Bridging the cultural gap: Thunder Bay entrepreneur promotes healing, connection with First Nation community.

• Author: McKinley, Karen
• Position: INDIGENOUS BUSINESS

It's been a mission years in the making for Cindy Crowe. Now her vision to help empower people has become a reality.

The entrepreneur and counsellor has been helping to build connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in Thunder Bay, northwestern Ontario, and beyond.

It has grown from her home to a storefront in Fort William in the city's south end, where she runs two ventures: One Tribe Indigenous Worldview and Diversity Coaching and Blue Sky Community Healing Centre.

"We have a contract with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to train their staff (through One Tribe)," she said. "We provide training for any groups anywhere in the province. They can come to us, or we can arrange to go to them, whatever they need."

Their teaching process includes open dialogue that is designed to promote mutual respect of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ages, religious and political beliefs, and physical ability, to name a few.

One Tribe provides coaching for groups to gain a better understanding of First Nations' cultures. Crowe said many of the clients include mining and forestry corporations in negotiations with bands to forge business deals and to seek permission to operate on their territorial land.

She offers courses in improving diversity consciousness, introduction to the Indigenous community, economic and holistic benefits to working with the Indigenous community, and land-use planning.

It is of great importance for people to understand cultural significance and customs to keep dialogues open, Crowe said, whether it be for business transactions, or social work.

Blue Sky Community Healing Centre hosts a variety of different activities, from drumming and healing sessions, to community painting, where people are invited to paint on canvas, regardless whether they have any experience.

"We have people that come in and amaze themselves at the talent they never thought they had," Crowe said. "They amaze me. The good energy they give off, it's calming for everyone in the building."

When people come in, she said, all are welcome, but it is expected they'll participate in the activities that are offered.

"I started with Grey Wolf teaching Lodge, and all of this is the natural progression of that original vision I had years ago," she said. "We've created this wonderful space for people to come in, participate and learn about positive subjects."

She works with residential school survivors and the impact of intergenerational...