As we move toward healing our legacy wounds, we are carried by our legacy resources. Our resilience is connected to those who came before us and our collective.

Natalie Y. Gutiérrez, LMFT (she/her) is a space-holder serving survivors of Complex Trauma in the global majority reeling from the soul wounds of the cultural and legacy burdens of racial trauma, systemic trauma, historical and colonial trauma, intergenerational and attachment trauma, as well as, sexual trauma. She is an activist, writer, and author of “The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color.” Natalie is a trainer at the Internal Family Systems Institute. As a legacy shifter, her work integrates the intersections of ancestral healing and wisdom, Internal Family Systems, Earth-based medicine, and liberation-focus.  natalieygutierrez.com

Robert Seymour Wright is a Social Worker and Sociologist whose 34-year career has spanned the fields of education, child welfare, forensic mental health, trauma, sexual violence, and cultural competence. A “clinician/academic/administrator,” he has always integrated his direct clinical practice with teaching, supervising, and promoting lasting systemic change through social policy advocacy. His extensive pro bono work gave birth to The Peoples' Counselling Clinic, a non-profit mental health clinic. Robert’s pioneering work in cultural competence and conducting cultural assessments received national attention which has proved instrumental in the advancement of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute.

Panelists will discuss the changes that have been made with the Human Rights system in Newfoundland and Labrador. thinkhumanrights.ca @nlhumanrights

Carey Majid, KC (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, an independent at-arm’s length government agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in the province. Carey founded Community Justice Connect (CJC) and through her leadership is redesigning the human rights complaint process. Carey is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience. She also teaches the Law Society’s bar admission course on human rights and regularly presents on human rights and social justice issues.

Catherine Ann Kelly (she/her) is the Lead Facilitator with Community Justice Connect (CJC), a restorative justice program with the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission. CJC provides a variety of conflict resolution and restorative justice (RJ) services to Indigenous, racialized, and religious minority communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Catherine has been practicing and living RJ since the late 90s - in community, federal institutions, schools and most importantly, with her family.

Maria Dussan (she/her) is a Community Facilitator and Project Coordinator with Community Justice Connect (CJC). Maria’s work with CJC has focused on coordinating the development of a restorative justice process within the context of the NL Human Rights Commission. Maria is also an anti-racist and migrant justice organizer with the Anti-Racism Coalition NL, a member of the Transformative Justice Committee of the Social Justice Cooperative NL, and a former member of the advisory committee of the Alliance for Racialized, Refugee, and Im/migrant Women.

This panel will discuss trauma-informed approaches to working with children and families, as well as the systems they work within, in order to support intergenerational healing.

Dr. Tegan Brierley-Solis is a lecturer in policing, criminology, and trauma-informed approaches at Wrexham University. She is a member of Cyfiawnder: The Social Inclusion Research Institute and the Trauma and ACE (TrACE) informed university project. During her PhD studies, Tegan created a concept to explain trauma and trauma-informed practice in a clear and accessible way which has since been developed into an animation titled ‘Navigating the Storm’. Tegan’s PhD explored the emerging trauma-informed culture of North Wakes Youth Justice Service. She is also on the Academic Development Team for developing a trauma-informed university. @TeganBSollis linkedin.com/in/dr-tegan-brierley-sollis-iphm-999a3b140

Megan Capp is a scholar/practitioner with over 15 years of experience developing programs and initiatives for people in situations of vulnerability.  She was instrumental in the development of Hearthstone Place, Abbotsford’s first low barrier supportive housing site. She has also implemented many projects relating to seniors, those experiencing food insecurity, those experiencing legal issues, and more. As a doctoral student at the UN University for Peace, Megan focuses on adapting the criminal justice response to more adequately protect children whose parents come into conflict with the law. linkedin.com/in/megan-capp-2b06b29b

Agnes Chen is a registered nurse focused on anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches to health and well-being. She founded Starlings Community (now Family Advocacy Support Centre) to address systemic barriers to health equity for systemically vulnerable families. Whether facilitating peer groups, educating frontline staff, or developing innovative resources, her work as a peer and professional is rooted in transformative justice approaches to care that ensure families can seek out support for their mental health without fear of discrimination, criminalization, or family separation. starlings.ca

