The Western Canada Indigenous Conference | Day Three

Suzanne Methot has 30 years of experience creating and applying culture-based and trauma-informed service frameworks. She was a classroom teacher in the Toronto District School Board, where she created a trauma-informed, arts-based classroom program that fostered identity, engagement, and student achievement for Indigenous students experiencing intergenerational trauma, and also worked for the TDSB’s Aboriginal Education Centre, where she planned and facilitated teacher professional development sessions. Suzanne has also worked in advocacy and direct-service positions at organizations including the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto, the Anishinabek Nation (Health and Environment Program), the YWCA Elm Centre (Winona’s Place), and West Neighbourhood House (the Meeting Place). Born in Vancouver in 1968 and raised in Sagitawa (Peace River, Alberta), Suzanne is Asiniwachi Nehiyaw (Rocky Mountain Cree) of mixed Indigenous and European heritage. She is the author of the YA book Killing the Wittigo: Indigenous Culture-Based Approaches to Waking Up, Taking Action, and Doing the Work of Healing (ECW Press), the award-winning non-fiction book Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing (ECW Press), and co-author of the Grade 11 textbook Aboriginal Beliefs, Values and Aspirations (Pearson/Goodminds). Suzanne regularly presents at gatherings, conferences, and staff professional development sessions across Canada and the United States, and is honoured to contribute to the work of mental health professionals, health-care practitioners, educators, addictions counsellors, community workers, and those working in the criminal justice system. https://www.suzannemethot.ca/