ALIGN Virtual Sharing and Learning Sessions Facilitated by Frank Shannon, Haida Nation – Old Massett Band

The team at ALIGN are happy to announce a new online sharing and learning opportunity starting March 5. This series will build on the work being done on the Indigenous Cultural Understanding Framework (ICUF) initiative. The initiative’s objective is to outline a holistic Learning and Development Pathway to Indigenous cultural understanding to support service providers in Alberta to be culturally appropriate, and influence better outcomes for Indigenous children, youth, families and communities.

This new series will be facilitated by Frank Shannon, Haida Nation – Old Massett Band. Frank has been working within British Columbia and Alberta for over 25 years as an Indigenous liaison and knowledge keeper.

Utilizing a Story Picture, the sessions will support organization staff to reflect upon the existing cultural understanding within their agencies and introduce solutions to gaps that may be present on both Western and Indigenous Worldviews within the organization.

One ALIGN organization will be highlighted each month to reflect on the Indigenous Cultural understanding within the organization and share how your organization can use a story picture to create your own internal discussions.

We acknowledge that when the western worldview of networking and the Indigenous worldview of making relations is understood, we can begin to discover Indigenous Cultural Understanding in organizations and look at the parallels from both worldviews within our organization and programs.

Recognizing the work of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the discussions around systemic racism by initiatives such as the Reimagine Playbook, and the connections made at the Stay In to Speak Out session on Indigenous Sovereignty by AG7, we will continue to host new series of Sharing and Learning to bring present day challenges for Alberta Indigenous children and families into focus.

Sessions are the first Friday of each month starting March 5 12:30-1:30p.m.