Nbisiing Indigenous
Cultural Competency Training

Nbisiing can support your Indigenous awareness or Truth and Reconciliation training goals for your corporate team. This training is certain to improve your relationships and project work with First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban-based Indigenous communities. Contact us today to discuss your corporate training needs!

Call (416) 770-8567 or email: info@bobgoulais.com
Set up a virtual meeting to discuss your training needs.

Please Note: Currently, we don’t offer individual training opportunities. We offer only corporate training for teams.

The Nbisiing Indigenous Cultural Competency Training course is unique. There is no other training like it in Canada.
Learning is guided by Indigenous wisdom and decades of professional Indigenous Relations experience.

This Indigenous cultural competency course is designed to build personal and organizational cultural competency and introduce concepts of cultural safety in working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit.  This immersive and interactive course provides learners with a lived-experience perspective on Indigenous culture, nationhood, the history of Indigenous peoples. We provide an appropriate emphasis on Truth including the history and legacy of colonialism, the Indian Act, Residential Schools, the 60s Scoop, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

For those seeking specific training on Indigenous Relations, this Indigenous cultural competency course will cover relationship building, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, the Duty to Consult, and wise practices for Indigenous engagement, and provide learners with unmatched expertise in Indigenous relations experience.

Finally, this course will also offer a Pathway to Reconciliation, focussed on the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Nbisiing also provides invaluable and unique insight into the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing and being, protocols, ceremony, spirituality, and Indigenous traditional knowledge.

The Nbisiing Cultural Competency Training course meets the requirements of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action No. 57 and 93 (iii).

From the Facilitator

Course Description

The Nbisiing Indigenous Cultural Competency Training course fulfills the intent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) calls to action respecting the need for all Canadians to learn about Indigenous peoples in Canada. This includes celebrating the living culture of Indigenous nations, learning the history of Indigenous peoples, the legacy of Residential Schools, Truth and Reconciliation, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties, Indigenous rights, Indigenous law, and Indigenous-Crown relations.

COURSE OFFERINGS

  • Nbisiing Indigenous Cultural Competency – This full-day (6-hour) immersive, in-person learning session is done completely in the Sharing Circle using traditional protocols. It can also take place in an Indigenous space. In that way, it is truly an immersive experience, that requires focus, active participation and setting aside colonial ways for the day. When possible, this training will a traditional knowledge holder and Elder.
    • Venue: In-person, your space – OR – a local, Indigenous space (ex. Friendship Centre). NOTE: Your space will need a large, open circle and accommodate Indigenous ceremony.
    • Length: Full-day (6-hours)
    • Maximum: 30 learners
  • Nbisiing Indigenous Awareness Training – This 4-hour, in-person learning session includes the full breadth of the Nbisiing Indigenous Cultural Awareness training but is done in a compressed, yet interactive learning experience.
    • Venue: In-person, in your space. NOTE: Your space will need a large, open circle and accommodate Indigenous ceremony.
    • Length: 4-hours
    • Maximum: 30 learners
  • Virtual, instructor-led Indigenous Awareness Training – This 4-hour, virtual, instructor-led learning session includes the full breadth of the Nbisiing Indigenous Cultural Awareness training is designed for larger, de-centralized teams.
    • Venue: Online via Zoom, Webex or Microsoft Team
    • Length: 4-hours
    • Maximum: 50 learners
  • Learning about Indigenous traditional ceremonies
  • Participating using traditional Sharing Circle protocols
  • Offering meaningful land acknowledgements
  • Understanding Indigenous Nationhood
  • Gaining awareness of Indigenous history
  • Learning about early Canadian history and its impact on Indigenous peoples
  • Understanding Treaties and Treaty-Making
  • Gaining awareness of the history and contemporary impacts of the legacy of colonialism
  • Learning a Pathway to Transformation including the concepts of Decolonization, Indigenization and Reconciliation
  • Understanding Indigenous ways of knowing and being
  • Learning about ways of working with Indigenous peoples
  • Sharing wise practices
  • Learning about cultural safety and allyship in support of Reconciliation

PART 1:

  • Opening Ceremony (Invocation, Thanksgiving and Song)
  • Smudging
  • Sharing Circle (introductions)
  • Land Acknowledgements
  • Time Immemorial
  • Nationhood
  • Culture Clash
  • Treaties and Treaty Making
  • The Indian Act
  • Residential Schools
  • Sixties Scoop
  • Be Trauma Informed
  • Decolonization, Indigenization and Reconciliation
  • Truth and Reconciliation
  • Calls to Action
  • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Part 2:

  • Culture, Strength and Resiliency
  • Anishinaabe Culture
  • Medicine Wheel Teaching
  • Seven Grandfather Teachings
  • Smudging
  • Contemporary History, 1950-present
  • Working with Indigenous Peoples
  • Rights-Holders and the local Indigenous Community
  • Moving Beyond the Duty to Consult
  • Cultural Safety
  • Bias and Contemporary Stereotypes
  • Allyship
  • Two Row Wampum and 8thFire Teachings
  • Closing Circle
  • Closing Words and Advice
  • A fantastic course! Thank you for providing this to us so that we can continue to understand and grow.
  • This session has been eye-opening and reflective – I enjoyed learning more about Indigenous, First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture and ways to incorporate this in my work and everyday life. As the Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation process continues to change and develop, I would love to continue to have these kind of sessions.
  • The facilitator was fantastic! He presented the facts in an authentic manner, engaged us with questions and by seeking our opinion (if we wanted to share – he did NOT force us), answered questions politely and always respectfully. I have nothing but gratitude for the thoughtful way in which he presented the course.
  • Bob Goulais was an excellent facilitator. So knowledgeable and open to sharing first hand experience. Very personable and trustworthy.
  • Bob was a fantastic facilitator – he was open, kind, extremely knowledgeable and encouraged participation. The materials provided were excellent and very informative.
  • I enjoyed it a lot, and have already suggested it to other co-workers! Bob, thanks for being such an engaging and knowledgeable instructor.
  • I appreciated the history and explanations of treaty partners. I appreciated the cultural teachings. I appreciate the warm facilitation style.
  • Bob is an astounding educator. Engaging and informative sessions.

