Bio
Michael Loft is a member of the Mohawk community at Kahnawake. He has twenty years of direct experience in Youth Protection and private practice. He cordially invites all students with interests in First Nations People and issues, social (in)justice (delete in), poverty, resilience and qualitative research to join him in an in-depth exploration of these topics. Students will receive a first hand account of strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities affecting Native people today. O:nen. Michael Loft received invitations to guest lecture at the McGill School of Social Work shortly after graduating with a BSW in 1984. Michael began his first assignment as a sessional lecturer during the winter of 2007. Later, in July 2007, he joined the McGill School of Social work as a professional associate. Loft's interest in First Nations Issues, with a focus on healing and recovery, is situated within Indigenous epistemologies centered on the Iroquois Great Law of Peace. His work examines how ancient healing-specific ceremonies, such as the Condolence (Wiping of Tears) and other ceremonies can work to help Native people today. Specific words to help convey ideas are peace, power, and righteousness. Mr. Loft's research focuses on the healing of First Nations people. Currently, he is a co-researcher examining the social work education needs in the Mohawk communities of Kahnawake and Kahnesatake. Loft also has a particular interest in the needs of the much-neglected descendants of Indian residential school in Canada. He is currently working to find a way to bring the residential school survivors' and descendants' issues, narratives and stories to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Mr. Loft teaches in the areas of First Nations issues, Healing and social work practice. He is also part of Indigenous Access McGill, a support and mentoring program for First Nations people studying in the Health and Social Services disciplines (Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics and Speech and Language Pathology) at McGill He has two decades of practice experience in Child Protection, with individuals and families who attended Indian residential school, and in private practice with First Nations individuals. Lastly, Mr. Loft is a member in good standing of the Order of Social Workers of Quebec. O:nen.
Résumé
Michael Loft received invitations to guest lecture at the McGill School of Social Work shortly after graduating with a BSW in 1984. Michael began his first assignment as a sessional lecturer during the winter of 2007. Later, in July 2007, he joined the McGill School of Social work as a professional associate. Loft's interest in First Nations Issues, with a focus on healing and recovery, is situated within Indigenous epistemologies centered on the Iroquois Great Law of Peace. His work examines how ancient healing-specific ceremonies, such as the Condolence (Wiping of Tears) and other ceremonies can work to help Native people today. Specific words to help convey ideas are peace, power, and righteousness.
Mr. Loft's research focuses on the healing of First Nations people. Currently, he is a co-researcher examining the social work education needs in the Mohawk communities of Kahnawake and Kahnesatake. Loft also has a particular interest in the needs of the much-neglected descendants of Indian residential school in Canada. He is currently working to find a way to bring the residential school survivors' and descendants' issues, narratives and stories to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Mr. Loft teaches in the areas of First Nations issues and Healing and social work practice. He has two decades of practice experience in Child Protection, persons and families who attended Indian residential school, and in private practice with First Nations individuals. Lastly, Mr. Loft is a member in good standing of the Order of Social Workers of Quebec.
Education
MSW (McGill University) 2007
Thesis: Through Our Own Eyes: A Study of Healing as Elucidated by the Narratives of First Nations People.
BSW (McGill University) 1984
Employment
2007-present Professional Associate
McGill University, Montréal, QC
2006 Researcher
Rethinking First Nation Social Work
2000 Private Practitioner
Kahnawake, QC
1984-1999 Child Protection Worker
Kahnawake Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Service, QC
Research
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Publications
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Courses offered
SWRK 345
Social Work: An analysis of Canadian policies and legislation, their impact on First Peoples and on social work practice. Historical overview of European-Canadian and First Nations, Métis and Inuit relations. This course carries an additional charge of $8.25 to cover the cost of transportation to attend a lecture at the Kahnawake Longhouse. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Offered by: Social Work
- Prerequisite: SWRK 220
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Michael Loft
IDFC 380
Interdisciplinary Field Course: This 3-week intensive course (2 weeks McGill, 1 week Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory) provides an opportunity for Social Work, Law, Medicine and Anthropology students to learn about Indigenous cultures and worldviews, with particular emphasis on linkages to students' practice areas. Attention given to effects of Canadian policies on contemporary Aboriginal society.
Offered by: Social Work
- Restriction: Student registration requires approval of responsible faculty member(s) in Social Work/Law/Medicine/Anthropology, respectively.
- This intensive course is offered over 3 weeks. Weeks 1 and 3 are held at McGill. Week 2 consists of living in Kahnawake for 6 days. This field portion of the course may involve rugged field conditions and varying weather for which students must be prepared and equipped.
- A fee of $381 is charged to all students registered in IDFC 380 Aboriginal Field Course, a course that has a field experience in week 2 in Kahnawake. The fee covers food, activities, land use, and other site expenses.
- Terms
- Summer 2012
- Instructors
- Nicole Ives, Gregory M Brass, Joseph Flowers