Our Wîwîp’son Healing from Sexual Trauma Circle for Indigenous Women group will run again this fall starting on August 22, 2024. The group will be held in person on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for ten weeks at the SACE office, 300 – 10339 124 Street NW.
This closed, no-fee therapeutic group for Indigenous women ages 18+ (Two-Spirit and trans-inclusive) blends Indigenous ceremony and teachings with psychoeducation about sexual trauma and works to create a safe space to give voice to experiences of sexual abuse or assault, and to feel validated by the experiences of others in their communities.
Wîwîp’son Healing from Sexual Trauma Circle for Indigenous Women was developed in recognition that the experiences of Indigenous women are unique, and processing trauma from sexual assault or abuse needs to involve education about the bigger picture of colonialism and its inter-relationship with sexual violence.
Individuals can self-refer themselves to this group by calling our office to schedule an intake. To schedule an intake appointment, email ac.ecas@ofni or call the SACE office at 780.423.4102.
Please note that completing an intake does not guarantee a spot with the group; the intake process helps facilitators determine if engaging in the healing circle is the right fit for potential participants at this time. Supports may also be available to those requiring childcare and/or transit/parking costs to participate.
Download the Wîwîp’son Healing from Sexual Trauma Circle for Indigenous Women 2024 poster (PDF).
Permission was granted by Dr. Darlene Auger to use the name “Wîwîp’son” for this program. For information on Swing Therapy, please visit wiwipson.com.
Facilitator Bios
Kohkom Ruth Cardinal de Ubiera
Ruth Cardinal de Ubiera is a First Nations woman from Saddle Lake Cree Nation and has lived in Edmonton for 25 years. She has a degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary and has worked in the areas of addiction and mental health with Indigenous peoples for 43 years. She has worked in the position of Elder at Buffalo Sage Wellness House, a halfway house for federally sentenced Indigenous women. She is a ceremonialist of traditional Indigenous culture and is knowledgeable about Cree Natural Law.
Lori Inkster
Lori Inkster is Otipemisiwak from the Red River Settlement in Manitoba. She has more than 25 years experience as a birth worker and supporting families with a relative on a journey back to the spirit world. In her current role as cultural helper, auntie and mentor with Kihew awasis wakamik cultural society, Lori provides wrap around support to Indigenous families during times of transition from birth through end of physical life, and supports reawakening knowledge of how to support family or community members during those times of transition. She currently co-leads the Kistehitah kimeskanām/honour your journey/road moccasin making project started in response to the identification of children’s graves at former Indian Residential School sites. Her traditional knowledge is learned from Elders, kokums, Knowledge Keepers and aunties. Lori resides in Amiskwacîwâskahikan close to her two grown children.
Dakota Joslin
Dakota Joslin is Tsimshian from Lax Kw’alaams (in British Columbia) with European heritage, and was born and raised in Edmonton. She has a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Psychology and Sociology from MacEwan University and is currently completing her Master of Counselling at the City University of Seattle. As the granddaughter of a survivor of residential schools, Dakota grew up learning pieces of Cree culture and has recently begun returning to her home community on the coast each summer to learn more of her Tsimshian culture. Dakota is passionate about equity and justice for all, including all expressions of ethnicity, faith, gender, and sexual orientation. In the future, she hopes to practice animal-assisted therapy with trauma survivors and Indigenous clients.
Sarah Jane Marshall
Sarah Jane Marshall is a non-Indigenous ally providing clinical and administrative support to the facilitation of the Wiwip’son Healing Circle. Sarah Jane has been an Adult Therapist with SACE for over three years and is experienced with group facilitation. She holds a Master of Counselling degree from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Calgary, and is registered as a Canadian Certified Counsellor. Sarah Jane has lived across Canada, and spent eight years in a rural northern community where she learned with and worked with folks from various Indigenous communities and backgrounds. Sarah Jane brings a gentle and compassionate approach to her work and believes in creating connection and community to support healing and growth.