10/02/2026
This week, in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, The Social Workers Association of Alberta - SWAA held our first in-person professional development gathering in Red Deer: Coming Back to Connection: Spirituality, Wellness, Connection & Reconciliation.
Facilitated by Elder Beverly Keeshig-Soonias and Rhonda Barraclough, the day created space to slow down, reflect, connect, and explore wellness through an Indigenous worldview and relational lens. Participants reflected on connection to self, others, community, culture and land, and on reconciliation as something lived through relationship, respect, reciprocity, responsibility and action.
For social work, this work carries particular responsibility. Our profession has a history in Alberta and across Canada that is deeply connected to systems that caused harm to Indigenous children, families and communities. Reconciliation cannot be something we acknowledge only once a year. It requires ongoing reflection, accountability, learning and relationship-building.
SWAA’s Board and staff take this seriously. We are committed to continuing to create opportunities for social workers to learn, listen, reflect and strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities, while approaching this work with humility.
We are very grateful to Elder Beverly and Rhonda for the care, wisdom and generosity they brought to the day, and to everyone who joined us in Red Deer.
A message from the workshop that stayed with us:
“Wellness is relational. Reconciliation is relational. Connection is where the journey begins.”
