Indigenous Cultural Helper at GSS

Great news for everyone at GSS!

This fall, Kyle Campiou joined the Clinical Access Team (CAT) as an Indigenous Cultural Helper. Why is this role so important? Two big reasons – what the George Spady Society is all about, and the background of the clients we serve.

As we know, GSS began with a spiritual leader who accepted and supported people where they were at. That acceptance continues today and guides our programs and services. Over half the clients we work with are Indigenous so it’s essential that Indigenous cultural and spiritual support can be part of wellness planning.

Staff have linked clients to Indigenous supports in the Edmonton community and that outreach has been productive. But a dedicated Indigenous resource in GSS would clearly bring a new level of responsiveness and opportunity to programs. So, welcome, Kyle! We are excited to have you join us.

Kyle brings over 20 years of experience working with the urban Indigenous community. That work has ranged from supporting spiritual care and healthy decision making to supporting recovery from family violence and residential school trauma. While Kyle’s experience is mainly in the urban setting, he considers the early years spent with his late maternal nohkum (grandmother) as pivotal. He reinforces that foundation by connecting with the larger cultural community to which he is responsible.

A good fit with the George Spady Society, Kyle starts wherever a client is at, often using a self-care teaching model. He can help a person learn more about the Indigenous culture. Or he can support spiritual goals—or both. On the other hand, the starting point may be associated with trauma. Then Kyle’s background in coaching and counselling may be most relevant.

Kyle is available to work with individual or groups of clients. And he is open to exploring new ways to serve GSS programs. To learn more about how Kyle is working with programs now, or to talk about your ideas for Indigenous client support, contact Robynn Strikwerda, Program Manager at CAT.

Again, welcome, Kyle! Tatawaw (‘welcome’ in Cree)!