Elders have the capacity to recognize teachable moments. Some truths require courage to hear. Some of these points will be addressed by the sharing of my personal experiences. Participant’s questions and engaged discussion will aid in this teaching and learning process. I believe that we are all teachers and learners at all times. Through discussing my experiences, I hope to provide knowledge to the community revolving around what we can do to further the process of decolonization. We all have stories to share and stories are crucial components of who we are, where we have come from, and where we plan on going. I believe that crucial knowledge can be extracted by sharing our stories, exchanging knowledge, and building community. Through my Grandmother’s teaching style and methods, my goal in sharing is that all of us will then be participating in the decolonization process in a good way. 

 Lorrie Adams is an Elder of the Nisga’a Nation and moved to Prince George to attend University in 1998, became employed in Burns Lake for three years, and then moved back to Prince George and has been here since 2003. Lorrie was one of the first 26 First Nations peoples Across Canada who received the sexual abuse worker training in 1989. Lorrie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. Lorrie also studied counselling Psychology at the University of Northern British Columba. Lorrie’s current focus revolves around the Indigenous Court in Prince George. Out of all her credentials, she is most proud that she did not go to Residential School and was able to gather the teachings from her community. Her maternal and paternal grandparents and her parents went to Residential schools and she was able to learn all her cultural knowledge from them. Lorrie continues to learn from many Nations as she journeys through life.