Heather Hart practices as a  Mental Health Therapist specializing in somatic-based treatments. She received in B.A in International Studies and M.A. in Social Work from USC. She is fully Certified by the EMDR Institute, is trained in MDMA therapy as a trainee from MAPS, and specializes in Ego State work. She works through the lens of her Indigenous lineage, calling forth integrative systems work. Heather focuses much of her work on building community support, education, learning and programs. mideintegrativetherapies.com Podcast: I Am A Human Too

This presentation will explain emotional dys/regulation and provide strategies we can take into our workplaces to build deeper self-compassion, self-regulation, and self-empowerment as tools to address (and prevent) burnout and secondary trauma. This work is based on the presenter’s experience working with individuals, organizations, and communities dealing with historical marginalization and complex trauma. Healing is relational. This session is a great place to exercise our relational practices.

Trish McOrmond is a Metis trauma-informed sociologist and change navigator. Using a change map grounded in the Seven Grandfather Teachings, she supports people and organizations in developing a vision and plan for their future. Her practice is grounded in decolonial principles of self-actualization and reconciliation. Trish is the Psychosocial, Policy, and Trauma-Informed Practice Lead with Hazardscape, an organization that works predominantly with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities and governing bodies across the emergency management spectrum, including operational and strategic long-term recovery from disasters and/or extended evacuations.

The systemic changes we need won't happen in isolation. In this session, Susan and Monica share how communities of practice can support lawyers and other professionals to embed trauma-informed approaches into their work. Come learn from their journey as co-organizers of the TIP Community of Practice, from the story of how it all started to key success factors. You'll leave with helpful pointers and might even be inspired to start one of your own!

Monica Chohan is a lawyer, consultant, and facilitator with deep interrelated expertise in governance, strategic planning, and workplace challenges. More importantly, Monica is a child of immigrants, woman of colour, neurodiverse, and unabashed feminist. She launched Chohan Law and Wilbrod House Consulting in 2017. Her TIP Community of Practice brings together professionals from the legal, HR, investigations, mediations and conflict resolution fields so they can learn with each other as they strive to embed trauma-informed principles and approaches into their everyday practices. chohanlaw.ca wilbrodhouse.com

Susan O’Neil is an immigrant from Australia and mother of two, with a professional background in law, sales and marketing, and change management. Susan completed her undergraduate studies in chemistry and her law degree at Monash University in Melbourne, and then completed her MBA at the University of Alberta. Susan currently undertakes legal research and informal advocacy, while continuing her longstanding commitment to volunteerism in the areas of public education advocacy, student well-being, and law. She joined Monica Chohan in co-facilitating a Community of Practice in Trauma-informed Justice in January 2023.

This session begins with an awareness of breath practice and leads into a body scan meditation. The intention of the practice is to strengthen attention on a point of focus in the body using the breath as the anchor. Then, guiding attention throughout the body to the body's internal and surface sensations to strengthen interoception. The body scan can be relaxing and regenerative, but also frustrating when distraction abounds. Distraction and mind-wandering are inevitable, and opportunities to strengthen the muscle of mindfulness by gently nudging the mind's attention back to the object of focus.

Renae Stevenson (MA RCC CMT-P) retired from policing after 23 years as a law enforcement officer due to an on-duty spinal injury and several operational stress injuries. Through mindfulness and plant medicine, she manages the daily challenges of PTSD and Complex Chronic Pain. Renae’s education includes Criminology, Leadership, Education, Counselling Psychology, and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT). She is recently published on both mindfulness and PAT in the Journal of Community Safety & Well-Being. Renae is also a Certified Mindfulness Teacher.

In this workshop, Raheena facilitates a yoga practice including gentle, mindful movement, and breathing techniques. Join to reset your energy!

Raheena Lalani Dahya is a family law and community mediator in Toronto, a professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution at Humber College, and a faculty member of family law mediation programs at various institutions in Canada. Her academic focus is on the application of equity, diversity, and inclusion; trauma-informed; and interpersonal neurobiology principles to the practice mediation, particularly ‘high stakes’ disputes, and to conflict resolution in an algorithmic society. Raheena is an avid yoga practitioner and a certified yoga teacher.

