​Special Conference Events 

Sunrise Ceremony
George Doyle-Bedwell, Mi’kmaw Pipe Carrier ​

Date: Saturday, June 24 (In-person Only) 
Time: 6:30 am - 8:15 am 
Location: Dalhousie University campus. Exact location TBD 

As a special invitation for the last day of the conference, we welcome all those who feel called and interested to join us for an intimate Sunrise Ceremony led by mixed-blood Mi’kmaw Pipe Carrier, George Doyle-Bedwell. During the ceremony, we will engage in prayer and sharing, together in circle, in relation with Naʼguʼset (Grandfather Sun). Pipe Carrier, George, will begin with an offering to the seven directions and the sing in the Mi'kmaw Honour Song.  A talking stick will be passed around for each person to have a chance to share in the circle, while each person also has the option to pass on sharing. George will then offer the Pipe and pass the Pipe around to everyone in the circle four times, in honour of each of the Four Directions. 
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The ceremony will occur on the Dalhousie University campus. Exact location will be provided during the week of the event. This event will be rain or shine (an indoor location is reserved in case of rain.) This event has a maximum capacity of 20 people, and requires pre-registration, on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please click here to register and include the names of those who wish to attend. 

Please note, the Pipe does not need to be smoked in order to pray with it, the Pipe Carrier will discuss this further on the day.  While there is no need to bring anything to this ceremony, except for your Sacred Selves, tobacco offerings are welcome.  

All those who are feeling called to attend this ceremony are asked to attend the ceremony sober. While attending the ceremony sober is enough, the intention is for all those participating in this ceremony to have gone four days and nights having abstained from the consumption of any elicit substances (e.g., alcohol, elicit non-prescription drugs, etc.). The reason for this is that intoxicants in various forms may interfere with our ability to listen to our Spirit Guides and the voice of Creator during the ceremony, and it can take up to four days for these substances to be cleared from our systems. Please note that participants should take any prescribed medications as they normally do.

George Doyle-Bedwell is a mixed-blood Mi'kmaw Pipe Carrier from Halifax. He is husband to Patricia Doyle-Bedwell, a father to sons, and a godfather to several nieces and nephews. He is the son of the late Dr. Stephen Bedwell and Ruth (Arthur) Bedwell. He has a sister in Toronto and several adopted brothers and sisters here in Nova Scotia and further afield. Family is extremely important to George. Academically, George did undergraduate degrees in Biology and Sociology as well as Masters of Arts (Sociology) at Dalhousie and a Masters of Education (Counselling) at Acadia. He has worked on health issues in Indigenous communities, including being part of the evaluation of the Atlantic First Nations AIDS Task Force (now called Healing Our Nations). He has volunteered to help with cultural activities for Indigenous youth and adults at various places in Nova Scotia. He has worked for over 20 years for the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, currently as a policy analyst in Public Health. He is an avid Koryu martial arts student and teacher and has a love for storytelling and music. George volunteers as part of the Spiritual Support Team with Dalhousie Multifaith Services and can often be found every third Friday at the Indigenous Student Centre. George learned to be a Pipe Carrier from his adopted brother and traditional teacher, David Gehue, who was a Mi'kmaw Medicine Person from Sipekne'katik. George feels it is extremely important to give back to the community, especially with the teachings given to him from his big brother Dave.

Intuitive Tarot Reading as a Complimentary Self-Care Practice for Helping Professionals

10 Minute Mini Tarot Sessions

Complementary sessions for all interested conference attendees by Erin Brown, MSW, RSW who has 20 years of social work experience in health care, critical incident stress management, education and private practice. Outside of her clinical roles, she has been immersing herself in the study and practices of the Tarot (also for 20 years!). Erin believes that the Tarot offers opportunities to explore personal meaning-making and self-reflection through intuitive interpretation of symbols, images and card dynamics.

Various times will be available on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, June 21 & 22; Friday, June 23 all day and evening, and Saturday, June 23, morning.

A link to book a virtual mini-session will be available on June 21, 2023. Limited spots available.

Intuitive Tarot reading practices for self-care allow us a forum in which to engage our inner knowing and personal meaning making as guidance. Intentionally setting a safe space for ourselves, honouring our inner wisdom and turning attention inwards can help shape an ongoing self care practice that accompanies our current self care strategies.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own Tarot or Oracle cards (optional) and items to journal with during this session with facilitator prompts. The facilitator will be providing creative opportunities for intuitive tarot card reading by those without their own Tarot or Oracle deck. The session will include a brief overview of the Tarot, with a specific focus on intuitive Tarot card reading practices. Gain knowledge about self-care specific Tarot spreads and how to create your own personalized Tarot spreads for self-care reflection and related practices. Attention will also be given to the limitations of intuitive tarot card reading for self-care and how to avoid unhealthy practices. This session will not centre the Tarot as a system for divination and will not aim to predict future events.

Participants of this session will have opportunities to practice foundational intuitive tarot reading skills for self-reflection and self-care, and will leave the session with their own intuited self-care messages. Participants of all levels of Tarot knowledge and skills are welcome! Handouts will include prompts for further practice and related journaling prompts, along with additional resources for further developing your own unique relationship with the Tarot.
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Virtual Workshop
Erin will also give a workshop on this topic as part of the virtual
program on Friday, June 23 from 4-5 pm Atlantic.