Medicine Bear Counselling, Support, and Elder Services
Program Overview
Medicine Bear Counselling, Support and Elder Services will provide families of Missing and Murdered women, girls, and Two-Spirited Beings the opportunity to heal from complicated grief and trauma within a culturally safe and supportive environment.
Medicine Bear Counselling, Support and Elder Services was developed at the request of the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirited Beings in partnership with others, including Manitoba Justice’s Victim Services and the Department of Justice Canada.
Medicine Bear Philosophy
Medicine Bear Counselling, Support, and Elder Services builds on the strengths and resilience of families that have been impacted by the tragic loss of missing and murdered loved ones. We incorporate traditional ways of healing as well as Western methodologies.
Medicine Bear Counselling, Support, and Elder Services’ philosophy is based on the Anishinaabe Sacred Seven Teachings:
- Respect, Maanaji”’iwin: to honour all Creation is to have respect
- Love, Zaagi’idiwin: to know love is to know peace
- Wisdom, Gikendaasowin: to cherish knowledge is to know wisdom
- Courage, Zoonigide’ewin: to face the foe with integrity
- Honesty, Gawegaatisiwin: to face a situation is to be brave
- Humility, Dabasenimowin: to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation
- Truth, Debwemowin: to know all of these things
Services provided include:
- Individual, family, and crisis-counselling sessions
- Developing support with weekly circle check-ins
- Referrals and advocacy
- Support within the Justice System, Child and Family Services, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and other Agencies
- Elder Support Services (when requested)
- Traditional Ceremonies and Teachings
- Training and workshops
- Mediation services for families, police and justice officials
- Family Information Liaison Unit
What is the Family Information Liaison Unit?
The Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU) is part of our Medicine Bear program, providing trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and holistic support to families of 2SMMIWG+ across Manitoba, south of the 53rd parallel, including Winnipeg. FILU serves as a dedicated, “one-stop” information resource for families seeking answers about missing or murdered loved ones. Our team works directly with family members to:
- Help gather information
- Navigate systems
- Address outstanding questions with care, respect, and transparency
- Provide trauma-informed support
- Advocate for systematic change and identify gaps in services and policies