In 2019, Marlee's sexual assault case became the first in North America to conclude with restorative justice through the courts. She fought for the man who raped her to go to therapy instead of criminal trial and eventually, they met in an 8-hour restorative circle. In this program, Marlee takes a vulnerable and educational approach to talking about this alternative to the punitive system. The focus throughout the program is to create a vision of justice that is synonymous with healing. In an environment rooted in hope and empowerment, listeners learn about this justice pathway that breaks cycles of harm and ignites cycles of healing.

Marlee Liss (she/her) is an award-winning speaker, somatic educator, author, social worker, and sparkle-loving lesbian Jewish feminist. She made history in the justice system when her sexual assault case became the first in North America to conclude with restorative justice through the courts. Since then, she has supported thousands in learning trauma-informed pleasure and inclusive consent education. Marlee's work has been featured in Forbes, Huff Post, Buzzfeed, the Mel Robbins Show and more. She was 1 of 25 survivors on an elite panel for the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence informing federal policy and her story is currently being made into a documentary. marleeliss.com @marleeliss

This panel will discuss how to integrate compassion, care, and empathy into the legal representation of vulnerable adults, including immigrants and the elderly.

Kamaljit Kaur Lehal received her law degree in 1989 from the University of British Columbia and was called to the bar in 1990. She opened her own law firm in 1992, Lehal Law Corporation, focused exclusively on immigration law. Kamaljit is a certified civil and family mediator, as well as a Qualified Arbitrator. She is an active member of the CBA National WLF and Vice-Chair of the CBA National Immigration Section. She is actively involved in policy reform and advocacy for immigrant women who are victims of intimate partner violence, and her advocacy was instrumental in the creation of an expedited immigration process for these victims. lehallaw.com

Kelly Melynk is the Director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2017. Passionate about issues impacting vulnerable clients, specifically those in the aging population, Kelly has focused much of her career on examining issues of capacity, advance planning in the legal context, and legal decision-making. Kelly sat as a board member with the Centre for Seniors Information in Kamloops for three terms and continues to sit as a board member with the Kamloops Bar Association, as well as a Director for Access Pro Bono.

Megan Vis-Dunbar is a staff lawyer with the BC Law Institute / Canadian Center for Elder Law (BCLI/CCEL) and Director of the Reconciling Crown Legal Frameworks Program. Prior to joining the BCLI, Megan practiced in the areas of criminal and constitutional law and worked as a research lawyer. She also worked with Courthouse Libraries BC where she coordinated the legal community training program.

We will hear perspectives from Indigenous Land Protectors on the colonial violence of the current land stewardship systems and what is required for transformation.

Swaysən (Will George), grassroots leader and Guardian of the Kwekwecnewtxw (Coast Salish Watch), is a land defender and community organizer from Tsleil-Waututh Nation. An outspoken critic of industrialization projects in the Salish Sea, Swaysən chooses to use direct action, media, and traditional and ancestral knowledge as his tools for action, galvanizing the public, business leaders, and politicians to enact change. In 2019, he worked with the COEXTINCTION team to showcase the threats caused by the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project on orca and salmon in the waters of the Burrard Inlet – waters that have sustained his people for thousands of years. Swaysən leads with a strong heart and mind, bringing forward important messages for humanity in his work. @willgeorge36 warriorspiritfilm.com

Barbara Tarbell is a Mohawk woman from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. Her Mohawk name is Katenies (Ga-den-yes, meaning ‘she makes change’) and she is a wolf clan member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation Longhouse. Barbara worked for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environment Division for over 20 years as the Manager of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Program. She evaluated injury to ecological resources and subsequent loss of cultural practices resulting from the release of industrial facility related contaminants. She then transitioned to design and implement cultural restoration projects including the Akwesasne Cultural Restoration (ACR) Program. Barbara continues to be devoted to the survival of the Mohawk language, environmental justice issues, and national networking with Tribal Nations who have been affected by industrial contamination.

