Raven Winged Consulting

A few weeks ago I took my 3 month old son to visit the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Here is what I told him as I held him and we walked along one side of the building…

“This is an important place, and that is why we are here. What I happened here should have never happened, and it’s important that you know about it so you can help to make sure it never happens again.

There were Indigenous children here who were taken away from their families and forced to live here. They were not allowed to be who they are- they couldn’t speak their language, practice their culture or be proud of their identity. The people here did horrible, violent and cruel things to them. And some of them didn’t get to leave and return to their families.

They didn’t deserve this. Their mommies and daddies loved them dearly, like we love you. They should have been home with their families. This happened to our ancestors. To your ancestors and we carry pieces of this within us.

They were beautiful, vibrant, funny and valued ancestors. Their culture, community and families were their strength. It is yours as well.

We need to visit places this like this to show our respect. To honour these ancestors to show that their legacy is not forgotten. Because this place and these souls- they were a catalyst for change… for movement and action forward.

And it is our role now to continue the work on… for change, for joy, for life that feels free again- mino-pimatisiwin (living the good life). My hope is that I can teach you ways to do this as much as I know you will teach me, little one.”

Life lately…

Rocking in my chair after feeding and playing with my baby

Messy hair leftover from my broken sleep and midnight shower

Half full cold coffee beside me (yes I am drinking that still)

Trapped under my little boy for one if many contact naps we will have today- he is building his rhythm and my presence and familiarity supports this.

It’s a moment in time, that I will try to etch into my mind… it all changes so quickly and at his pace and timing.

If you are wondering where I have been this last year or so- struggling to conceive, sick throughout my pregnancy and hospitalized early and became a NICU mumma.

AND he is here. I am resting quietly in a new phase of my life journey. Beauty in the chaos and so much he will teach me about myself still.

🌿 I’m excited to share that our family is growing! We are expecting a baby in June 2026 🤍

You may have noticed I’ve been a bit quieter and less present on here lately—this has been part of the reason, as I’ve been focusing on growing a tiny human and adjusting to this new season.

As I prepare for this next chapter, my work will be shifting over the coming months as I transition into maternity leave. During this time, I will be stepping back from some direct services, while ensuring continuity of care through the very capable BCaBAs I supervise, who will be supporting ongoing contracts.

Although my day-to-day work will look a little different, I remain deeply committed to supporting Indigenous communities and advancing culturally grounded, relational approaches in our field. I’m looking forward to continuing to offer select online learning opportunities, including CEU events and resources, throughout the summer and fall.

Thank you for your continued support as I step into this new role—both personally and professionally. I’m excited for what this season will bring 🌿

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SPPXQ4IfHI

Hey everyone I am excited to announce I’ll be speaking at the upcoming virtual conference on January 23, 2026.

Come join me, and an amazing line-up of speakers for this exclusive and impactful event.

Learn More: https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/Stonesoup2026/home
Register Now: https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/Stonesoup2026/registration

👇 GET ALL THE DETAILS BELOW 👇

🪨🥣 2026 Stone Soup ABA Conference
🎓 Presented by the IBAO

🗓 Date: Friday January 23, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM EST
▶ How: Live Streaming
📍 Where: BehaviorLive
👩‍🏫 What: 8 Expert Presentations
📜 Get: 9.5 CPBAO, IBAO & BACB CEUs
🏆 Win: Prizes and Giveaways
🌐 Learn More: lrcss.com/stone-soup
👐 Why: All profits go to the Initiative

Stone Soup 2026 View details for the Stone Soup 2026 conference.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunity: Trauma-Informed Teaching through an Indigenous Lens

Educators, families, and community members are invited to join us for a virtual session with Jen Ashlee, Indigenous Behaviour and Educational Consultant.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to support learners through holistic, relational, and land-based approaches to wellness. This session will invite reflection, deepen understanding, and offer practical strategies you can bring into your learning spaces.

