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Jamie is originally from Northeastern Ontario and a member of Moose Cree First Nation. She holds her M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from Western University and a B.A. (Honours) in Psychology from Laurentian University. She has also completed a certificate in Concurrent Disorders from Mohawk College.

She currently works in post-secondary education, providing counselling and support to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal post-secondary students. Her number one goal is to build and promote a sense of community amongst students as they work their way towards crossing that stage to receive their diploma. Jamie takes on a client-centred approach grounded in indigenous, cognitive-behavioural, solution-focussed, and positive psychology modalities.

Jamie has also served as a guest lecturer at a number of Ontario universities, focusing on Aboriginal social welfare, Aboriginal child welfare, the impact of colonization, and the need for intergenerational healing amongst communities.

Jamie has been involved with CCPA since she was a Student Representative for Western University during her final year of graduate school. She is honoured to have been elected as a member of the ICC Executive Committee.

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Andrea Currie grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba and is a member of the Métis Nation.  She is the mother of one daughter, Rowan, and drums with We’koqma’qewiskwa, a women’s hand-drumming group from We’koqma’q First Nation in Unama’ki (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia), where she has worked as the community-based therapist for the past eleven years. In addition to her clinical work, she offers a range of wellness programs, and works closely with the We’koqma’q Residential School Survivors.  She believes that understanding the impact of colonial trauma on indigenous communities as well as the community strengths that have enabled us to survive is essential to the provision of culturally safe services.  She provides cultural safety training for mental health practitioners in indigenous communities and in mainstream mental health, and has taught a course on indigenous mental health in the M.Ed. in Counselling program at Acadia University.  She is challenged by the depth and breadth of the need for healing in our indigenous communities and inspired by the depth and breadth of our communities’ resilience and strengths.

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I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, my name is William (Bill Thomas), I am a Peguis First Nation member who was born in Winnipeg, Canada raised in Peguis First Nation. I began my healing process over twenty-five years ago. I am the President and owner of Thomas Training and Therapy Services, I specialize in the treatment of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder, Aboriginal Trauma related issues. I am an experienced International Trainer, Facilitator, Psychotherapist/ Counsellor, and traditional group therapist. I have worked closely with Elders and Healers for many years and I also have extensive therapeutic experience in; long-term flood evacuees, suicide, grief, post-trauma, sexually and physically abused clients. I provide community consultation to many Manitoba First Nation communities and organizations. I Guest Lecture Internationally about Aboriginal Trauma issues; Indian Residential School Syndrome and Culturally appropriate therapy in China, Australia, Brazil and Egypt.

I have my Masters in Clinical Social Work from University of Northern British Columbia and I have graduated in 8 months with academic distinction with a Bachelor of First Nation and Aboriginal Counselling from Brandon University.  I have completed an International Licensing Program in Focusing Psychotherapy at the Prairie Region Centre for Focusing as a Certified Trainer and Therapist.

I am the Past President of the Aboriginal Chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and I  am a professional member of the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapists Association, Play Therapy International, the Focusing Institute in New York, and Prairie Region Centre for Focusing. I am a member of Manitoba Association of  Registered Social Workers. I have developed an integrated healing process of Focusing, PTSD and Aboriginal Healing Circle for my Masters’ thesis. I have presented papers International and National conferences and universities on trauma techniques and working with Aboriginal people.

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Cathrine is a fourth year PhD Candidate at the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies at the University of Ottawa. She works in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia, Canada) as a feminist trauma therapist specializing in the area of violence against women. Her current research explores the stories Indigenous helpers and healers tell about their work with Indigenous women who live with violence. Cathrine is a member of the dominant settler society seeking to contribute to reconciliation through the project of decolonizing and Indigenizing trauma therapy. In her spare time Cathrine loves spending time talking with friends, campfires, walking on the beach, dancing, and cudding with her dog, Zoey

Meaghan is a settler who has worked as both a counsellor and a teacher in Indigenous communities in Mi’kma’ki and Eeyou Istchee. She has worked as a counselling therapist in Pictou Landing First Nation, and Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, and at the community school in Eastmain, a Cree community on the east coast of James Bay. She currently works for the Nova Scotia Health Authority as a Clinical Therapist providing mental health support to students in ten schools. Her Master’s thesis focused on decolonizing counselling practice and providing culturally safe mental health care to Indigenous clients, families, and communities. Her work focuses on settlers who work as counsellors in Indigenous communities in the hopes of continuing to broaden the conversations around cultural safety within the CCPA and beyond.

Katherine is originally from Kingston, Ontario, and a member of Shoal Lake No.40 First Nation. She holds a Master in Counselling from Athabasca University, a BA hon. in Psychology, and a BA hon. in Law from Carleton University. She currently works for the Federal Government, at the Public Health Agency of Canada, in Ottawa. While working for various Government of Canada departments, Katherine has had an opportunity to work on Indigenous files and with Indigenous groups. Katherine takes on a client-centered approach grounded in Indigenous, solution-focused, narrative, existentialism, and positive psychology modalities. Katherine is a Professional Member of the CCPA possessing a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) designation.