About Amanda
Amanda Gould, a nehiyaw iskwew (Cree Woman) from Fort McMurray First Nation, Treaty 8 territory, raised in Treaty 6 territory, and has been a visitor to many Indigenous communities.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies and a Masters Level Diploma from Winnipeg Holistic in Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, specializing in Indigenized Art Therapy.
Gould has professional registration with the Canadian Art Therapy Association.
A passionate advocate on community-led approaches to gender-based justice, with a long history of involvement around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-spirit folks.
Co-organized the Sisters in Spirit march and vigil in Edmonton through rain, shine, and snow.
A fancy dancer, reconnecting and strengthening her heart to spirit every time she dances at powwow and for the community
Presented with awards such as Walking the Red Road, Community Justice and an Esquio award, from the Institute of the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, for Community Involvement.
Why I do
Art Therapy...
Twenty years ago, I had my first experience with Art Therapy and I still remember how it helped me process what I was feeling.
Ten years later, I started teaching beading and sewing in different community settings and I saw how traditional arts were helping the people, but I wanted to provide more tools and guidance to help the people through their emotions and topics such as inter-generational trauma that kept coming up.
This piece of art is a reflection about a survivor of MMIW, and structural violence
Created by Amanda Gould
about our collaboration partner...
When facilitating big group workshops in a community and online it is always nice to be facilitated with two professionals.
Mistatim Creative Processing and Four Directions Therapy often work together.
Here is some information on Niki, who runs Four Directions Therapy...
About Niki
Niki Watts is a âpihtawikosisâniskwêw (half-Cree woman), award-winning visual artist, counsellor and art therapist. Her Indigenous band is located in Saddle Lake Alberta, however, she was born and raised in Bella Coola BC- a remote community situated within the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. She and her family were adopted by the Mack family- the grizzly bear clan, and are also considered honorary members of the Nuxalk Nation.
After completing her graduate degree in counselling psychology in 2021, Niki opened a private counselling practice based out of Bella Coola called Four Directions Therapy; a name which was inspired by her Cree culture and the prairie teachings of the Medicine Wheel. Niki merges her passion for art, Indigenous culture and spirituality, and mental health in the work that she does.