National Healing Forests: An Example of Reconciliation in Action (Webinar)

Presenters Patricia Stirbys and Peter Croal will give a brief outline of the genesis of this initiative, and their respective motivations for creating this project. The talk will then describe how communities, schools and churches etc can develop their own Healing Forest. Benefits of the Healing Forest will be described along with some recent examples of completed Healing Forests.

In 2015 Peter co-developed the reconciliation initiative called the National Healing Forest Initiative with Patricia Stirbys, Cowessess First Nation. Peter is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and has a B.Sc., Geology Degree from Carleton University (1979). Since then Peter has been working in the field of environmental assessment and international development for over 35 years. Peter is particularly interested in how climate change affects indigenous peoples, and how the knowledge of Indigenous peoples can be applied to developmental challenges.

Patricia Stirbys is a citizen of Cowessess First Nation (Saskatchewan) and works in the nuclear science and technology sector. Born and raised in Ontario, she holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Ottawa and has worked with Indigenous communities, industry, and government on a broad range of issues. Her goal is to always foster positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities that can lead to lasting gains for Canada.