Culture As Treatment Symposiums

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Wabano

The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is an award-winning and internationally recognized health centre. For 25 years, we have led the way in community based, holistic healthcare. The belief that the mind, body, and spirit must all be cared for is at the heart of what we do. Each year, Wabano serves over 15,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people of every age.

299 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1L6B8 Canada
Wabano.com

Cultural Gathering Space

This stunning circular space, designed by First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal, has thirteen pillars around the space representing the thirteen Grandmother moons. The floor tiling is laid in a star blanket design and there is a domed ceiling painted with the medicine wheel. Every aspect of this stunning space represents the beauty of Indigenous cultures. Even the bathrooms!

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.

The most effective way to remedy the health disparities facing Indigenous people today is culture.

 

Decades ago, when we first started saying that culture is a health intervention, many people would roll their eyes. Culture was seen as a hobby, just something “fun to do”. Indigenous people know that culture is so much more than that.

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?

 

Since 2007, Wabano has held Culture as Treatment symposiums to explore these questions.

 

Each year, Wabano brings in Indigenous thought leaders from across Turtle Island to share traditional knowledge, wisdom and insights to:

• transform how care is given to Indigenous people in mainstream settings and
• bring pride and validity to Indigenous providers already doing this work, so that they know they are not alone.

Anyone who works directly with Indigenous people. Including:

• healthcare providers
• mental health workers
• educators
• early years providers
• justice system workers
• social workers
• system administrators and managers
• youth workers

Whether you are Indigenous, a settler, new to Canada or a combination of all three, Culture is Treatment symposiums have something for you.

Each year has a different theme. Learn more here.

Wabano takes guidance from Elders and wisdom keepers, as well as attuning to the current issues impacting our community to chose timely and relevant topics.

No matter what the theme, you will leave with a deeper understanding of how to work with Indigenous people and a new appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.

No! Everyone is welcome in the circle.

Hundreds of people attend our symposiums each year, from all over Turtle Island. Each of us carry our own unique stories and experiences.

Each year, our symposiums focus on a different area of Indigenous well-being.

 

Keynote Speakers

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

Robert Antone | Jeanette Armstrong | Cindy Blackstock | Martin Brokenleg | Maria Campbell | Madeleine Dion Stout | David General | Margo Greenwood | Drew Haydon Taylor | Basil Johnson | Don Kelly | Thomas King | 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!