A special talk ‘Weaving a Road to Reconciliation’ will be staged Sunday, Nov. 26 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) at the Lighthouse Community Centre.
The Xchange of Ideas Talks for Qualicum Bay/Bowser features a presentation from Tara Nault and Michele Nault Mortimer. Admission is by donation.
Mortimer is a Métis woman originally from Saskatchewan. She has lived and worked on Lekwungen Territory of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nation for many years. Mortimer holds a degree from the University of Regina in Adult Education and Training and as a trained counsellor is a Professional Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
She has dedicated her career to working with Indigenous organizations and supporting Indigenous worldview. She has supported the Truth and Reconciliation Commission events and community as well as working with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Mortimer’s career has included working with Indigenous Not for Profit Societies as well as provincial and federal governments. Her career has focused on health and wellness, mental health, substance use, housing, seniors’ health and adult education utilizing a Four Directions philosophy.
She has been a presenter and facilitator on Indigenous wellness and cultural safety to diverse audiences, in community as well as various conferences in North America. Mortimer believes in giving back to the community and has supported community agencies and boards in a volunteer capacity. Wellness for her includes the crea-tive process, and she finds joy in dancing.
READ MORE: Qualicum First Nation celebrates reawakening of heritage language
Nault is Métis with cultural ties to Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She brings more than 30 years of experience in Indigenous communities, the B.C. public service and the federal public service.
She also supported the Friendship Centre movement and a Métis organization. Her focus has been on Indigenous health, mental wellness and addiction, sport, recreation and physical activity. She has also led several cultural safety learning initiatives including community and cultural programs.
Nault has presented at several provincial, national and international conferences on various Indigenous topics including reconciliation. She assisted in the health supports area of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s National Gatherings held in Victoria and Vancouver.
From this very moving experience, along with her sister, Michele, they developed learning presentations on reconciliation. She holds a Master of Arts in Global Leadership from Royal Roads University with a focus on reconciliation and Métis identity. She is a proud mom of a Métis/Persian daughter.
Goals of Sunday’s presentation:
• Reconciliation Framework;
• Spiritual Principles;
• Tools for Reconciliation
They provide a brief setup of the history and legacy, then lead into the spiritual principles required for reconciliation and end with the tools. Tools are based on the journey from cultural unawareness to working with a cultural humility lens.
“We hope this provides the information needed at this time and look forward to connecting,” they said.
For more information: jimkelly9@shaw.ca.
