shopify analytics ecommerce tracking
+1 (306) 584-4472
Presentations on Demand OSD

Presentations on DemandAffordable pre-recorded presentations that can be watched anytime, anywhere.

Learn MoreOrange Shirt Day

Raven Sinclair Gender Equality + Education + Inclusion

Share on:

Book Speaker

"Enlightenment from a History of Trauma"

She is one of Canada’s most sought after experts on the ‘60s Scoop’ era, and federally appointed Expert Adviser to the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation. As Director and Executive Producer of the Film ‘Truth to be Told’, Dr. Raven Sinclair uncovers the atrocious facts of this period in Canadian history. As an author, of ‘Wicihitowin-Aboriginal Social Work in Canada’, Sinclair is creating effective and respectful methods of working with diverse populations specifically Indigenous peoples. As Associate Professor of Social Work and Researcher, this Nehiyaw-Cree Champion of George Gordon First Nation is transforming misconceptions regarding diversity and identity.

A powerful speaker and skilled facilitator, Raven is passionate about conducting workshops on communication skills, cross-cultural education, Indigenous research, non-violent communication, Two-Spirit education, and traditional Indigenous ethics and laws.

A survivor of the Canadian child welfare system, in an era referred to as the ‘60s Scoop’, Raven was adopted and raised in a white Anglo-Saxon protestant family. She began her elementary school in West Germany but went on to complete her education in 2007 at the University of Calgary. As a young adult, she reconnected with her Cree/Nehiyaw community and reunited with her birth family at the age of 27. Raven has four degrees; a BA in psychology (UofS), a certificate and bachelor’s in Social Work (U of R), an MSW in social work (UofT), and a PhD in social work (UofC). She wrote her dissertation on the topic of cultural identity among adult survivors of the “60s Scoop” adoption era.

Raven acknowledges being Two-Spirit as a core spiritual aspect of her identity and the primary reason that she has had such diverse life experiences. Her work and interests are directed by Nehiyaw (Cree) spiritual laws and she is working on strategies for the reintegration and recognition of the traditional role of two-spirit people into the sacred hoop of Indigenous communities.

Raven has an eclectic work history that includes the military, outdoor construction, computer systems operator, administrator, tree planter, and research assistant. She entered the field of social work later in life. Her areas of expertise and interest include Indigenous social work, Indigenous health research and ethics, Indigenous child welfare and youth issues, Indigenous transracial adoption and cultural identity, interpersonal communications, lateral violence intervention, trauma and recovery, and group process and facilitation. Raven is passionate about Indigenous issues as well as intergenerational healing modalities.

She is a mother of a teenage daughter. In her spare time, she likes to do renovations and is an avid chess player.

  • Cross Cultural Education Trauma & Recovery Indigenous Ethics Lateral Violence Intervention 60s Scoop and Within it Accountable Communications Indigenous Research

    Cross Cultural Education:

    • Understanding different worldviews 
    • Cross cultural conflict and communication
    • Cultural competence, cultural relevance and cultural humility

    Intergenerational Trauma & Recovery

    • The history of Indigenous trauma
    • Blood memory, embodiment of trauma, soul wound
    • Indigenous recovery

    Indigenous Ethics

    • What are Indigenous Ethics?
    • Nehiyaw weyesweywina – Cree laws
    • Indigenous ethics as frameworks for living a good life

    Lateral Violence Intervention

    • Origins of lateral violence
    • Indigenous laws and ethics
    • Frameworks for lateral violence intervention and prevention

    60s Scoop and Within it

    • Indigenous child welfare history in Canada
    • The 60s Scoop in Canada – individual and community effects
    • Recovery for transracial adoptees

    Accountable Communications and Indigenous Ethics

    • Conflict communications
    • Accountability and ethics integration
    • Communication practice frameworks

    Indigenous Research

    • What is Indigenous research?
    • Indigenous research evolution
    • Indigenous research ethics

  • Article

    Indigenizing Psychology Symposium

    Article

    GLOBAL NEWS: Activists building tiny home for Sask First Nation Family

    Article

    Anishinabek News: Indigenizing Psychology

    Article

    The Star Phoenix: Is racism to blame?

