented psychotherapy: Innovative theory and applications (pp. 48-63). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley.

Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@indigenousfocusingoriented4099

Members Only Discounts

Are you a member with the PAA? Did you know that members get discounts on workshops? Ensure that you are signed in when purchasing a ticket to receive your discount.

Full Members, Early Career Psychologists, Professional Affiliate Members, Out of Province Psychologist Members, Non-Practicing Members and Lifetime Members receive 20% off.

Provisional Members and Psychological Assistant Members receive 30% off.

Student Members receive 40% off.

Registrations

Registrations for in-person workshops are open until 3 business days prior to the workshop to ensure accurate numbers for catering and event space. Should you wish to register for this workshop within 1-3 business days prior to the workshop, requests must be made in writing to the Continuing Professional Development Officer at cpd@paa-ab.ca. Requests will not be processed if they are received after 12pm on the last business day prior to the workshop. 

Continuing Education Credits

The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer Continuing Education (CE) for psychologists. This workshop is offered for six (6) hours of CE Credit. Full attendance at the workshop is required to receive Continuing Education Credits. Partial credit will not be awarded, and late arrivals or early departure will preclude awarding of Continuing Education Credits. PAA maintains responsibility for the program.

Cancellation and Refunds

Cancellation and refunds may be applied for by email or phone call to the PAA Continuing Professional Development Officer.  Cancellations received fourteen (14) days prior to the Continuing Professional Development activity will receive a full refund of the registration fee, less a $35.00 + GST processing fee. Cancellations received thirteen (13) days or less prior to the Continuing Professional Development activity will be exempt from receiving a refund. Partial refunds will not be awarded. PAA reserves the right to cancel any activity, in which case a full refund of the registration fee will be provided.

Tickets

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Indigenous Wisdoms in Practice Part I: Land-Based Tools for Wellness- 11092025
$ 450.00
40 available

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Details

Date:
October 20
Time:
9:00 am - 4:00 pm MDT
Cost:
$450.00
Event Category:

Venue

Calgary
Calgary, Alberta Canada

Organizer