Facilitating Workplace Restoration

Traditional Indigenous Circle Processes adapted to heal workplaces.

Created by Elder Vicky Whalen and by Paula Drouin

Vicky and Paula worked together over a couple of decades.  The passing of Elder Vicky in 2020 was such a loss, and we feel honored to have her ideas live on in this course.

During this workshop an Elder will provide participants with traditional indigenous circle teachings used for sharing, healing and addressing conflict. Paula will then provide practical ways to adapt traditional circle processes to restore modern post-conflict workplaces.

Employees are frequently harmed not only by the people they are complaining about, but also by formal complaint processes such as: grievances, investigations, arbitration’s, hearings, and appeals. Once the formal processes have concluded, these same complainants and respondents frequently must continue to work together.  The inspiration for this workshop came from being asked “how can we put this team back together?”

Paula’s experience designing and delivering an Indigenous Peacemaking Certificate Program for Native Counselling Services of Alberta, has provided her with a culturally rich exposure to traditional healing processes and the caring presence of many Elders.  With deep respect for the work of these Elders and their application of sharing and healing circles to help families, groups, and communities overcome harm, Paula reached out to Vicky to co-create this unique opportunity that we are sure will challenge your thinking and inspire you to ‘think outside the box’ when addressing team tensions.

Paula has spent the past year finding respected people from Indigenous Nations to co-present this material.  Paula will be working with a few different Elders and others from the community who are familiar with the work to co-facilitate.