Culture As Treatment Symposiums

For Indigenous organizations, culture is not just a piece of what we do. Culture is the very heart of everything we do. Culture is in itself treatment. Culture as treatment is equal to any other intervention that is offered to clients.

But what is culture?

How does culture impact clients and workers?

What do professionals need to consider when providing culturally-based care to Indigenous people?

These are some of the questions that are explored in Wabano’s Culture as Treatment symposiums.

Wabano has been hosting Culture as Treatments symposiums for the past 10 years. Our symposiums attract over 200 attendees from across the Ontario, mainly service providers who work with Indigenous people. The purpose of our symposiums is to educate attendees on:

• Historical and current inequities facing Indigenous people;
• The impact of these inequities on both systems and Indigenous people today;
• The impact of culture in health and wellness of Indigenous people; and
• The proper roles for service providers (mainstream and Indigenous) in supporting Indigenous wellbeing.

This year’s theme is the Land is Medicine.

Our Elders tell us that the land contains everything we need to sustain life. As service providers, we are all in the business of “life”…we support clients and community to live well. The Land is here to help us with this work.

At Wabano’s 2019 symposium, you will learn from the leaders in land-based initiatives.

Symposium Themes

Each year, our symposiums focus on a different area of Indigenous well-being. In 2019, our focus is on: Land-based healing and wellness.

 

Keynote Speakers

Wabano is honoured to host acclaimed and renowned professionals from across North America as guest speakers. Past speakers include:

Robert Antone | Cindy Blackstock | Martin Brokenleg | Maria Campbell | Madeleine Dion Stout | David General | Margo Greenwood | Drew Haydon Taylor | Basil Johnson | Don Kelly | Winona LaDuke | Wilton Littlechild | Jan Longboat | Lee Maracle | Jane Middleton-Moz | Christopher Mushquash | Tom Porter | Papaarangi Reid | Rupert Ross | Jerry Saddleback | Mary Simon | Sheila Watt-Cloutier | Marie Wilson

And this year’s speakers will be equally as impressive!