As Marymound prepares to host its semi-annual conference on March 15th and 16th, 2022, the theme of Reconciled Healing Spaces has never been more important. Marymound has been working diligently at creating these spaces but recognizes that reconciliation is a process, and everyone still has a lot to learn.
“The motivation for this year’s conference was that we are starting to embark on our commitment to reconciliation,” explains Dawn Isaac, Director of Organizational Development and Cultural Services for Marymound. “A speaker at our previous conference talked about the idea of having a reconciled healing model, and we knew we wanted to explore that further.”
The conference, titled “Resilience & Resurgence: Why Reconciled Healing Spaces are Essential to Healing,” is a way to continue to expand Marymound’s understanding of how best to serve and welcome Indigenous people. “As an organization, we’ve been exploring how we could use a two-eyed seeing approach to do the work that we do,” continues Issac. “That means using western and traditional Indigenous healing models and understanding that they have equal value.”
While the conference is hosted by Marymound, Issac believes it will be a powerful experience for anyone working in health and social services. “When you listen to these speakers and learn about the work they’re doing in their field, you can start to visualize a process in your own environment that incorporates and prioritizes Indigenous inclusion and decolonization. We hope you’ll think about the structures you operate in and what it might mean to create a reconciled space,” explains Isaac.
The line-up of speakers reflects a broad scope of Indigenous perspectives across social services. Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos is a Registered Psychologist and Assistant Professor in Indigenous Health and Social Policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Dr. Patricia McGuire is an Anishinaabe professor at Carleton University’s School of Social Work. Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Ph.D., served as Vice Provost for Indigenous Initiatives at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay for three years. Each speaker will share their personal and professional experiences in a bid to broaden participants’ understanding of what’s possible.
“We’re really hoping that this conference is going to create some meaningful discussions, and a powerful sense of action for every participant,” concludes Issac. “Even if that just means you’ve taken something away to reflect on, like the sense of power you have in your life to affect change, that’s what we’re aiming for.”
Tickets for the conference are available at a special early bird rate until January 30th, and group rates are available, as well. To find out more about the conference and how to register, click here.