  • Book

    Wicihitowin: Aboriginal Social Work in Canada

    Film

    Trouble in the Garden

    Book

    Pathways of Settlers’ Decolonization

    Book

    Case Critical: Social Services & Social Justice in Canada - 7th Edition

  • “I wanted to share with you the impact of your words with this student. This student has had little cultural exposure and has struggled with the gender identity piece as I think so many have. The student LOVED everything you said during your session. Said it was exactly what he needed to hear. That is was powerful and moved him.”

    “Raven Sinclair gives a quality 'wholistic' workshop/presentation. She includes the Spirit, heart and mind in the body of her whole delivery.... not to mention her beautiful voice when she shares song.  Her delivery and exploration of challenging subject matter is housed in a context that allows room to hear, feel, and integrate.  Love her work.”

    - Elder

     

  • Highlights / Awards

    National Memberships

    • Canadian Institutes of Health Research College of Reviewers
    • Canadian Institutes of Health Research Indigenous, research reference group
    • Federal court appointed advisor to the 60s Scoop Healing Foundation
    • In collaboration with another individual, Sinclair has a geographical information systems website project. It is an interactive website to map the adoptee Indigenous adopted diaspora in Canada.

    Refereed Contributions – Books

    Sinclair, R., Hart, M. and Bruyere, G. (Eds.). (2009). Wicihitowin: Aboriginal Social Work in Canada. Winnipeg: Fernwood Press.

    Refereed Contributions – Forthcoming Books

    Carniol, B., Sinclair, R., Baines, D., and Kennedy Bish-Bell, B. (2016). Case Critical: Social services and social justice in Canada. 7th edition. Toronto: Between The Lines. In press January 2016.

    Refereed Contributions - Chapters

    Sinclair, R., and Carriere, J. (2015). Towards Anti-Oppression in Indigenous Adoption. In Walking this Path Together: Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive Child Welfare Practices. 2nd Edition. Winnipeg: Fernwood Press.

    Sinclair, R. (2009). Identity or Racism? Aboriginal Transracial Adoption. In Sinclair, R., Hart, M., & Bruyere, G. (Eds.)(2009). Wicihitowin: Aboriginal Social Work in Canada. Winnipeg: Fernwood Press.

    Refereed Contributions - Forthcoming Chapters

    Sinclair, R. (2016). Indigenous Transracial Adoption in Canada. In Ned, J.D. and Frost, C. (eds.).(2015). Contemporary Issues in Child Welfare: American Indian and Canadian Aboriginal Contexts. Vernon: JCharlton Publishing. Submitted.

    Refereed Contributions – Journal Articles

    Sinclair, R. & Grekul, J. (2012). Aboriginal Youth Gangs Canada: (de)constructing an epidemic. First Peoples Child & Family Review, Vol. 7(1). 8-28.

    Labonte, R., Sanders, D, Baum, F, Schaay, N., Packer, C., Laplante, D., Vega-Romero, R., Viswanatha, V., Barten, F., Hurley, C., Ali, H., Manolakos, H., Acosta-Ramirez, N., Pollard, J., Narayan, T., Mohamed, S., Peperkamp, L., Johns, J., Ouldzeidoune, N., Sinclair, R. and Pooyak., S. (2009). Implementation, Effectiveness and Political Context of Comprehensive Primary Health Care: Preliminary findings of a global literature review. Australian Journal of Primary Health. Vol. 14(3). 58-67.

    Sinclair, R. & Albert, J. (2008). “Social Work and the Anti-Oppressive Stance: Does the Emperor Really Have New Clothes?” Critical Social Work, Vol. 9(1).

    Sinclair, R. (2007). “Identity Lost and Found: Lessons from the 60s’ Scoop.” First Peoples’ Child & Family Review, Vol. 3(1). 65-82.

    Sinclair, R. (2004). “Aboriginal Social Work Education in Canada: Decolonizing Pedagogy for the Seventh Generation. First Peoples’ Child and Family Review, Vol. 1(1). 49-61.

    Sinclair, R. (2003). “Indigenous Research in Social Work: The Challenge of Operationalizing Worldview.” Native Social Work Journal, Vol. 5, November 2003. 117-139. 

    Other refereed contributions

    Sinclair, R. (2011). A New Beginning. (Poem). First Peoples Child & Family Review. Vol. 6(1). p. 9. 

    Non refereed contributions

    Sinclair, R. (2015). Ethics and Social Work Practice Research. (“In Their Own Words special feature). Ives, N., Denov, M. & Sussman, T., (2015). Toronto: Oxford University Press. p. 75.

