Join us for our final Keynote Session & Dance Performance!
| Tuesday, October 25, 2022 |
| 3:05 PM - 4:15 PM |
Overview
3:05pm – 3:25pm
Dance Performance - Dusty Feet
3:30pm - 4:00pm
Keynote 11: The Journey to Connection
Rod Jeffries, Chairperson, International Indigenous Council for Healing Our Spirit Worldwide and Owner/Manager of Ancestral Visions
4:00pm – 4:15pm
Conference Close & Prize Draw by Tikathikati (Chair): Nat Heath and Tahnee Sutton
Speaker
Rod Jeffries
Healing Our Spirits Worldwide
The Journey to Connection
Abstract
Unresolved trauma and shame continue to have a devastating impact on Indigenous peoples around the world. The trauma and shame that has occurred resulting from cultural oppression, colonization & residential schools are destroying the very essence of our cultures, our communities and our families. This trauma, including the historic and intergenerational impacts, has ripped at the spirit of many people and continues to get passed from generation to generation. Unresolved trauma and its’ intergenerational impacts has profound effects on the individual, the family and the community. Its’ impacts can be seen in the Indigenous community around the world. One of the greatest impacts is how it has disconnected us from ourselves, each other, our children and our culture. The address will focus on key phrases from the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Covenant that seeks both an understanding of the issues and pathways to healing for connection on our journey of wellbeing. The talk will share experiences and wise practices used in many communities to restore connection and mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Rod will share many techniques used in healing circles and community initiatives based on the foundation of culture and the wisdom of our ancestors.
Biography
Rod Jeffries is Wakenyahten (Turtle Clan) of the Kanyen’keha:ka Niwakitaro:ten (Mohawk) residing at home on the Kenhte:ke Nitewake:non (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario, Canada.) For the past 38 years, he has worked in the fields of substance abuse, healing, wellness and treatment as manager, workshop trainer/facilitator, program developer and evaluator. Rod is an international speaker/trainer having presented in Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Europe. In the past 27 years his efforts have focused on the development & delivery of programs and staff for working with survivors of trauma, cultural oppression, sexual abuse and residential/boarding schools. In recent years, Rod has become well known for his work on trauma, shame and lateral violence across Canada and in New Zealand.
He is the chairperson of the International Indigenous Council for Healing Our Spirit Worldwide. Rod’s involvement with HOSW began in 1991 prior to the First Gathering in Edmonton, Alberta in 1992. He remains involved today in the preparation for the next Gathering in Vancouver in 2023.
In recent years, Rod’s efforts have focused on addressing issues directly related to trauma, historic trauma, abandonment, shame & lateral violence through the utilization of our strengths, resilience, compassion and the cultural systems that sustained us for thousands of years. In the past ten years he has concentrated on developing trauma-based addictions programs to assist communities in their healing initiatives. He has recently developed facilitator training programs on lateral violence and healing trauma to share his messages and techniques for Indigenous people to rebuild those systems in today's context.
In addition, Rod continues with management development including healthy organizational environments, strategic planning, teamwork & teambuilding and operational plan development.
The foundation of all the training and development is our history and culture as Indigenous peoples, that in the past, has provided us with the values and beliefs to sustain our well-being.
