1/27/2025 0 Comments A new year and a new direction...
The IDDC Project came about at a time when it felt like the world was on it's knees-the outset of a worldwide pandemic. This project aimed to gather resources for coping with death, dying, grief and loss. Slowly, we began to build a network and host regular Zoom sessions to offer a free and safe space to discuss feelings and ask questions about grief and loss. We hosted death cafes. We worked toward meeting our goal to train more than 200 people on our waiting list, before the project ended in March 2025. Through the creation and launch of the online training, we successfully met our goal within the first eight months. My role in the IDDC project has been fairly large. Counsellor, curriculum developer, content and communications, administration, team manager and training facilitator. I drew from my educational background as a Sociologist and Healing and Wellness Counsellor, personal and work experiences to create the Indigenous Death Doula Training Program. Throughout this time, I was able to complete several additional trainings to build upon my capacity as a Registered Social Services Worker, for the benefit of delivering professional training and support services. But I also drew on my grief and own understandings of loss and death. Slowly, through engaging with over 1300 people, I came to new understandings and I carry new teachings. I received my spirit name while doing this project. I got married. I turned 40. I travelled many, many places I had never been. I took on new grief and watched my kids begin adulthood. I had to watch my daughter's heart break when we put our family dog down in old age. I had a miscarriage and my grandfather died. Now, I am proud to share this all with you. All the pain, all the joy and all the laughter that is the fruit of community. I pray that this work continues. The work of awakening and training death workers. I originally started my business in 2014 to share my writing and storytelling, to bring untold stories forward from my memoire. My passion for writing began as a child and as I moved through my university degree as a single parent in my 30s, returning to writing became a therapeutic practice while I managed burnout, family, multiple work and school commitments along with a new diagnosis of Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When I realized I needed to shift my career in 2017 from author to doula entrepreneur, I continued to sort out what my care practice was really about. This sole-proprietorship has grown and shifted in shape alongside me and I am excited for the new ways that this work has grown. It was with urgency that I felt called to gather plant medicine teachings and lessons about living and dying. As I've often heard, I was right where I needed to be as I learned the most from my grandfather in what would become his final years. In 2018 I renamed my humble social enterprise Blackbird Medicines and as I conclude ten years of entrepreneurship, I am in awe of the experiences I've had and the people I have met. It hasn't been easy operating a social enterprise and often I have heard that my services should not be offered through entrepreneurship, but through a nonprofit organization. The past four years have made certain aspects of my work very clear. I love travelling to communities to provide training. It is incredible to engage with helpers and hear their stories. To know healing from their stories. Offering counselling and support groups have been a major responsibility and required bringing in support from the IDDC to continue to ensure that there was balance to prevent burnout. I have struggled with burnout at different times in my life and I was determined to ensure that I took care of myself in order to deliver our project. I am grateful for the people I have met and the people who have been able to step in and support grief support services. While these services have been a big part of this project, it is not sustainable for Blackbird Medicines to continue to provide free counselling and grief support groups after March 2025. Instead, these services will be made available, across Canada through the national nonprofit organization now registered and known as Birchbark Medicine Lodge Society. What remains of this project is the training and educational resources. I am very proud to have created what is now known as Part 1 and Part 2 of the Indigenous Death Worker Training Program: Harm Reduction for Indigenous Kin. Blackbird Medicines will continue to provide community trainings and create Indigenous death education resources as a social enterprise and sole proprietorship. Additionally, I am launching the following Collective Membership Directories as a method of building connection and community supports for caregivers.
The IDC membership provides supportive space for building connections, identifying collaborative opportunities to enhance caregiving for individuals and families from socio-economic communities that experience systemic oppression and marginalization. Opening for Membership Applications in May 2025.
The IDWC membership provides supportive, safe spaces for building connections, identifying collaborative opportunities to enhance caregiving for individuals and families from socio-economic communities that experience systemic oppression and marginalization. Members have completed the IDWC training and will receive special access to training and workshops, as well as work referrals. Opening for Membership Applications in April 2025.Membership fees will help subsidize scholarships and support community needs as donations made to Birchbark Medicine Lodge Society, to help cover the costs of travel and accommodations for those trying to attend to the dying and the dead. Chii miigwetch/Big thanks for supporting this work. It has been an honour to have your interest and your community's trust. In friendship, Chrystal
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About ChrystalMy name is Chrystal Toop and I am a member of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and am Anishnaabe, French & Polish. Archives
January 2025
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