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Indigenous Workplaces & Communities
Our Support Team
We offer you a wide range of professional expertise. Click for more information on our team.
Indigenous Workshops
Our workshops are customized to meet the needs of each group. Click to learn more about our workshops.
Ceremonies
We invite you to offer ceremonies at the beginning and or end of our workshop presentations. Let’s talk about the details.
Full Day – Trauma Informed Training
Lateral Violence, Bullying and Harassment Trauma-Informed Training
Customized for all First Nations, Metis and Inuit workplaces and communities
Offered by The Canadian Institute of Workplace Bullying Resources.
Includes definitions/terminology, early signs, impact, prevalence, root causes, resources, options, rights & legislations, costs, risk factors, solutions, self-empowerment and much more.
Please email us for more information.
Legal Resource
Inez Agovic
Thompson Laboucan Epp LLP
Edmonton, AB
Inez maintains a general civil litigation practice with a particular interest in employment law, aboriginal law, and estate litigation. Inez has experience in drafting pleadings, legal opinions, briefs, and court applications
IAgovic@tlellp.ca
Direct: (825) 480-6324
Thompson Laboucan Epp LLP
#900, 10104 103 Ave NW
Edmonton , AB T5J 0H8
Phone: (825) 480-6317
Fax: (825) 480 6325
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Website
Overview Booklet
Download our overview booklet.
All services are customized.
Email psychologicalsafetyfirst@gmail.com for more information
Email psychologicalsafetyfirst@gmail.com for more information
Darlene Kaboni
Darlene Kaboni is from the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island; her first language is Ojibway and she is knowledgeable in her culture. Darlene has worked for the Attorney General, Ontario Human Rights Commission. Darlene has represented labour on the Boards of the United Way Sudbury & Nipissing Districts and for the Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre (SWEAC) and has served as an Executive Member on the Sudbury & District Labour Council. Darlene is currently the Board Chair for Photographers Without Borders (Canada & United States) and is a member of the PWB’s Indigenous Advisory Group whose mandate is to assist in bringing awareness of Indigenous issues internationally through pictures and a collective network of artists and photographers. She was a founding member of OPSEU’s Indigenous Mobilization Team and was the lead for the campaign for justice for those caught up in the 60’s Scoop.
Darlene is also the Board Chair for Weengushk Film Institute’s board of Directors. She is currently working on the Federal Indian Day School Day Class Action file with the Gowlings Law Firm in Ottawa, Ontario.
In her work with labour, Darlene has dealt with bullying and harassment in the workforce and has been subjected to it, and she now looks forward to sharing and helping others. Today Darlene is certified as a trauma-informed training facilitator with CIWBR specializing in the area of Indigenous Workplace and Community Bullying, harassment, and Lateral Violence.
Alan M. Strojin
Swampy Cree Métis, a Sixties Scoop Survivor and deeply involved in cultural and community activities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brock University and has served as Director of Photographers Without Borders and Treasurer of Weengushk Film Institute.
Alan is also a CIWBR certified trauma-informed trainer and facilitator specializing in Indigenous Workplace or Community Bullying and Lateral Violence.
To compliment his skill set he brings robust background in mediation, investigation, and auditing, having over 30 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service. His career includes roles with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Labour, and the Toronto District School Board.
Alan’s innovative spirit led to the creation of a Voluntary Automated Resolution Communication System (VARCS) to streamline wage claim resolutions, reflecting his forward-thinking approach. His work in payroll audits and testimony in Superior Court has been pivotal in enforcing employment standards.
Residing in St. Catharines, Ontario, Alan is a father of eight. Since retiring in 2022, he enjoys winters on a sailboat in North Miami Beach, Florida, and summers on Manitoulin Island. His passions include golf, sailing, swimming, hockey, and motorcycles.