This interactive workshop introduces participants to Siegel's Window of Tolerance ("WoT") trauma model, including a facilitated exercise in which participants map their own WoT, and practical strategies to apply the model in our everyday professional lives. It also includes strategies to engage one's parasympathetic areas of the autonomic nervous system in order to manage stressful situations in our professional and personal lives.

Raheena Lalani Dahya is a family law and community mediator in Toronto, a professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution at Humber College, and a faculty member of family law mediation programs at various institutions in Canada. Her academic focus is on the application of equity, diversity, and inclusion; trauma-informed; and interpersonal neurobiology principles to the practice mediation, particularly ‘high stakes’ disputes, and to conflict resolution in an algorithmic society. Raheena is an avid yoga practitioner and a certified yoga teacher. linkedin.com/in/raheena-dahya

What does it mean to inhabit your body? Based on Bessel van der Kolk's research on the value of embodiment for mental wellness, this session uses a variety of postures and movements to begin to reawaken our mind-body connection. This strengths-based practice is gentle enough to do after lunch and requires no special clothing or equipment, just a willingness to explore the power of interiority. The approach offers an opportunity to explore how naming sensations can impact our experience of them, and the power of proactive self-reflection for doing hard things.

Trish McOrmond is a Metis trauma-informed sociologist and change navigator. Using a change map grounded in the Seven Grandfather Teachings, she supports people and organizations in developing a vision and plan for their future. Her practice is grounded in decolonial principles of self-actualization and reconciliation. Trish is the Psychosocial, Policy, and Trauma-Informed Practice Lead with Hazardscape, an organization that works predominantly with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities and governing bodies across the emergency management spectrum, including operational and strategic long-term recovery from disasters and/or extended evacuations.

Panelists will discuss how they bring trauma-informed principles to the ways in which they lead and fulfill their leadership responsibilities, including how to create a trauma-informed culture and workplace.

Monica Chohan is a lawyer, consultant, and facilitator with deep interrelated expertise in governance, strategic planning, and workplace challenges. More importantly, Monica is a child of immigrants, woman of colour, neurodiverse, and unabashed feminist. She launched Chohan Law and Wilbrod House Consulting in 2017. Her TIP Community of Practice brings together professionals from the legal, HR, investigations, mediations and conflict resolution fields so they can learn with each other as they strive to embed trauma-informed principles and approaches into their everyday practices. chohanlaw.ca wilbrodhouse.com

Shawna Paris-Hoyte ONS, KC, RSW is an accomplished professional with an extensive law and clinical social work background. She is a fifth-generation Black Nova Scotian with four degrees, including three years of doctoral-level social work studies towards a PhD in trans/inter-generational trauma at Memorial University. Her dual-professional specialty in law and social work practice makes her a rare practitioner in Canada. As of March, Shawna has taken a leave from her legal practice to take on the role of Executive Director of the African Nova Scotia Justice Institute. ansji.ca

Sharon H. Pratchler, K.C. has worked in all three branches of government – as Crown Counsel and a Prosecutor in executive government, as Registrar of the two trial Courts in Saskatchewan and most recently, as a Legislative Officer – the Ombudsman and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner for Saskatchewan. Over 30 years as a lawyer, she has worked in conflict resolution in a variety of ways. Her office has established a Toolbox Series on how to resolve conflict while providing administratively fair decisions. One of her priorities has been introducing trauma-informed practices into her office’s complaint resolution processes.

Senator Kim Pate and one of the 12 women whose circumstances are included in the report, "Injustices and Miscarriages of Justice Experienced by 12 Indigenous Women" will provide their reflections on the impacts of colonization, intergenerational trauma, misogyny and racism in fueling the inadequate application of s.718 (2)(e) of the Criminal Codeof and the skyrocketing ncarceration rates of Indigenous People, especially Indigenous women.

