Supporting Content
Post-secondary students are experiencing significant well-being challenges and are interested in unique tools to improve their mental health. This presentation will explore two interventions utilising plants and plant materials, including the inspiration, successes, and positive impacts of these interventions. This presentation will review the relevant scholarship and therapeutic techniques utilised, which include the weaving of Western psychotherapy practices with Traditional Indigenous teachings. Please note that the webinar recording for this presentation will only be available till March 31st, 2026.
Speaker Bio
My name is Deborah Tacan. I am Cree/Metis from northern Manitoba. My grandfather was Cree/Metis from Grand Rapids, and my grandmother was Cree from Cross Lake. I am from Thicket Portage, Manitoba. I moved to Brandon to attend post-secondary school once my children were grown. I am a mother of five adult children with three more who grew in my heart. My husband and I have 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandsons. I began my healing journey in the late 1980s when I attended a sacred lodge ceremony. The reintroduction to Indigenous culture and traditional healing ways brought me on a path of healing. Learning about the plant medicine over the past fifteen years has been an important part of healing my body, mind, spirit, and emotions.
I worked in the area of mental health and substance use for about thirteen years and recently retired from that line of work. I have just finished a project where I worked as an Indigenous cultural support worker. Picking medicine every spring, summer and fall is what we do to maintain health and wellness in our family. We practice our traditional ways by attending ceremonies as well as learning from the elders and other who follow traditional Cree and Dakota culture. I have learned many things such as making moccasins, willow baskets, dream catchers, beading, ribbon skirts and many other things, using natural materials from Mother Earth. Although I do not consider myself an artist, I enjoy learning and creating.
Mother Earth has provided many blessings in our life. I am forever grateful.
My name is Dr. Marsha Harris. I have been a therapist for over 20 years, with the last 10 being at Brandon University as a counselling therapist. My role includes individual, couple, group therapy, and developing workshops related to student well-being. In addition, I developed and supervised the Peer Wellness Educator program. This program offers thematic wellness events for students offered by students.
