pîhtikwê! welcome to the maskihkiy learning lodge
a radically decolonial place to gather, learn & carry Indigenous approaches to wellness into practice. gather medicines. build your bundle. live the teachings.
what you will find in the lodge
the learning lodge is a place to gather medicines in many ways—from seasonal virtual learning and professional development to cultural teachings, community gatherings & experiences on the land. teachings and experiences are based in community-driven research in Indigenous peoples' best practices in mental health.
whether you come to gather one medicine or pick up bundles across the seasons, you can find a way of learning that fits for you.
seasonal learning cohorts where learners build their relationship with a bundle of seven medicines with seasonal themes
continuing education for helping professionals, those serving community, and community members
land-based gatherings + experiential learning
professional recognitions + specialization pathways beginning in 2027
iyiniwak approaches to learning
learning in the lodge is not about collecting information. it is about gathering medicines—and learning how to carry them forward in a good way.
our offerings are radically decolonial, grounded in iyiniwak ways of knowing, being & doing, and shaped through relationship with land, community, okiskinwahamâkêwak & contemporary Indigenous practice.
learning is experiential & applied. even when we gather virtually, you will be invited outside, into reflection, into relationship, and into practices you can carry into your own life, work & community.
community-driven, practice-based evidence
our teachings are rooted in community-driven research and collective, intergenerational knowledge of Indigenous best practices in wellness. learners are invited to move these teachings beyond intellectual understanding and into embodied practice through genocide-informed care, land-based wellness, cultural teachings & contemporary Indigenous psychologies, with learning developed and shared by practitioners and knowledge carriers with deep roots in this work.
because here, completing a course isn't the destination. what matters is how you carry the medicines forward.
the learning lodge creation circle
it takes a community to build a lodge. mistahi ninanâskomonân, our deep gratitude to those who came together and offered their time and wisdom to build the lodge:
Dr. Alannah Young (Opaskwayak Cree + Peguis Anishinaabe), Natalie Wynn-Dempsey (Delaware + Black), Daniela Chàvez Vega (Indigenous-Latina), Amie Prince
(Sucker Creek Cree), Dr. Stephanie Tipple (Qalipu Mi'kmaq), Samaria Cardinal (Blackfoot + Métis), Patti Derbyshire, Cathy Kostincer (Cowessess Cree), Ashley Reimer (Métis), Ben Weaver (Algonquin + Métis), Lisa L'Hirondelle (Papaschase Cree + Métis), and Dr. Karlee Fellner (Métis).
their gifts & medicines fill the bundles inside the learning lodge.
what's happening in the lodge
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returning to our medicines: decolonizing & Indigenizing mental health
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Indigenous Tools for Living
takwâkin fall · returning to our medicines
FAQs
explore our frequently asked questions about the learning lodge.
the Learning Lodge is an Indigenous-led space for learning about wellness through Indigenous knowledges, land, relationship and practice. learning moves through seven research-based medicines across four seasons, with opportunities to gather virtually, learn in community, practice teachings in everyday life and deepen relationships with land.
the Learning Lodge welcomes Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners interested in deepening their understanding and practice of Indigenous approaches to wellness. learners may include helpers, clinicians, educators, health and social-service providers, community workers, leaders and students, as well as people joining for their own personal and family learning and wellness.
you can join the Learning Lodge for free and access free learning opportunities, including the recording of our opening gathering after it takes place, and other resources shared within the Lodge. there is a cost to join our seasonal learning cohorts, which include the full seven-week learning experience and access to the Learning Lodge community.
each seven-week season journeys through the same seven medicines from a different seasonal orientation. cohorts weave together live online gatherings, asynchronous teachings, reflection and experiential practices, land-based invitations, downloadable learning materials and opportunities to learn in relationship with others.
no. you can join us for an individual season or journey through all four. each season is a complete learning experience while also forming part of a larger year-long journey through the seven medicines. as the seasons change, we return to the medicines from a different place—because we are different, the land is different, and what is being asked of us is different.
while we strongly encourage learners to attend the gatherings live, we understand that life happens. all live gatherings will be recorded for enrolled learners to return to later. learners are reminded that the same ethics of respect and confidentiality apply when engaging with recorded sessions.
learners who meet the completion requirements for eligible Learning Lodge offerings will receive a certificate of completion. we are currently applying for continuing education (CE) credit through the Canadian Psychological Association. Learning Lodge members will be kept updated as CE approval is confirmed for eligible offerings.
no. learners who complete seasonal bundles and other eligible Learning Lodge offerings will receive maskihkiya (medicines, i.e., certificates) recognizing the learning they have completed. receiving maskihkiya is different from receiving a professional credential, which asks learners to demonstrate how they apply and carry their learning responsibly within their roles and relationships. beginning in 2027, the Learning Lodge will offer designation pathways with additional expectations around application, integration, responsibility and relational accountability.
no. learning completed within the maskihkiy Learning Lodge before the launch of our forthcoming professional recognitions and credential pathways will still count toward those pathways. you can begin gathering medicines with us now, and the learning you complete will travel with you as these opportunities develop. specific recognition and credential requirements will be announced in 2027 and may include learning beyond participation in the seasonal cohorts.
no. the Learning Lodge is an educational and experiential learning space, not counselling or psychotherapy. some teachings and practices invite personal reflection, and learners are encouraged to participate in ways that support their own wellness, honour their boundaries and seek support when needed.
have more questions about our learning lodge?