Yvonne Johnson is an award-winning author and prolific storyteller. She is also the beloved and devoted mother and Kokum to her children and grandkids. After a lifetime of horrific abuse and trauma, Yvonne's attempts to protect her children from suffering similar fates resulted in her being subject to a life sentence and nearly two decades of incarceration. The failures of systems and individuals to assist and support her in addressing her trauma and the racist, misogynist, ableist and class-biased treatment of her epitomize and exemplify the injustices experienced by far too many Indigenous People. Her book is called Stolen Life: The Journey of a Cree Woman

Kim Pate was appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 10, 2016. She is also a nationally renowned advocate who has spent the last 45+ years working in and around the legal and penal systems of Canada, with and on behalf of some of the most marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized. She is a member of the Order of Canada, a recipient of the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, the Canadian Bar Association’s Bertha Wilson Touchstone Award, and six honourary doctorates. Senator Pate strongly believes that the contributions of women who have experienced marginalization, discrimination and oppression should be recognized and respected and she seeks to credit and empower women.

Gladue reports are a way for a judge to consider the unique circumstances of Indigenous peoples, including the challenges of colonization. In this session, we will hear about the experience that an individual had when a Gladue report was prepared for him and the harm that can occur in this process, and what can be done about it. We will also hear the perspective of a Gladue writer about steps that a writer can take to mitigate harm for the Indigenous individuals who are the subjects of the reports, as well as for their own mental health.

Lisa Tootoo is of mixed ancestry; her mother is Plains Cree from Treaty 6, and her father is francophone. She holds a BPA in Criminal Justice and has over 15 years of experience as a public servant with the Government of Nunavut, where she trained others to be Restorative Justice Facilitators and facilitated many restorative processes. She also oversaw programs and services specific to those experiencing family violence, crime prevention, public safety and family wellness. In 2021, she became a Certified Gladue Writer. In 2022, after moving to the Ottawa region, she began delivering modules of The Path, to help individuals increase their knowledge of cultural awareness of Indigenous peoples across Canada. As an Indigenous woman, she is guided by the values of her Cree background.

Swaysən (Will George), grassroots leader and Guardian of the Kwekwecnewtxw (Coast Salish Watch), is a land defender and community organizer from Tsleil-Waututh Nation. An outspoken critic of industrialization projects in the Salish Sea, Swaysən chooses to use direct action, media, and traditional and ancestral knowledge as his tools for action, galvanizing the public, business leaders, and politicians to enact change. In 2019, he worked with the COEXTINCTION team to showcase the threats caused by the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project on orca and salmon in the waters of the Burrard Inlet – waters that have sustained his people for thousands of years. Swaysən leads with a strong heart and mind, bringing forward important messages for humanity in his work. @willgeorge36 warriorspiritfilm.com

This presentation will address four fundamental questions of trauma: where we are, how did we get here, what is possible from here, and where do we go? Through the transformative power of tapping into our neurological understanding of trauma, we can restore hope and enact profound changes in our lives, liberating ourselves from generational patterns and deeply ingrained cultural conditioning. By embracing this holistic approach, individuals can tap into their inner resilience and wholeness, leading to lasting healing and personal growth. Explore the pathways to liberation and empowerment through understanding and harnessing the potential of our neurology.

Si Liew is a bestselling author, Neuro-Transformational Trainer, dedicated environment activist, Director of Wellness for NAAAP Toronto, and an Occupational Health Nurse for over 20 years. With a profound commitment to fostering positive change, Si specializes in teaching individuals to cultivate healthier lives and address emotional stresses. Her approach integrates philosophy, epigenetics, quantum physics, and neuroscience techniques to facilitate transformative personal growth. www.siliew.com; linkedin.com/in/si-liew-2b49697 youtube.com/@siliew

Reset your nervous system with the use of guided imagery and breathwork. These tools will be employed with a trauma-informed lens for utmost safety as we build safe connection between your mind and body. Through visualization, we will invite relaxation, escape, and rest in-between sessions, giving your brain a break. Breathwork will support your nervous system by offering breathing patterns to induce relaxation, reduce tension, and promote balance between brain and body. Together, these techniques empower individuals to access their inner resources, process emotions, and enhance overall well-being through the power of imagination and breath.

Heather Hart practices as a  Mental Health Therapist specializing in somatic-based treatments. She received in B.A in International Studies and M.A. in Social Work from USC. She is fully Certified by the EMDR Institute, is trained in MDMA therapy as a trainee from MAPS, and specializes in Ego State work. She works through the lens of her Indigenous lineage, calling forth integrative systems work. Heather focuses much of her work on building community support, education, learning and programs.