Opening the Session
This section describes how to open the session and prepare participants to engage with the material. It includes:
- Welcome and territory acknowledgement
- Goals and objectives
- Practical information
- Self-care for participants
- Group guidelines
These slides are available for use with this section of the presentation. For information about downloading presentation slides, see Introduction.
Note: Text in italics are notes for facilitators and non-italicized text is suggested script for facilitators.
Welcome and Territory Acknowledgement
Welcome participants and open with a territory acknowledgement.
Facilitator Note: Territory Acknowledgement and Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being
A meaningful territory acknowledgement allows us to develop a closer and deeper relationship with not only the land but also the traditional stewards and peoples whose territories we reside, work, live, and prosper in.
Acknowledging the territory within the context of mental health and well-being can open a person’s perspective on traditional ways of knowing and being, stepping out of an organizational structure, and allowing participants to delve into their own perceptions, needs, and abilities.
Territory acknowledgements are designed as the very first step toward reconciliation. What we do with the knowledge of whose traditional lands we are on is the next important step.
Some questions to consider as you acknowledge your territory:
- What do we do as good guests here?
- What can I do in my personal and professional roles to contribute to reconciliation?
Should your institution have an approved territory acknowledgement, please use that to open the session; however, consider how to make that institutional statement more personal and specific to you in that moment and in the work you are about to delve into with your participants.
If you’re unsure of your territory, the website Native-Land.ca is a helpful resource.
Introductions and Check-In
After the welcome and territory acknowledgement, introduce yourself. You could then ask participants to very briefly introduce themselves by sharing their name, where they work, and what they are hoping to get out of the session.
Online
If you’re offering the session online, you could also do an online poll that asks people to choose the type of weather that matches how they are feeling. There are many different ways to have participants check in with themselves and the group, and you should use questions and reflections that are meaningful to you and the group.
Note: It may be helpful to have participants share in advance their phone number and physical location at the time of the training (so crisis resources can be called in if needed). It is also very helpful to have a co-facilitator or assistant available to call someone who suddenly leaves the session.
Goals and Objectives
The overall goal of this session is to help you develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support someone who is in distress