Centre for Indigegogy

Situated within the Master of Social Work (MSW) Indigenous Field of Study program at Wilfrid Laurier University, the Centre offers 35 modules, spanning four certificates, including four standalone wholistic professional development courses.

We are proud to offer year-round programming, in addition to customized trainings with organizations across Turtle Island.

"Thanks to scholarship support I was able to begin my journey through the IPC. For many reasons, the knowledge and connection with indigenous kin has been limited. Coming to circle to learn about how to bring our whole selves into our every day, and witnessing my peers go through a similar journey, I am renewed, and am seeing myself and all of creation in a manner closer to what Efnouti intended."

Sara Abdo, Indigenous Peoples Certificate

"I was a recipient of a generous scholarship to participate in Indigenous Persons Indigenous Certificate, Module 1 “Stepping into Your Centre”. This course has helped me on my journey to connect with my First Nation culture, supported me in reclaiming my identity as well as adding my bundle. I have been truly honored to have had this opportunity and recommend this program for Indigenous people looking to recover and heal from the effects colonization has had."

Rachel Sutherland, Indigenous Peoples Certificate

"Attending the two day module of “Stepping into your Centre” with Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of Social Work Centre for Indigegogy I was able to learn from my facilitator and other attendees. As an Indigenous women being able to eliminate a barrier such as tuition/registration cost to attend this workshop has helped me with my career and furthering my education. Dr. Kathy Absolon was able to provide gentle challenges but healthy reminders of best practices when stepping into your centre as a role of the help."

Kellie Grace, Indigenous Peoples Certificate

"I enjoyed the experience of this training. It has taught me different ways to engage our Elders in my professional and educational paths."

Sally Dokis, Wholistic Professional Development

What is Indigegogy?

Indigegogy is a term coined by Stan Wilson, a Cree Elder and Educator. Indigegogy uses Indigenous knowledge, literature and scholarship and is centred on land-based education. Indigegogy engages Indigenous methodology such as circle work to uplift traditional teachings, ceremonies and practices. Indigegogy is a decolonizing practice that builds on the resurgence of Indigenous ways of knowing, teaching and learning.

What is "Re-Search"?

Anishinaabe re-searcher Dr. Kathy Absolon coined the term “re-search” to describe how Indigenous re-searchers re-theorize and re-create methodologies.

Indigenous knowledge resurgence is being informed by taking a second look at how re-search is grounded. Dr. Absolon consciously adds an emphasis on re with a hyphen as a process of recovery of Kaandossiwin and Indigenous re-search.

Upcoming Workshops

Along with our upcoming workshops, you can see our full program offerings on our Workshops page.

Oct. 17 and 18: Indigenizing Trauma Work
Oct. 17 and 18: Introduction to Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledge: Policy, Land and Governance
Oct. 25 and 26: Indigenous Re-Search Paradigms

Workshop Resources

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Empowering Through Indigenous-Centred Development

Our Vision

We envision creating pathways for educators and practitioners for wholistic professional development that is guided by the principles embedded in Indigegogy.

Our vision is to honour the spirit, heart, intellect and physical elements of teaching, learning and in practice.

We envision wholistic education and training that is grounded in our culture, traditions, anti-colonialism, decolonizing and Indigenizing knowledges.

We envision pathways of unlearning and re-learning toward transformation, wholistic teaching and healing.

Our Purpose

We strive towards supporting Mino-Bimaadiziwin (Ojibwe for the "way of a good life"), and Ka’nikonhriyohtshera (Mohawk for "fostering emergence of the good mind") using land-based education, traditional knowledge and teachings.

Through Indigenous-centred, wholistic practice, the Centre for Indigegogy aims to:

Generate a variety of wholistic development certificate programs for Indigenous and non-indigenous practitioners who are interested in their ongoing learning and wholistic development of their practice.
Provide exceptional professional development and training experiences in Indigegogy.
Offer accredited certificates for educators, practitioners and helpers across disciplines.

