Intro to CSS Course - Cultivating Safe Spaces

A basic introduction to the CSS framework, this course bridges Indigenous Knowledge and neuroscience to give participants a foundational understanding of why cultivating safe spaces matters. Learn the Four Conditions (Understanding Self, Love-Based Practice, Patience, and Discipline) and Four Protocols (Well-Being, Inclusion, Freedom, and Validation). This course provides the groundwork for understanding how emotional safety and connection drive personal and professional growth.

Who It’s For:
Individuals or teams seeking to grasp the core principles of CSS and begin integrating them into everyday interactions.

To register: CSS – Online Courses

Mino Pimawatizwin – Journey Toward the Good Life Workshop - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

Strengthening holistic 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.

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.

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.

To register: Good Life

Indigenous Healthcare Policy and Procedure Development Program - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

Learners will learn to create policies and procedures rooted in strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant approaches.

The program aligns with accreditation requirements but is applicable to learners working within accredited and non-accredited organizations.  The program guides participants through developing and implementing healthcare policies and procedures within Indigenous communities and organizations. The course is divided into four 2-hour sessions, where participants will learn about and actively craft their policies and procedures, guided by the policy and procedure life cycle. Interactive tools will be used to enhance engagement and collaboration among participants.

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

• Navigating the policy and procedure life cycle, from identifying a need to retirement.

• Drafting, implementing, and monitoring a policy or procedure for an identified need.

• Understand the factors that are crucial components of an effective policy and procedure and describe how these factors affect the process of writing your policy and procedure.

• Strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant approaches while developing and implementing policies and procedures.

• The importance of regularly reviewing and updating policies and procedures to adapt to changing needs and circumstances.

Audience:

• Healthcare Professionals, Providers & Leaders

• Accreditation Coordinators / Quality Improvement Leads

• Community Health Representatives

Course instructors are highly experienced facilitators with knowledge of Indigenous healthcare policy and procedure development, cultural relevance, trauma-informed care, and accreditation standards.

To register: Indigenous Healthcare Policy

Indigenous Patient Navigation Program - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

This course equips participants with foundational knowledge and skills needed to navigate and understand how Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) roles work within the healthcare team to reduce barriers and support health equity to improve outcomes for patients and their families.

The course guides participants through the IPN competencies to strengthen skills that will be used to advocate for and support a culturally safe environment for Indigenous people across Canada. Throughout the 6 sessions, the learners will learn how the roles of Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) work within the healthcare team to reduce barriers and support health equity to improve outcomes for patients and their families.

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

• IPN Competencies: Learn how the roles of Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) work within the healthcare team to reduce barriers and support health equity to improve outcomes for patients and their families.

• Cultural Safety: Enhance understanding of cultural safety, humility, respect, and relevance when working in and with Indigenous communities, and with community members, and families.

• Advocacy: The program guides participants through the IPN competencies to strengthen skills that will be used to advocate for and support a culturally safe environment.

• Asset Mapping: Learn to apply a strength-based approach to identify resources relevant to patient navigation within the community and outside of the community.

• Non-Insured Health Benefits: Learn skills to navigate NIHB.

• Self-care: Learn strategies to distinguish between under-involvement and over-involvement within the zone of helpfulness to meet client needs.

Audience:

• Healthcare Professionals & Leaders

• Indigenous Patient Navigators

• Community Health Representatives

• Supervisors

• Program Planners

This course will be taught by an Indigenous Registered Nurse alongside a Registered Nurse who is an ally to the Indigenous community.

To register: Patient Navigation

Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility in Canadian Healthcare Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

This course aims to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide culturally safe and trauma-informed care to Indigenous populations.

This course will cover the importance of understanding bias, the impact of historical trauma, and strategies for implementing culturally safe practices in healthcare settings. This course will support participants’ understanding and appreciation of cultural differences, fostering inclusivity and effective communication across cultural boundaries. Recognizing the importance of Indigenous perspectives, the curriculum integrates principles of Indigenous cultural safety and humility, emphasizing respect, reciprocity, and relationship-building with Indigenous peoples and communities.

By engaging with Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, participants will develop the necessary skills and attitudes to navigate intercultural interactions with sensitivity and respect, contributing to building more inclusive and equitable environments. This course explores the historical impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples and acknowledges the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) calls to action as a framework for learning and action. This is a virtual program provided in one session (2.5 hours).

