Training: being trauma-informed in collective processes and organizations

From February 27 to 29, our Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) team hosted our very first Trauma-Informed in Organizations training workshop. For a long time, CCP coordinators have wanted to learn how to facilitate safe spaces. Community-led planning is based on trust: people need to feel safe to share their ideas, fears and dreams for their community.

Through multiple experiential activities, 20 participants representing 14 First Nations and organizations explored the key elements of a trauma-informed approach:

• Understanding trauma and its impacts on individuals, organizations and communities
• Reforming the circle: moving from lateral violence to lateral kindness
• Integrating the six principles of a trauma-informed approach: safety and trust,
  choice and voice, strength and resiliency
• Strengthening self-care practices, individually and collectively
• reating an action plan to integrate the approach into processes and organisations

The workshop was cofacilitated by Karonhienhawe Linda Delormier, Snipe Clan from Kahnawà:ke, and Emily Rice, Bear Clan from Kahnawà:ke. Catherine Beland and Emie Rainville, from the FNQLSDI, completed the training team. Since 2022, all of them have been part of the Kahnawà:ke Trauma-Informed Practice Training-of-Trainers Circle, generally known as TOT.

Intégration and practice

Since the workshop, many participants have reached out to share how they’ve been putting the teachings into practice. They have facilitated meetings, given talks, changed the way they work as a team, offered training in their workplace. They have integrated the principles of the approach into their personal and professional lives. All participants have asked for further training on the same theme and for the training to be offered to their whole community. In the coming months, we’ll be working with our partners to find the funding we need to continue expanding our service offering.