📅 Date: November 24, 2025
🕞 Time: 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. EST
💻 Format: Virtual
💰 Cost: Free and open to all

👉 Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/SqwtQQ3UXb

✨ Upcoming Workshop! ✨
Join me for Supporting Neurodivergent Métis Children & Youth in Navigating IEPs.
A 75-minute, strengths-based session rooted in Métis Ways of Knowing and Two-Eyed Seeing — designed for families, advocates, and service providers.
🌿 Learn to:
✅ Understand and navigate IEPs
✅ Honour neurodiversity through an Indigenous lens
✅ Advocate for supports that reflect Métis identity and family voice
✅ Build collaborative, respectful relationships with schools
Includes storytelling, reflection, and space for shared learning.
Let’s create pathways of belonging and empowerment for Métis youth together.

📣 Autism Conference 2024: Implications for Indigenous Peoples
📅 August 2024 – PHAC + CPHA hosted 650 people for the National Autism Conference to guide Canada’s Autism Framework & Strategy.
🚫 Indigenous voices were largely missing—both in attendance and in the process.

Key Concerns Raised:
📊 Indigenous communities remain underrepresented in autism data, research, & policy.
🔍 Strong calls for Indigenous-led research & data collection to reflect real priorities & experiences.
🌱 Learn from Indigenous communities through a strengths-based lens, not a deficit model.
🪶 Culturally grounded, Indigenous-led approaches are critical for supporting Indigenous Autistic people.
🚫 Lack of Indigenous representation at the conference & in broader autism work—future efforts must change this.
🤝 Need for relationship-building with Indigenous organizations, including rural & northern communities.
🗣 Clear action plans & accountability so Indigenous Autistic voices shape decision-making.

💬 The Challenge:
There’s a call for Indigenous-led research—but will Canada truly value Indigenous knowledge?
Will our stories, circles, ceremonies, and ancestral wisdom be seen as equal to Western research?
Will they see the whole person—their gifts, their spirit, their role in the circle?
Canada needs to learn from Indigenous communities through a strengths-based lens, not a deficit-based, medical, and ableist lens.

Not just inclusion. Leadership.
Let us guide the questions, priorities, and process—we know what matters for our people.
Inclusion of Indigenous voices should never be an afterthought or a vague promise to “do better”; it must be prioritized from the very start.

We’ve been telling this same story for decades—about the same gaps that remain.
The hardest part? This conference had a chance to do more for Indigenous Autistics… and that chance was missed.

✊ Call to Action:
Keep the conversation going. Don’t let this become another report with promises but no action.

This September, we're offering a special 3-part online learning series: “Understanding the Residential School System: From Historical Legacy to Ongoing Impacts, Reconciliation, and Resilience.”

Designed primarily for businesses and organizations to educate their staff, this series is open to all for a cost of $1000 per organization. Find more details or register, here: https://nctr.ca/education/educational-programs/nctr-education-presentations/

🎧 A while back, I joined on their podcast to talk about ethical considerations when working with Indigenous clients.

This excerpt is from a part of our conversation where we touched on the importance of cultural reclamation and how this shows up in a cultural safety journey for allies—something I think about often in my work and personal life.

The truth is: there’s no one way to be Indigenous. We’re all on our own journeys of reclamation, reconnection, and remembering—and that process looks different for everyone. We all have unique and equally valid stories.

If you're working with Indigenous clients or colleagues:
✅ Please don’t assume.
✅ Don’t ask questions in a brash or clinical way.
✅ Approach with care and humility.

Our culture is sacred. The way you ask, listen, and show up matters. You're holding something deeply personal—like a piece of our heart.

🎙 Listen to the full episode here (Link in Bio):
https://behavioralcollective.com/news/ethical-considerations-for-serving-indigenous-clients-episode-23/

🌿 During COVID, I often found myself turning to the voices of Indigenous leaders — to anchor me back into myself, for nuggets of wisdom, and for a sense of connection when everything felt uncertain. The UBC Learning Circle became a space where I could sit with teachings, hear powerful stories, and feel part of something bigger than myself.

These conversations continue to inspire me in my everyday work. They hold stories of truth, heart, and an Indigenous lens on how to care for community. If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of Indigenous wellness, cultural teachings, or mental health — I really recommend checking them out.

🧠 Mental health & healing
🪶 Traditional practices
👥 Lived experiences from community
🎓 Indigenous-led leadership

You can explore all the sessions for free at: learningcircle.ubc.ca/past-sessions (link in bio)
💚 I hope these teachings support you as much as they’ve supported me.