4-hour, Virtual Course

$1,925 up to 50 participants
  • Less than $40 per person.
  • Offered through Zoom, Webex, MS Teams, or Google Meet.
Call Today

Full-Day, In-person Course

$2,88750up to 30 participants
  • Less than $100 per person.
  • In-person in your space OR in an Indigenous space where possible.
Email Today

Questions and Answers

Who should consider taking this training?

Nbisiing Consulting has offered the Indigenous cultural competency course to:

  • Governments and Public Sector organizations
  • Land Owners and Real Estate developers
  • Natural Resource developers
  • Planners, architects, builders
  • Existing project teams
  • Public engagement firms
  • Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools
  • Hospitals, health centres, long-term care homes
  • Companies wanting to develop relationships with Indigenous peoples
  • Media organizations
  • Not-for-profit companies
  • Any organizations working towards Truth and Reconciliation
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion teams
  • Children’s services agencies and providers
How much experience does Nbisiing have?

Bob Goulais has been providing Indigenous Awareness training for over 20 years, to private sector, public sector and to First Nations, Métis and Inuit audiences. We don’t like to name drop but would be happy to provide references.

This Indigenous Cultural Competency Training has been offered to over 8,000 learners who have been delighted with their learning and how it has impacted both their professional and personal lives.

 

What is meant by an “immersive experience”?

From the very opening of the training, you will be a part of Indigenous ceremony, in the presence of the sacred bundle, handling sacred items, and making use of traditional Anishinaabe protocols. This type of learning goes beyond reaching your mind – it is designed to reach your spirit.

What is Cultural Competency?

Culturally Proficient Inquiry: A Lens for Identifying and Examining Education Gaps defines cultural competency as the capacity to interact compassionately, sensitively and effectively with people of different cultures.

Given that this training is, most often, part of workplace learning, Nbisiing also works to develop professional competencies in working with Indigenous peoples. In other words, we work to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviours that contribute to individual and organizational improvement in the area of Indigenous Relations.

What makes the Nbisiing training unique?

Culturally-based – The Nbisiing Indigenous Cultural Competency Training is offered, first and foremost, using Indigenous values and ways of knowing and being. Essentially, it is entirely culturally-based, and immerses the learner in Indigneous values, perspectives and concepts. However, we also use cutting edge technology, multi-media tools, and modern learning methods.

Authenticity – This course is offered by a First Nations teacher, with a lifetime of lived experience, and decades of professional Indigenous relations experience. The course includes Indigenous wisdom, and offered with the support of Indigenous elders.

Safe and Non-judgemental – The training offers respect to all levels of learners, and offered without judgement or shame.

 

You mention hosting this training in an Indigenous space. What do you recommend?

Pending the availability of their Auditorium space, this training may be held at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Canada’s first and largest Indigenous Friendship Centre. Your team would be responsible for the booking and catering arrangements. For more information visit here.

Course topics include:

  • Traditional Opening
  • Offering meaningful Land Acknowledgements
  • Terminology
  • Time Immemorial
  • Indigenous Nationhood
  • Culture Clash
  • Treaties and Treaty Making
  • The Indian Act
  • Residential Schools
  • 60s Scoop
  • Missing and Murder Indigenous Women and Girls
  • Being Trauma Informed
  • A Pathway to Reconciliation
  • Truth and Reconciliation
  • TRC’s Calls to Action
  • UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Culture, strength and resiliency
  • Indigenous cultural frameworks
  • Traditional Indigenous values
  • Contemporary History, 1950-present
  • Working with Indigenous peoples
  • Engaging rights-holders and local Indigenous communities
  • The Duty to Consult
  • Effective Community Engagement
  • Cultural Safety
  • Bias and Contemporary Stereotypes
  • Allyship
  • Two Row Wampum and 8th Fire Teaching
  • Closing Words and Advice

For More Information on Training:

Call (416) 770-8567 or email: info@bobgoulais.com
Set up a virtual meeting to discuss your training needs.

Please Note: Currently, we don’t offer individual training opportunities. We offer only corporate training for teams.

Feedback from Nbisiing Cultural Competency Training:

“This was the most exceptional training experience of all the public service courses I have taken.”

“This was a fantastic training. A huge thank you to the facilitators for dealing with a very painful and sensitive topic in an enlightening and positive way, even making us laugh at times with Bob’s engaging style!  Well done. I will definitely be recommending this course to others.”

“This course was amazing, loved the circle method of training as it made everyone actually pay attention. The real life experiences presented was very real and a great way to learn. The facilitators were wonderful as they spoke about lived experiences and true knowledge they knew and not something so textbook.”

“This is the best course I have taken in my 19 years with the City. This course should be mandatory to all public service employees. Can’t wait for more. The facilitators are amazing people and great facilitators.”

“Invaluable experience!  Expansive knowledge and understanding of course content. The perfect balance between hands on experiences and detailed information. Listening, sharing and participation was welcome and encouraged. Sharing felt natural and not forced or coerced.”

— Various Training Participants
Communications
Indigenous Cultural Advisory Services