Healing: An Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Collaboration
Over the years I had a number of chance meetings with a fellow who may best be regarded as a Native Elder. He certainly impressed me with his knowledge of Native traditions. His work is predominantly with indigenous persons who find themselves in conflict with each other or the law.
As luck would have it, I had opportunity to have him join me in a meeting to help resolve parenting matters between two indigenous parents. We got along well, worked well together and developed a mutual respect.
I also had the fortune of attending a traditional sweat he conducted as he does with some regularity. He has been my “go to” person when in need of a consultation from an aboriginal perspective.
Although our meetings have been few, I always seem to come away with a better understanding and appreciation of Native culture and also with a feeling of how little I still know.
That fellow is Pat Green of Six Nations, Mohawk, Wolf Clan.
Given my experiences with Pat and the opportunities I have enjoyed working with indigenous people, I suggested to him we collaborate to share our knowledge and facilitate healing of indigenous families and communities. He accepted.
Pat and I are now collaborating to combine our knowledge, experience and training and apply it to Native healing. If you or your group would like our joint expertise to facilitate a healing circle or healing workshop, we would be delighted to discuss and be of service.
We have vetted each other and feel safe with each other. Our views of life and family are more similar than our cultural differences. Our believe is that our combined backgrounds could do much to help others heal.
If you think we can be of service, please do get in touch with me. It would be our pleasure to discuss and be of service.
I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by Skype.
Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW
gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support
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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Dundas and Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.
