WinterCount: Indigenous Healing Paradigms for Grief, loss and trauma

Rae Dawn Whitney, Teresa Snow and Bruce Dumont

Panel 14 – Indigenous Health Stream – Indigenous Healing Paradigms: Culture, Connection, and Land-Based Recovery

September 25th Day Three – Exhibition Hall C North Building 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

WinterCount: Indigenous Healing Paradigms for Grief, loss and trauma

Teresa Snow

Background

Indigenous peoples have intricate Holistic Indigenous Knowledge Systems (HIKS) for education, family and societal wellbeing. Historical Impacts dismantled Indigenous ways of Knowing for such practices. There is a need to “Re-capture” traditional Indigenous Epistemologies and practices necessary for “Walking the Red Road”, bringing about awareness, relationality, skills and connection.

Originally Winter Counts existed as a way of original documentation, storytelling and recordkeeping. These would depict land areas, battles, agreements and other historical events. These were significant due to: land-based practices, Identity(self-location), language, relationality and renewal practices.

Indigenous Epistemologies and Paradigms follow a spherical model with holistic impact of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms.

The Winter Count is designed using traditional Indigenous and contemporary practices as a Mixed Methods Approach of Post Colonial Indigenous Theory. Use of traditional research, Indigenous Data Sovereignty is harvested which includes Storytelling, Language, Cultural practices, Cosmology which contend to a Indigenous Liberation Research of Indigenous Epistemology.

Teresa uses a traditional tanned Elk Hide to deliver her Winter Count Model. Winter Count by Teresa has been delivered in several Indigenous and urban communities across Canada.

Purpose

  • Participants will gain awareness, skills and a more enhanced understanding of Indigenous Epistemologies and Methodology for wellness and healing.
  • Participants will increase their knowledge of Intrinsic Indigenous healing modalities from post colonial Indigenous Research.
  • Participants will understand ways to better identify patterns, cycles, and why self location as an Indigenous perspective is vital to wellbeing with Trauma, Grief, Recovery and Aftercare.
  • Participants will “Re-capture” a sense of self.

References

  • “These Mountains Are Our Sacred Places” by Chief Rev. Dr. John Snow
  • “Healing the Soul Wound” by Eduardo Duran
  • “Standing In the light” by Young and Theisz

Bio

Teresa Snow is of Iyethka Stoney Nakoda and Yuma Quechan Descent. She resides in Treaty 7 territory where her father’s people signed Treaty. She is a grandmother (Inkushin), Mother, Sister, Aunt and daughter. She has adopted Indigenous family across Turtle Island. Her educational endeavors include: Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work, Addictions Training from Nechi Institute, Certified Life Skills Coach, Certified Trauma Recovery Counselor, Reiki, and currently enrolled in the Indigenous Master of Social Work Degree Program at Maskwacis Cultural College.

Teresa is also a Master Beadwork artist whose work has been in curatorial exhibition recently in “Wagichibi Ihunthe – Dances of the People” (2023) and “On the Bow” Exhibit 2023.. Teresa’s passion of beadwork, sewing and quillwork assist in her research focus of Indigenous healing through Art forms and practices. She travels delivering and facilitating workshops.

Other Panel Members

Join us for the Alberta Recovery Summit, hosted by the 9th Annual Recovery Capital Conference taking place on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2025.

 Session Streams

  • Health Care and Recovery
  • Indigenous Health
  • Occupational Health and Safety

 Key Details

  • DAY ONE September 23rd – 5:30 pm 6:30: Early Badge Pick Up and Networking Reception, 6:30 pm to 8 pm Pre Conference Presentation
  • DAY TWO September 24th – 8:45 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions
  • DAY THREE September 25th – 9 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions

 Hotels

Book your hotel at one of our host hotels and save money. Click on the links for the discount rates and book early as rates will go up, and they always sell out.

Schedule

Speakers

Registration

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