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

• Historical Context: Understanding of how historical events such as residential schools and the 60’s scoop have impacted Indigenous Peoples lives throughout history and in today’s environments.

• Cultural Safety and Humility: Enhance understanding of cultural safety, humility and respect when working in and with Indigenous communities, community members, and families.

• Unconscious Bias: Reflect and understand conscious bias vs unconscious bias, and how it affects our interactions with each other.

• Trauma- Informed Approach: Apply trauma-informed approaches to real life situations when interacting with Indigenous clients, patients and family members to ensure their well-being is considered on emotional, physical, mental and spiritual aspects.  

Audience:

• Health and social service professionals, providers, and leaders, human resource professionals

• This course can be adapted to fit the needs of other service industries as needed

This program can be delivered in-person upon request.

To register: Cultural Safety and Humility

Peer Support Core Essentials – PeerWorks

PeerWorks Peer Support Core Essentials™ Program involves 17 two-hour live webinars led by PSC certified trainers that will build foundational skills for offering peer support. 

This training program has been developed in consultation with the subject experts: Consumer/Survivor Initiatives and Peer Support Organizations across Ontario. Its focus is on strengthening and nurturing what is at the core of peer support: the peer supporter.

These interactive sessions include individual exercises, group exercises, trainer-led discussion, and role playing. Outside of these sessions there is some homework, which includes readings, reflections, and skills practice. Attendance is mandatory at all 17 webinars.

It should be noted that taking this training does not guarantee everyone an automatic “pass”. Participants are evaluated by the trainers, and the outcomes can range from “Incomplete” to “Level 1”, “Level 1R” and eventually earning “PeerWorks Certified Peer Supporter”.

Level 1 means the person attended and participated fully in the training and is deemed at this point appropriate to deliver an informal friendship style of peer support.

Level 1R means that the trainers are of the opinion the participant may be ready to work in a more formalized setting, and are Recommending that they proceed to an internship or practicum in which they deliver 50 hours of person to person support which is monitored and evaluated. It is not mandatory to do the practicum, but it is necessary for those who wish to earn the PeerWorks Certified Peer Supporter certificate.

For more information: PeerWorks – PSCE

To register: PeerWorks – Upcoming Events

Peer Support Training Canada – Luminate Wellness

A high quality peer support training developed by Jenn Cusick, the developer of BC’s Peer Support Training curriculum.

Facilitator Jenn Cusick has managed peer support programs since 1999.

This training is inline with Peer Support Canada’s knowledge matrix and Standards of Practice.

With a deep foundation in developing peer support programs across British Columbia, our training is crafted to provide high-quality education grounded in best practices. Our program ensures that your peer support staff are equipped with skills that align with industry standards and foster meaningful, supportive connections within your organization.

Our Peer Support Training is tailored for peer support workers dedicated to serving individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Peer support staff need skills and tools to support people with a peer lens. Often peer support is embedded in clinical settings, but peer support isn’t clinical–it’s about relationship, connection, and hope. To meet diverse needs, our program is available on a Zoom format. We can do some in-person session, but that will require travel. We can tailor the training to meet your time constraints and budget.

Our training is grounded in:

• The Core Values

• Supporting Self-Determination: The training fosters an environment of self-determination, where each person is honored as the expert on their own life. Participants learn to support without fixing, saving or advising, creating a space of autonomy, connection, and growth.

• Unpacking our Biases: We explore the roots of judgment, noticing and challenging our explicit and implicit biases. Peer supporters learn to navigate these biases, fostering open conversations that respect diverse perspectives.

• Cultural Humility: Our approach to cultural humility emphasizes self-reflection to recognize biases and approach each interaction from a stance of "not knowing."

• Trauma-Informed Communication: We explore what trauma is, and what it means to be trauma-informed, and how to communicate in a way that supports healing and prevents re-traumatization.

• Strength-Based Approach: The training focuses on recognizing and amplifying each person’s strengths and capacities.

• Self-Care for Peer Supporters: Effective peer support requires balance. We cover strategies to protect well-being, prevent burnout, and establish boundaries that allow for genuine, sustainable support.

To register: Luminate - PSTA