My Practice

Instead of ‘Either—Or’ we can make it ‘And and With’. We can move mountains when we figure out how to work with one another rather than against one another.

My current work in private practice, as in earlier positions in Aboriginal organizations and provincial government, is focused on providing facilitated workshops to many communities on North Vancouver Island and across Canada, including; Tsawataineuk, Namgis, Klahoose, Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, Homolco, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw, and K’ómoks First Nations.

Through my workshops and in private consultations I have supported the learning of foster parents, RCMP, school districts, hospitals, Vancouver Island Health Authority, B.C.’s Ministry of Children and Family Development, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Education, the Kwakiutl District Council, Cowichan Tribes, other tribal councils, and many more. Together, we are building cultural awareness, sensitivity and safety as we move forward in reconciliation through Building Bridges through Understanding the Village.

Clients

These are organizations who have hosted workshops from the Village Workshop Series©️.

  • BC Ministry of Children and Family Development
  • BC Ministry for Social Development
  • BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources
  • BC Ombudspersons
  • BC Ministry of Citizens Services
  • BC Ministry of Finance
  • BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training
  • BC Ministry of Education
  • BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
  • BC Deputy Ministers Office
  • BC Assistant Deputy Ministers Office
  • BC Public Service Agency
  • BC Foster Parent Association
  • The Federation of Community Social Services of B.C.
  • Labour Market Programs
  • Poverty Reduction Programs
  • Public Guardian Trustees BC
  • RCMP
  • Child and Youth Representative Bernard Richard
  • Member of Parliament Rachel Blaney
  • Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor
  • Member of Parliament Jean Crowder
  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • IMAWG: Island Marine Aquatic Working Group
  • Division of Family Practice
  • Surrounded By Cedar Child and Family Services
  • Cowichan Social Planning
  • Physician Engagement Society of Comox, Courtenay (PESCCI)
  • Vancouver Island Health Authority
  • British Columbia School Districts #36, #54, #68, #70, #71, #72, #79, #83, #84, #85
  • Municipal government elected officials and employees in Port Hardy, Campbell River, Squamish, Pemberton and Duncan
  • Greater Victoria Public Library Speakers Series
  • University of Victoria
  • University of Manitoba
  • St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick
  • Thompson Rivers University
  • Simon Fraser University
  • Vancouver Island University
  • University of Montreal
  • Coady Institute at St Francis Xavier University, Coady Institute at Antigonish, Nova Scotia
  • Arcadian Learning Centre
  • North Island College
  • Federation of Post Secondary Educators of B.C.
  • Comox Valley Transition Society
  • Canadian Roots Youth Exchange
  • Canada World Youth Exchange
  • United Church of Canada
  • Anglican Church of Canada
  • Agaziz Christian School
  • Duncan Christian School
  • Campbell River Christian School
  • Surrey Christian School
  • Lynden Washington Christian School
  • The Fort St. John Child Development Centre (CDC)
  • Sophie’s Place Child and Youth Advocacy
  • Mi’kmaq Friendship Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Kwumut lelum Child & family services
  • Secwepemc Child & Family Services Agency
  • Options Community Services
  • Laichwiltach Family Life Society
  • Usma Family Protection Services
  • Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Employment
  • Klahoose First Nation
  • Homalco First Nation
  • Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Tribal Council
  • Gitga’at First Nation Hartley Bay
  • Gitxaala Nation, Kitkatla
  • K’omoks Nation
  • Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations
  • Wuikinuxv First Nation (Oweekeno)
  • Namgis First Nation.
  • Whe-la-la-U   Council
  • Inter Tribal Health Authority (ITHA)
  • Whitehorse Community Services
  • Kuujjuaq, Nunavik School District
  • Puvirnituq, Northern Quebec
  • Hollyburn Family Services
  • John Howard Society
  • Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre
  • PLEA Community Services
  • Strategic Forest Management Inc.
  • Walmart Campbell River
  • Kwakiutl District Council Health
  • Ayas Men Men   Child and Family Services
  • Circles of Cedar Port Alberni
  • Victoria Native Friendship Centre
  • Hollyhock Leadership Learning Centre
  • Campbell River Museum
  • ARC Program, Kelowna
  • United Way of Lower Mainland
  • Cowichan Valley Metis
  • Metis Nation, Victoria
  • BC Association for Child Development and Intervention, Kelowna
  • Comox Valley Child Development
  • Aboriginal Head Start Programs
Testimonials

What others are saying about the Village©

Building Bridges through Understanding the Village©️ workshop brings a deep felt understanding of the impact of residential school to all who participate. Out of this learning comes a deeper compassion and increased respectful way of working with and walking beside Aboriginal peoples. The workshop is done without blame or shame and brings participants to a place of working with increased love, respect, kindness and generosity.