"I’m indebted to the course run by Kathy Absolon and Amanda Thompson. I had such a valuable experience while in the workshop. As a graduate student discussing Indigenous epistemologies can feel alienating. More than anything I feel like I walked away with confidence to adamantly assert that my Indigenous teachings are valid as forms of thought with academic spaces."

SJ Okemow

"As an Inuk raised outside of community, it is difficult for me to find ways to connect to my heritage. The workshop on land-based practices gave me an insight into First Nations perspectives. As someone with chronic health issues, being able to participate online was wonderful. It was good to sit in community with First Nations peoples, to learn together, share together, and honour all our relations. Thank you for providing the scholarship. It makes reconnecting possible for those with low incomes and disabilities. Nakurmiik and thank you."

Shantell Powell, Wholistic Healing Practices and Colonial Trauma Certificate

"I found the "Land-Based Healing Practices" workshop to be helpful in understanding how valuable it is to be true to yourself and true to the land and true to the people you are working with. As an Indigenous Social Worker you are coming to know who you are and what is important in your own learning bundle. The practices you are learning and following as a helper are based on the land and based on a value system that comes from within. This workshop helped me to understand that land-based healing practices are deeply imbedded within Indigenous ways of knowing and being."

Laini Lascelles, Wholistic Healing Practices and Colonial Trauma Certificate

"The knowledge and wisdom shared in the "Gender and Sexual Diversity in Indigenous Communities" workshop was helpful for me navigate my personal and professional journey to understanding trans identifying youth and 2S/Indigiqueer from an Indigenous lens. I feel better prepared to work with the Indigiqueer community while in the working field. I gained a deeper love, appreciation and support for those 2S who are living their truth regardless of the risks involved to be who they are. It was most valuable to be taught by 2S Indigenous Elder and scholars. I’m grateful for the sponsorship that was granted for my participation. Chi Miigwech!"

Jessica Hill, Wholistic Healing Practices and Colonial Trauma Certificate

Our Goals

The Centre for Indigegogy: Indigenous Centred Wholistic Development provides wholistic practitioners, helpers and educators ongoing learning opportunities that are immersed in indigenous knowledge and best practices. Our goals are wholistic and are as follows:

To honour Waabnoong (Eastern Doorway Spirit) by:

Attending to the Spirit of Indigenous knowledge, teaching and learning through ceremony.
Providing wholistic practitioners with ongoing learning opportunities that are guided by Indigenous teaching, learning and healing practices.

To honour Zhawnoong (Southern Doorway Heart) by:

Attending to good relations through respectful circle work.
Fostering "good mind" relationships in honour of the two row wampum teachings.
Supporting the growth of practitioners' good medicine bundles.

To honour Niingbaabitoong (Western Doorway Intellect) by:

Supporting Indigenous knowledge through land based education, literature, scholarship and practice.
Fostering the resurgence of Indigenous Knowledge and restoring Indigenous pedagogies in teaching, learning and practice (Indigegogy).
Upholding healing and learning through decolonizing, Indigenizing and promoting anti-colonialism in teaching, learning and practice.

To honour Giiwedinoong (Northern Doorway Doing) by:

Engaging in experiential Indigegogy practices.
Fostering transformative learning experiences.
Restoring "land consciousness" in our workshops.

To honour Shkode (Centre Fire) by:

Honouring wholism and trusting that the Centre Fire will once again burn strong and proud.
Attending to Mino-Bimaadiziwin (in Anishinaabe translates to “a good life”) and Ka’nikonhriyhtshera (in Mohawk translates to “fostering the good mind”).

A Letter from Kathy Absolon

"This story is long overdue and has been a long overdue project of restoration and reclamation. It’s a story of resurgence. Our Centre for Indigegogy is emerging out of contexts of colonizing educational institutions. Education has played its detrimental role through the Indian Residential School eras. Today Indigenous peoples are re-emerging as educating agents in our own education and in control of our wholistic curriculum, research and Indigegogy."

Read Kathy's full letter and learn more about the centre.

Land Acknowledgement

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario is located on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee peoples. We are grateful for all the Indigenous people who continue to care for and remain interconnected with this land. Miigwech, Nia:wen for knowing that our ongoing survival is connected to the land.

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