Services and Programs

Indigenous Cultural Competency and Safety Training, Elder Services, Mediation & Advocacy, Counselling (Holistic counselling, PTSD, Grief, Trauma, Addictions, Intimate Partner Violence, Victims / Survivor Services, Group and Peer Supports), Team Building, Curriculum Development, Community Development, Youth Mentorship, School Presentations and Guest Speaking. We invite you to call us for more details about any one of these services at 905-975-6423. Free consultations are available.

Workshops

Through workshops we share knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures, in order to reduce stereotypes. We provide workshops that are educational, fun and perfect for team building through Indigenous methodology.

Workshops such as: Bow and Arrow Making, Dream Catcher making, Drum making (and more) are an engaging, interactive way for participants to build their Indigenous cultural education, awareness and competency. Learn more about our workshops here.

ICCT Training

Indigenous Cultural Competency and Safety Program

Awareness, Competency and Engagement are the three pillars of our Indigenous Cultural + Safety Competency Training program, called: Kanó:ron Koniá:wi: "The Sacred Gift”

 In our Awareness, Competency and Engagement (A.C.E.) Program, Awareness is foundational; however awareness is only the beginning of the journey, because it is a reflection of the past. Our training also addresses how to best move forward in a manner that is safe, respectful and balanced through the education received in The Sacred Gift Program.

After cultivating our participants’ Awareness (which speaks to the past), we address their Competency (which is based in the present), and then move on to Engagement (which addresses how to respectfully engage with Indigenous communities going forward, or in the future).  

Presentations

Guest Speaking, Public Appearances, and School Events

Examples of past speaking engagements:

Indigenous Movements – Water is Life, MMIWGT2S, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Climate and our Relationship with the Environment, Child Protection – Culturally Safe Intervention and Protection, Land Acknowledgements – Why man oppose Land Acknowledgements and Best Practices, National Indigenous Day Celebrations, Drumming & Singing Presentations, Story Telling and Children’s Events, Youth Events, Fire & Water Teachings, Sweetgrass and Reconciliation Teachings and so much more!

Mediation and Advocacy

Bear Waters Gathering works along side parents and families who have had their children apprehended or at risk of apprehension.  BWG has trained people in the field of social services who are familiar with The Child and Family Services Act, legal support assistance and Indigenous Customary Care Agreements. Although there is no current funding BWG is offering a fee for service with a sliding scale for families depending on their capacity to pay.  We offer support in determining why the apprehensions took place and developing a comprehensive plan in mitigating the concerns of the apprehending organization and the quickest route to the return of the children.  

Team Building

We work to restore individual and team identities through story telling, circles, interactive activities that are customized for the group.  Contact us for your free consultation.

Elder Services

Counselling and intervention from indigenous perspectives, with educational, cultural, ceremonial and spiritual supports included for the service user.

Restorative Circles

We use the sweetgrass teachings in our restorative circles.  One blade of grass is weak but with all the blades of grass coming together it is almost impossible to break the strength of that braid.  Our foundational knowledge of restorative circles comes from years of traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and being.  The goal of the restoration circle is to not only restore the relationships but to bring about deeper more connected ones than before the incident(s) happened. We are unable to erase the past but we can move forward into healing.  Our Elders and Facilitators will work with the individuals, family, groups, organizations, courts and community to establish a wrap around support network for those who are participating in the circle.  The expected outcomes of a circle can vary depending on the participants however our Elders and Facilitators are trained in what it means to utilize traditional approaches to healing and have experience in bringing positive change and outcomes.

Common Outcomes of Restorative Circles:

Accountability for those who did harm (Community and Individual Accountability)

Healing & Reconciliation of broken relationships

Restoration of the harm done

Revitalization 

Re-establishing Community Connection   

Skennen (Peace inward, around us and with each other)