Traditional Teachings: Victor McCoy

Event Details

• Tuesday, September 27, 2016
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  
  Building: Gzowski College First Peoples House of Learning
  Room: The Gathering Space
  Cost: Free

All are invited to a Traditional Teachings workshop from Elder in Residence Victor McCoy. 

Victor McCoy was born in Michipicoten Harbour in Northern Ontario. At five years old, he was taken from his family and spent the next 11 years in Indian Residential School.  This experience made his upbringing very non-traditional from a cultural perspective.  At the age of 7 or 8 he started spending the summer months with his family and at this time he was introduced to his Native culture by his father.  This introduction included Sweats and Pipe Ceremonies. 

Victor has worked for 33 years with Correctional Services Canada (CSC) as a Native Liaison Officer.  Victor has worked specifically with Native offenders in Community and Institutional settings. Victor has delivered substance abuse programs and worked with young offenders.  Victor was the first Native Liaison Officer in Canada, and was instrumental in developing the Native Liaison positions in the Ontario region.  He has engaged in professional training and development receiving many certificates such as Suicide Intervention; Offender Escort Training and Risk Management Training.

Victor has also developed and delivered entire programs in the context of First Nations culture specifically using Anishinabek culture.

Victor, who lives in Kingston, Ontario, retired in the spring of 2016 and continues his path of learning by attending a Native Men’s Group on a weekly basis and making himself available for presentations and speaking engagements.

Contact Info

Shari Beaver sharibeaver@trentu.ca