Mino Pimawatizwin – Journey Toward the Good Life Workshop

Attention! This comprehensive, two-day in-person workshop can be customized in length and format to align with your community’s needs and is available for delivery either in-person or virtually. For additional details, Send us an email

Course Description

Strengthening Wholistic Wellness in Indigenous Community Health

In this immersive workshop, participants will deepen their understanding of Cultural Safety and Humility in Indigenous health contexts, apply Trauma-Informed Care approaches to address the impacts of historical and ongoing trauma, and explore the shift from Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness to foster healthier work and care environments. Participants will gain practical skills in Harm Reduction, including Naloxone use, and consider how personal perspectives influence professional growth. The workshop also introduces the therapeutic benefits of nature, including a guided Forest and Nature Therapy Walk (within the biome) to enhance cognitive, emotional, and stress regulation.

Date: January 21-22, 2025,
Location: Assiniboine Park Pavilion: 55 Pavilion Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N6
Day 1: 9am –4:30pm, Day 2: 9am -2:30pm
Price: $500 (includes lunch on both days and access to the Leaf)
Audience: Anyone interested in the topics covered, including Health, Social and Educational professionals and providers working in or with Indigenous Communities in Manitoba. E.g. Health Directors, Program Managers, Social Workers, Nurses, Counsellors, Educators, Jordan’s Principle Workers, Community Health Representatives, Support workers. Etc.
Facilitators: Tyler Geisler, RSW, MSW, Victoria Mckay, BSc., M.Ed., C.C.C.

Workshop Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

Understand the principles of Cultural Safety and Humility in the context of Indigenous communities and health care.
Apply Trauma-Informed Care approaches to their practice, recognizing the impact of historical and ongoing trauma on wholistic health.
Explore the shift from Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness and promote healthier, more supportive work and care environments.
Gain practical knowledge in Harm Reduction strategies, including Naloxone access and administration.
Explore how your perspective can impact personal and professional growth.
Understand the positive impacts of time spent in nature on cognitive function, emotional regulation, and stress reduction, gain an understanding of the origins and core practices of nature and forest therapy, and participate in a guided Forest and Nature Therapy Walk

Workshop Schedule

January 21-21, 2025

9 AM – 9:15AM
Welcome & Opening Circle

Traditional Land Acknowledgment
Introduction to Workshop Facilitators and Participants
Opening Remarks from an Elder or facilitator

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Session 1: Cultural Safety and Humility in Practice

Defining cultural safety and humility in the context of Indigenous health
Practical strategies for building trust and relationships
Reflection activities on biases and assumptions
How our biases can impact the care we provide

Learning Outcome:
Participants will gain tools to apply cultural safety and humility principles in their interactions with Indigenous clients.

9:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Session 2: Trauma-Informed Care

Understanding the impact of colonization, residential schools, and intergenerational trauma
Principles of trauma-informed care: safety, choice, collaboration, and empowerment
Moving from intergenerational trauma to intergenerational healing

Learning Outcome:
Participants will be able to better recognize different levels of trauma and how they may impact their clients.

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Morning Break

10:45 AM – 11:45 PM
Session 3: Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training

Introduction to harm reduction principles in Indigenous contexts
Practical Naloxone administration training and overdose prevention strategies
Empirical and anecdotal evidence of harm reduction.

Learning Outcome:
Participants will acquire practical harm reduction skills and know how to access and safely administer Naloxone in overdose situations.

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Session 3: Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness

Identifying lateral violence within organizations and communities and the impact of colonizing structures and systems.
Strategies to foster lateral kindness and collaboration in teams
Implementing lateral kindness in your workplace and life on a consistent basis

Afternoon Break: 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Session 3: Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness Continued

Perspective and Personal Growth: Explore how your perspective shapes your life experiences and decisions.
Building a resilience/strengths-based narrative perspective activity

Learning Outcome:
Participants will understand how to recognize lateral violence and implement practical strategies to shift towards lateral kindness.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Closing Circle: Reflections and Next Steps

Group reflection on key takeaways from the day
Participants share one action they will take in their practice

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Informal Networking and Resource Sharing

Space for participants to connect, share resources, and continue discussions

Wednesday, January 15, 2024

9:00 PM – 11:30 AM Venue: The Leaf – Assiniboine Park
Compassion Recharge: Nature and Forest Therapy: Incorporating nature into your daily self-care and healing.

Attendees will have a day of self-care to help recharge their body, mind and spirit
Learners will review research on how time spent in nature positively impacts cognitive function, emotional regulation, and stress reduction.
Learners will gain an understanding of what nature and forest therapy entails, including its origins and core practices.
Guided Forest and Nature Therapy Walk at The Leaf in Winnipeg

12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Sharing Circle & Tea Ceremony

Space for participants to connect, discuss, and share their experiences.
Tea ceremony and bid farewell
Day is done earlier to allow learners to go and engage in self-care of their choice.
Closing words from an Elder or facilitator

Mino Pimawatizwin – Journey Toward the Good Life Workshop

Course Description

Workshop Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

Workshop Schedule

January 21-21, 2025

9 AM – 9:15AMWelcome & Opening Circle

9:15 AM – 9:45 AMSession 1: Cultural Safety and Humility in Practice

9:45 AM – 10:30 AMSession 2: Trauma-Informed Care

10:30 AM – 10:45 AMMorning Break

10:45 AM – 11:45 PMSession 3: Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training

1:00 PM – 2:30 PMSession 3: Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness

Afternoon Break: 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

2:45 PM – 4:00 PMSession 3: Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness Continued

3:30 PM – 4:00 PMClosing Circle: Reflections and Next Steps

4:00 PM – 4:30 PMInformal Networking and Resource Sharing