WHITE LIGHTNING CONSULTING
Advancing Reconciliation & Community Driven Mobilization
Edlanet'e Tansi
We acknowledge and thank the people of Treaty 10 whose territory we are fortunate to live, work and play on. We also acknowledge and thank the Metis communities for their wisdom and guidance. We are thankful for the clear water, air and earth at Lac la Plonge, Saskatchewan where our healing and learning takes place in partnership with local owners Bruce & Judi Roy at Sandy Beach Resort.
CONSULTANTS DELIVERING ESSENTIAL WORK THROUGH UNIVERSAL PROGRAM COMPONENTS EMBEDDED INTO A NATURAL LAW CALENDER FOCUSING ON HEALING ASSOCIATED WITH THEMES OF 6 SEASONS OF OUR REGION- SPRING - SUMMER -FALL - FREEZE UP - WINTER - THAW
Our Mission
- to advance reconciliation in healing by offering western science & indigenous healing methods which address mental health issues compounded by intergenerational trauma, the Covid19 pandemic and its effects on youth, women, men, elders, LGBTQ+ and their families.
- by creating new partnerships and opportunities to mobilize and build sustainable community capacity
- build lateral growth at the grassroots level by offering specialized resources that focus on reclaiming, restoring and renewing Indigenous ways of knowing; group counseling, presentations, in-services and workshops that focus on supporting healing journeys beyond grief and trauma, empower residential school survivors, deliver team leadership training all within an Indigenous trauma informed framework model
Rationale & Introduction
It's time to break new trails and overcome the gaps within our mental health systems! We know that you recognize the importance of addressing the needs outlined in the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Developing an understanding of the effects of colonial trauma and grief on learning and enhancing self esteem helps us to overcome barriers and become successful contributors to society. By offering an evolved evidence-based approach, combining Western science and Indigenous methods we enhance understanding and develop essential skills in addressing holistic health solutions for youth, men, women, elders and LGBTQ+.
"Picking Up our Medicine Bundles Program" promotes an understanding that, in a community-based group healing process, participants have the potential to experience this kind of transformational healing which, in the present-day mental health system delivery can take years.
With the current and continuing crises in our communities and overwhelming need for interventions, we contend that our hybrid community based healing programs be at the forefront in, with, by and for youth, adults and elders in all our communities (Mihalicz 2020).
"The big picture we have come to understand is that Indigenous peoples as a whole, including but not isolated to northern Saskatchewan, have been gravely impacted by the intergenerational trauma legacies of the residential schools. Similar to colonization patterns around the world, the cycle began here in this region, when Cree, Dene and Metis children were taken away from their families, off the land to the residential schools, where the vital cultural bridge between past and future was systematically dismantled and thousands of children were abused physically, mentally, spiritually, sexually and emotionally. Eventually these children have grown into parents, grandparents and great-grandparents many of whom are disconnected from their ancestral knowledge, not fitting into any world, their trauma manifesting into anger, violence, vulnerability to addictions and often suicide" (Mihalicz 2020).
We all desire a life full of potential. What unites us all is our human need to be balanced in all aspects of being fully alive. It is crucial to understand how to address the intergenerational links of unresolved historical grief among family members, grandparents, parents, youth and children. The natural law calendar offers a continuous system which engages and teaches alignment of mind body and spirit for all ages. The teachings for each of these life phases, marked by rites of passage, help identify individual roles and responsibilities beginning with self at the centre and how our thoughts and actions influence all living things around us.
The White Lightning Team is made up of certified grief and trauma therapists, cultural facilitators, language keepers and educators who have lived and worked for over thirty years on the front lines. Our team is a source of referral for holistic healing intervention programs and numerous community supports which include instructor level certification.
Of utmost importance, with our combined years of experience, living and working in northern Saskatchewan, are the relationships we have developed with others. In this sacred network of trust grows continued opportunities to build capacity and maintain healthy lifestyles in a solution-focused design.
