By Jennifer Powell, Director of Programs and Community Engagement,
Brainstorm Strategy Group
3-minute read
As part of a recent Brainstorm webinar, Northern Lights College shared an innovative initiative they’re piloting to support prospective Indigenous learners through a community-delivered workshop called Discovering Your Gifts.
Developed by Mike Calvert (Director of Indigenous Education) and Coline Casey (Manager of Student Recruitment), the approach helps learners explore educational and career pathways that honour their whole self—physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
Why a new approach
Generic online tools often miss local realities—especially in remote communities with limited connectivity and distinct career opportunities. Mike and Coline designed a facilitator-friendly, low-tech model that’s relatable for Indigenous learners and adaptable for all students.
“A hands-on, community-delivered workshop from Northern Lights College helps Indigenous learners connect gifts, values, and the whole self to meaningful career paths.”
From skills to gifts
Participants map lived experiences (e.g., cultural and family responsibilities, babysitting, recreation, past jobs) to transferable skills, then identify the skills they enjoy using—their gifts. That simple shift moves the conversation beyond job lists to authentic fit.
A holistic framework
Using the Medicine Wheel’s four aspects—physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual—students reflect on where they feel most connected today, discuss career examples (e.g., trades ↔ physical; teaching/science ↔ intellectual; counselling/nursing ↔ emotional; land-connected roles/traditional healing ↔ spiritual), and consider lifestyle factors (community-based work, camp schedules, outdoor work).
Note: the widely used four-quadrant Medicine Wheel is a contemporary tool many communities employ for holistic learning; in this workshop, it’s used as a reflective framework, not a prescriptive teaching.
How it runs
- Relationship building: introductions in circle, humour, and clear protocols to reduce power dynamics.
- Hands-on activities: a values exercise, a self-reflection wheel, and a group activity using a large magnetic Medicine Wheel and job titles to spark discussion.
- Career visioning: participants synthesize patterns (gifts + values + whole self) and narrow to three pathways—pressure-free, with options for individual follow-up.
Northern Lights’ thoughtful design reflects deep community understanding. Their pilot sessions, typically hosted with small groups in extended workshops, created space for every voice to be heard. A simple but powerful insight emerged: leaving extra time for reflection at the end was key to strengthening the experience.
Discovering Your Gifts honours identity, values, and community — creating space for confident next steps.
