1. Engaging the Aboriginal Community Attention to and Mindfulness of Cultural Safety and Trauma
Don Robinson, M.S.W.
Module 5 – Engaging the Aboriginal Community

2. Engaging the Aboriginal Community
I want to acknowledge the Elders and knowledge keepers of the First Nations in this territory.
It will be important to involve the key stakeholders in the surveying process
Key stakeholders include Aboriginal organizations – Elders, those serving the diverse First Nations, women, youth, LGTBQ

3. Engaging the Aboriginal Community
These representatives will bring cultural knowledge to the table
They will bring their knowledge of the people being surveyed
They will know the history of the people of this territory and have relationships with those who are homeless

4. Attention to the Past: Colonization
Many people who are homeless have had traumatic experiences, often in childhood
Many people went to residential schools where they lost their identity and culture
Returning home, the survivors transmitted their pain and hurt to the next generations
We also had the process known as the 60’s Scoop where many children were apprehended from their families/communities

5. Cultural Safety and Trauma
Each person has a story that transcends our stereotypes, and frames of reference
Surveyors will hear some of their stories and will need to listen with compassion
In Winnipeg, we had people with lived experience of homelessness describe trauma
They describe complex trauma

6. Defining Complex Trauma
Complex psychological trauma results from exposure to severe stressors that:
Are repetitive & prolonged
Involve harm or abandonment by caregivers
Occur at developmentally critical times (when brain development is occurring)
Source: workshop by Lori Haskell (2010) on post traumatic stress disorder 6

7. Attention to Survival Strategies
The person may use mind altering chemicals to cope with traumatic memories
Dissociation – a mind/body disconnect
Self-Harm (mutilations)
Serious Depression and Suicidality
Denial of the past traumas
Avoiding/numbing responses

8. The survey may trigger Reminders of past events.
Feeling powerless or a lack of control.
Separation or loss.
Feelings of vulnerability or rejection.
Feeling threatened or attacked.
Loneliness.
Reminders of losses and unresolved grief 8

9. Cultural Safety: LGTBQ
In Winnipeg, Alaya McIvor reminded us that we should respect the person and ask what pronoun he or she wants to be known by.
She reminded surveyors to put away their hats (their usual identity) – social worker, professional, etc… and just be at one with the people.

10. Respect and Understanding
Sometimes we hear about sex workers
Alaya reminded us that men and women are not on the Street by choice and are often victimized and sexually exploited by people with power over them
Self-Reflection: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses and why this is important to be aware of when doing the work you do

11. Attention and Mindfulness
As the people doing the surveys, one can get absorbed in the task of obtaining answers to the questions and forget the human connection.
We need to respect the human being in front of us as we asking for their wisdom and truth
We are asking with humility to share with us their knowledge of life as they experience it

12. Attention and Mindfulness
We may need to put the pen down when stories emerge – we need to listen and hear the story with compassion and non-judgment
We also need to respect and have patience when people don’t want to participate in the survey – respect their space
We need to understand the miles they have walked - empathy

13. QUESTIONS?