Our Specialized Services
· Those with uncontrollable anger and fears
· Those involved in domestic violence
· Those who are grieving sudden, tragic or multiple deaths
· Those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol
· Those who are struggling with a difficult life event
· Residential school survivors
· Active or retired military, firefighters, police officers
· Active or retired health professionals who respond to trauma
· Victims of child abuse
· Adult survivors of child abuse
· Victims of bullying
Post-Covid19 patients & caregivers
On the Land Healing & Education Workshops Retreats In-services Training
Grief Support and Trauma Recovery retreats
Youth Suicide Intervention Training
Adult & Youth Leadership Training
PATH training
Land Based Detox (post treatment) relapse prevention
Self regulation workshops
Solution Circle training
Indigenous Yoga, Reiki, Cranial Sacral therapies
Youth Restorative Justice Program
Nutrition: Food is Medicine
Medicine Walks, preservation & tinctures
Star Teachings, Creation stories
Lodges
Drumming
Teepee Teachings
Rites of Passage, Life Transitions
Natural Law Teachings
Ecotherapy
Youth Land & Water Stewardship/Science Ambassadors
Early Years/Young Parent Support Program
Educational supports: high school credits/recovery/post sec tutoring
Critical Incident Response Training specialized for rural & remote communities
- are facilitated by registered trainers who meet ongoing professional standards
· Those with uncontrollable anger and fears
· Those involved in domestic violence
· Those who are grieving sudden, tragic or multiple deaths
· Those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol
· Those who are struggling with a difficult life event
· Residential school survivors
· Active or retired military, firefighters, police officers
· Active or retired health professionals who respond to trauma
· Victims of child abuse
· Adult survivors of child abuse
· Victims of bullying
Post-Covid19 patients & caregivers
On the Land Healing & Education Workshops Retreats In-services Training
Grief Support and Trauma Recovery retreats
Youth Suicide Intervention Training
Adult & Youth Leadership Training
PATH training
Land Based Detox (post treatment) relapse prevention
Self regulation workshops
Solution Circle training
Indigenous Yoga, Reiki, Cranial Sacral therapies
Youth Restorative Justice Program
Nutrition: Food is Medicine
Medicine Walks, preservation & tinctures
Star Teachings, Creation stories
Lodges
Drumming
Teepee Teachings
Rites of Passage, Life Transitions
Natural Law Teachings
Ecotherapy
Youth Land & Water Stewardship/Science Ambassadors
Early Years/Young Parent Support Program
Educational supports: high school credits/recovery/post sec tutoring
Critical Incident Response Training specialized for rural & remote communities
Testimonials
"I found myself at this retreat, when I came here I was a pretty lost person, being here kind of grounded me better, it gave me a clear mind and a different way of looking at life, it was a good experience, I liked it" (Northern Resident, Age 26)
"Take it for sure, 100% for sure, no matter what you are going through, no matter what struggle you are going through, no matter what you are dealing with or what you have dealt with in the past, take it. This retreat really really helps. I have been through allot, I’ve been through bad thoughts, this retreat really really helped me deal with my problems, allot of bad memories, and bad things I was holding onto, it helped me to let them go. This retreat really did help me, and I believe that anybody should take it, no matter what you are going through, even if you are not going through anything, everybody has their problems, and no matter what, this retreat can help with allot of things." (Northern Resident, Age 29)
"We laughed together and we cried together, we had a really good time and we got allot of healing done. (Elder, Age 73)
"Try the energy treatment, it’s like the best I ever felt in a while, it was my favorite part!"
(Youth, Age 18)
"This retreat has been a really good experience for me, you get things off your shoulders, and I think this retreat is a very healing experience. I got to know more about culture and where I came from" (Youth, Age 21)
"It was a great experience, it was very inspirational, I had a great time, met great people, made friends, allot of teaching and techniques to help ground yourself, and it feels good!"
(Northern Resident, Age 30)
"This helped me with my public speaking and confidence and I felt a lot more transparent. I needed to get away and this experience really helped me clear my head." (Youth, Age 18)
"Learning all the cultural activities helped me to accept the things from my past that I was always trying to forget. This helped me a lot. Healing all the losses in my life and just being out in nature is the best therapy and I would recommend this to everyone who wants to reconnect with themselves. Overall I'm so glad I had this opportunity to find myself again and learn all these tools that I can carry on to someone else that needs help." (Northern Resident, Age 25)
"Take it for sure, 100% for sure, no matter what you are going through, no matter what struggle you are going through, no matter what you are dealing with or what you have dealt with in the past, take it. This retreat really really helps. I have been through allot, I’ve been through bad thoughts, this retreat really really helped me deal with my problems, allot of bad memories, and bad things I was holding onto, it helped me to let them go. This retreat really did help me, and I believe that anybody should take it, no matter what you are going through, even if you are not going through anything, everybody has their problems, and no matter what, this retreat can help with allot of things." (Northern Resident, Age 29)
"We laughed together and we cried together, we had a really good time and we got allot of healing done. (Elder, Age 73)
"Try the energy treatment, it’s like the best I ever felt in a while, it was my favorite part!"
(Youth, Age 18)
"This retreat has been a really good experience for me, you get things off your shoulders, and I think this retreat is a very healing experience. I got to know more about culture and where I came from" (Youth, Age 21)
"It was a great experience, it was very inspirational, I had a great time, met great people, made friends, allot of teaching and techniques to help ground yourself, and it feels good!"
(Northern Resident, Age 30)
"This helped me with my public speaking and confidence and I felt a lot more transparent. I needed to get away and this experience really helped me clear my head." (Youth, Age 18)
"Learning all the cultural activities helped me to accept the things from my past that I was always trying to forget. This helped me a lot. Healing all the losses in my life and just being out in nature is the best therapy and I would recommend this to everyone who wants to reconnect with themselves. Overall I'm so glad I had this opportunity to find myself again and learn all these tools that I can carry on to someone else that needs help." (Northern Resident, Age 25)
