OUR MISSION
At the Gwizhii Institute of Learning, we believe in empowering people to navigate conflict with care. We partner with individuals, organizations, and communities to co-create customized workshops, trainings, and policy frameworks rooted in trauma-informed practices, dispute resolution, and Indigenous reconciliation.
Our work is designed to create safe, empowering spaces for learning, healing, and reconciliation. We invite participants into transformative experiences that honor the dignity, humanity, and stories of all people.
Birth of Gwizhii Institute
“Gwizhii” means wisdom in Teetlit Gwich’in.
In Gwich’in culture, wisdom is not passed down in one direction — it’s a shared experience of learning, understanding, and community.
The Gwizhii Institute was founded by Karen Snowshoe (K.C.) to carry forward the legacy of her grandmother, Louisa Snowshoe, whose strength, resilience, and teachings continue to guide this work.
Rooted in Indigenous knowledge and lived experience, Gwizhii embodies the wisdom of healing, dignity, and reconciliation — creating space for learning that honours both heart and mind.
OUR SERVICES
Does your professional staff need training in trauma-informed dispute resolution?
CONSULTING
Expert advice to help your organization navigate conflict, create safe spaces, and implement culturally sensitive policies.
COACHING
Personalized guidance to build skills, confidence, and trauma-informed practices. Ideal for leaders and professionals seeking growth and meaningful impact.
WORKSHOPS
Interactive sessions designed to teach dispute resolution, reconciliation, and trauma-informed approaches tailored to your team’s needs.
OUR FOUNDER
Karen Snowshoe (K.C.) is a leader in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practice. As senior counsel with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), she built and led a national team conducting trauma-informed interviews across Canada.
A sought-after educator, Karen delivers workshops on Indigenous reconciliation and trauma-informed practice that inspire participants to engage in meaningful, human-centered learning. She co-facilitates with a Registered Clinical Counselor to ensure safe and grounded sessions rooted in cultural humility.
What our clients say
Companies across Canada trust Gwizhii Institute of Learning to strengthen their capacity for trauma-informed practice and reconciliation.
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While I have received treatment for trauma through personal counseling, this workshop provided me with a framework through which I am better able to understand the impact of trauma on myself and others, feel better prepared to navigate this landscape compassionately and less likely to be overwhelmed.
"The workshop was the perfect balance of storytelling, theory and practical knowledge. I wanted to express my thanks and gratitude for the Trauma-Informed Practice sessions."
Rajpal K. -Human Resources
""By offering trauma training through the lens of her Indigenous experience of intergenerational trauma, Karen offers a path of possibility for everyone feeling blocked by the trauma in their own lives, or in the lives of people they work with."
Barbara Findlay K.C. -Lawyer
"The workshop was powerful. I found Karen's storytelling moving and transformative. The workshop grounded Trauma-Informed practices in real-life experiences with practical tools to carry it forward."
Kate S. -Union Representative
OUR PARTNERS