    Sinclair, R. (2015). The Sixties Scoop. (“In Their Own Words special feature). In Ives, N., Denov, M., & Sussman, T. (2015). Toronto: Oxford University Press. p. 215.

    Sinclair, R. (2012). Foreword. In Bennett, B., Green, S., Gilbert, S. & Besserab, D. (eds.) (2012). Our Voices: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Work. Brisbane, Australia: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Sinclair, R. (2012). Foreward. Special Indigenous Theory edition. Native Social Work Journal. Vol. 7.

    Sinclair, R. (2012). The Paths We Walk. In Honouring Indigenous Women: The hearts of the nations. Ottawa: Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement. p. 70-71.

    Johnson, S. (2010). Review of Sinclair, R., Hart, M, & Bruyere, G. (2009). Wichitowin: Aboriginal Social Work in Canada. Vancouver: BC Studies, No. 167. Autumn 2010.

    Creative Outputs - Video Documentary

    Sinclair, R. (Executive Producer). A Truth to be Told. Video documentary about the Sixties Scoop in Splatsin First Nation, BC. Undergoing edits. Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNGB3NUviMI

    Sinclair, R. Taped video submission to MPs and Senators House of Parliament, Ottawa, Ontario, May 17, 2016.

    Magazine Contributions

    Sinclair, R. (2014). The Language of Native Adoption. Gazillion Voices: Land of Gazillion Adoptees Magazine. February 2014. Web.

    Sinclair, R. (2014). The Sixties Scoop Paradox. Gazillion Voices: Land of Gazillion Adoptees Magazine. April 2014. Web.

    Sinclair, R. (2014). Racine v. Woods (1983): An Interactive Play in Four Acts. Gazillion Voices: Land of Gazillion Adoptees Magazine. June 2014. Web.

    Sinclair, R. (2014). Telling our Stories. Gazillion Voices: Land of Gazillion Adoptees Magazine. November 2014. Web.

     

  • Clients

    • Spurfest 2016 Winnipeg
    • Aboriginal Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario
    • Regina public interest research group
    • Trent University
    • University of Victoria
    • Canadian Psychological Association
    • Indigenous Education Network
    • United Church of Canada
    • University of Portland
    • Indigenous Adoptee Gathering, Ottawa
    • UBC School of Social Work
    • Oncology Association of Australia Darwin & Canberra, Australia,
    • FASD Saskatchewan
    • Claremont Colleges, California
    • Origins Canada Conference, Toronto
    • University of Saskatchewan

A powerful speaker and skilled facilitator, Raven is passionate about conducting workshops on communication skills, cross-cultural education, Indigenous research, non-violent communication, Two-Spirit education, and traditional Indigenous ethics and laws.

A survivor of the Canadian child welfare system, in an era referred to as the ‘60s Scoop’, Raven was adopted and raised in a white Anglo-Saxon protestant family. She began her elementary school in West Germany but went on to complete her education in 2007 at the University of Calgary. As a young adult, she reconnected with her Cree/Nehiyaw community and reunited with her birth family at the age of 27. Raven has four degrees; a BA in psychology (UofS), a certificate and bachelor’s in Social Work (U of R), an MSW in social work (UofT), and a PhD in social work (UofC). She wrote her dissertation on the topic of cultural identity among adult survivors of the “60s Scoop” adoption era.

Raven acknowledges being Two-Spirit as a core spiritual aspect of her identity and the primary reason that she has had such diverse life experiences. Her work and interests are directed by Nehiyaw (Cree) spiritual laws and she is working on strategies for the reintegration and recognition of the traditional role of two-spirit people into the sacred hoop of Indigenous communities.

Raven has an eclectic work history that includes the military, outdoor construction, computer systems operator, administrator, tree planter, and research assistant. She entered the field of social work later in life. Her areas of expertise and interest include Indigenous social work, Indigenous health research and ethics, Indigenous child welfare and youth issues, Indigenous transracial adoption and cultural identity, interpersonal communications, lateral violence intervention, trauma and recovery, and group process and facilitation. Raven is passionate about Indigenous issues as well as intergenerational healing modalities.

She is a mother of a teenage daughter. In her spare time, she likes to do renovations and is an avid chess player.

Speaker Summary

Location: Canada

Language: English

Website: Click Here

What People Say

   Share Page
   Book Speaker

Featured Speakers

Book Raven

Book Raven Sinclair for your next event!