Below is a selection of quotes from past participants that speak to the impact of Building Bridges through Understanding the Village©:

“Kathi uses humour, kindness and wisdom to hold the space safely for us while we change how we see the world and how we forever interact with those who have Aboriginal Heritage. It is easy to learn because of her gentle ways, and her respect for all people.”

“I had the good fortune to participate in this workshop and was touched to the core by the depth of this workshop. The Facilitator, Kathi Camilleri and the Elder who joined her, Meredith Martin, led us through one of the most beautiful and moving experiences I have ever participated in professionally or personally.”

“It was a deeply moving experience, and I can see that it is an incredible tool for education and healing.”

“The whole thing. This was by far the best course I’ve had. I wish you would do it in my daughter’s high school where she is faced every day with trying to understand the dynamic in her school with the Indigenous students.”

“I wanted to mention how profound the workshop was: the combination of the compassionate communication, honesty, experiential approach, and role play was a powerful combination for understanding such a serious issue and also for the possibility of personal transformation (i.e. changing one’s understanding, perspective, and role in moving forward toward reconciliation)”

“I so viscerally felt the experience of being part of the village we created together, the comfort created by our unified community and the tremendous support of others. I also tasted the deep, deep sorrow and devastation caused by the kidnapping of children and their imprisonment in residential schools, (not to mention the myriad of other abuses of First Nations people). I am forever changed by this workshop. Even though I have been part of a number of projects over the years, in which I collaborated with First Nations people, never have I so dramatically had this “first person” perspective. I simply can’t thank you enough and look forward to any other way in which I can participate or contribute to your future projects.”

“After participating in Kathi’s workshop, I believe that every single interaction with those who have Indigenous ancestry will be so much better than before I understood what I deeply understand now. I just did not really understand before today. Reconciliation on a personal level, is not a grand gesture but for me now it will be demonstrated in every breath.”

“’Chi Miigwetch, great thanks to you, Kathi, and all of the elders and organizers for delivering this amazing workshop. There was so much love, support, and wisdom in the room that it felt like an incredibly safe space to examine trauma and emotions around the impacts of colonization on our lives and families. I have been talking to many people all week about my experiences there.”

“It is important for all Canadians to participate in the Village workshop to uncover the true history of Canada and if we want to truly reconcile as a nation, this history belongs to ALL Canadians and the work going forward belongs to ALL Canadians. The Village workshop is presented in a kind, caring, thoughtful manner that offers a perspective that helps uncover the truth to the trauma and emotions around the impacts of colonization on the lives and families of Indigenous communities. Kathi has a gentle power and is guided by decades of experience when facilitating the workshop Building Bridges through Understanding the Village. Through the workshop she created, cultural competency is increased and begs colonized industries to consider inclusion of culturally-based values in order to grow partnership among all members of Canadian society.”

Danita Lewis

“From personal experience, I would highly encourage anyone who has the potential of working with Indigenous peoples or in Indigenous communities to participate in the Village Workshops. It has been so important to my own personal healing as well as building great understanding to why I see things throughout so many communities across Canada. The Village Workshop has really shed some beautiful light on some basic cultural values, such as LOVE, KINDNESS, RESPECT, and GENEROSITY. I can honestly say that all the great things that have come to my path, have been because of those four values that I incorporate into my life. Not just here and there, but always. That is what the Village Workshop has brought to my heart.”

 
David Dawson

The Village Workshop Online is an experience that I cannot recommend highly enough. As someone who has taken university courses and workshops on the topic of Indigenous peoples, I was hesitant to do this workshop because I felt like it would just be repetition. Nothing new. Wow, how I was wrong. Kathi’s workshop not only provided me the space to explore the topic further, but it allowed me to relate to the topic on a personal level. I looked at areas of my life that I have never looked at before and I learned things about myself that I was not expecting to learn about. I am leaving this workshop with a new perspective on myself and on life itself. The love, respect, kindness, and generosity Kathi shared with me is something I will always be grateful for and forever hold onto.

Tessa Teng

Contact

To learn more about Kathi or the workshops, or to book a workshop for your organization, please contact Kathi directly by email or phone.