Shelley Pompana Spear Chief
KAYSSPAKI, Clinical MSW, RSW, Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDRIA Consultant, Hypnotherapist, Clinical Trauma Professional
Healing Pathways EMDR Counselling and Consulting
psychologicalsafetyfirst@gmail.com
Shelley works with First Nation Individuals with complex historical and ongoing traumatic experiences within her private practice. She has supported First Nation Schools, Women Shelters, and Children Services by providing group counselling, art therapy, and a variety of kinship and/or parent capacity assessments. Shelley has been affiliated faculty for University of Calgary and Red Crow College teaching and infusing Indigenous framework into university transfer courses. In her clinical practice, she uses EMDR and Somatic approaches, as well as traditional psychotherapy, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy within the cultural understanding of the client. Shelley is a First Nations Dakota Woman who prioritizes the client’s spiritual needs and strengths, with a cultural frame of understanding. She is knowledgeable of the challenges faced by First Nations people. She is married on the Kainai Nation to Moses Spear Chief. They have five grandchildren members of the Kainai Nation. She is an accomplished Women’s Traditional Dancer along with her spouse who is a champion Men’s Traditional Dancer. They have been part of their sacred societies on the Nation. She has presented a variety of topics in the past on First Nation Trauma in surrounding Indigenous communities within Alberta.
Business – 7 years in private practice – client population First Nations, cultural holistic practices. Shelley has worked within schools since 1990 supporting students on/off reserve. She is a facilitator/presenter on topics educating teachers, parents, community members, anxiety, attachment, family violence, grief and loss, suicide and more. Shelley has presenter within Women Shelters facilitating workshops on a variety of topics e.g., addictions, family violence, attachment disruption, art therapy, intergeneration trauma, and its impact on present familial systems. In her private practice she is an advanced certified EMDR therapist and consultant. She is an EMDR coach for facilitating workshops. She works with trauma related challenges, pre-verbal trauma, first responders, addictions, dissociation and more.
Shelley Pompana Spear Chief
Preventing & Addressing Workplace Bullying Understanding Lateral Violence within Indigenous Communities
Workplace Bullying is not new however, times have changed. Today we are addressing cases which are more complex and causing long-term harm. We are seeing cases with fatal results and we need to be aware of the early signs and intervene before serious harm occurs to employees. This workshop will focus on how to prevent, intervene, and address complex cases.
Defining Workplace Bullying It is important for employees to be on the same page with the definition of workplace bullying. We see many misinterpretations, misunderstandings, assumptions, and false information circulating and causing havoc. We will review what is, and what is not, workplace bullying. Clarity on definitions will offer immediate progress.
Indigenous Workplace and Community with added layers of stressors and complexities like nepotism, discrimination, unresolved grief; addictions, mental illness, and shame, it is important to understand and develop self-compassion. As well as compassion and empathy for others. We provide a safe and understanding platform for storytelling and for the sharing of the participants wisdom. Wisdom for solutions and healing.
The Purpose of Training Enhance awareness and build skills to prevent and intervene early. This information prevents harm, costs, loss, and protects the company’s productivity. This training is to create long term sustainable changes for employees and employers.
Create a Zero Tolerance Policy. The best way to prevent workplace bullying/harassment is to offer employees a clear policy, with procedures, and enforce it with consistency. Let’s talk about how.
Prevention Strategies Every employee (top down and bottom up) has a responsibility to prevent psychological harm in the workplace. With prevention strategies, employees are equipped with tools and increased confidence to prevent cases from escalating and causing harm.
Protecting Yourself Being aware of risk factors, profiles, tactics and procedures to address these signs, will help everyone recognize the signs and take appropriate successful action.
What If It Happens to Me? This training will focus on what to do if this happens to you.
What If It’s Happening to Someone Else? This training will offer insight for others. This includes examples of barriers that bystanders face with reporting abuse, and how to address this.
Filing a Complaint This workshop will offer informal and formal options for filing a complaint. We will explain what happens with each option available.
Investigating a Complaint, you will gain a greater understanding how investigations are conducted. You will know what to expect, how to prepare, and gain confidence in this process.
Creative Solutions When we are under stress we are often blinded by worry, fear, frustration, anger, confusion, grief, and more. We will review many options. We wish to prevent isolation and feelings of hopelessness for employees experiencing this abuse.
Selfcare: before, during, and after a workplace investigation. This course will help with selfcare tips for every stage of the process.
Certificate of Completion You will receive a certificate of completion; a valuable qualification for your portfolio. With training and awareness, everyone is more accountable to promote and maintain psychological safety in the workplace.
Blackfoot Confederation, 2022
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, August 2019
Promoting Psychological Safety in the Workplace Workshop
It was an honor and a pleasure to work with leadership and staff from various organizations located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and surrounding areas.
I met many employees and community members with interesting life stories to share. Everyone was warm and welcoming, the food is amazing (especially the Eskimo donuts!), and the shopping for beautiful crafted work was fantastic.