Before delivering the LTOA program, it is essential that facilitators and Elders are comfortable with the materials and philosophy behind the program. The LTOA training model has evolved over the past 7 years of the program. Organized by regional coordinators and supported by the research team, training sessions help prepare facilitators before each cycle of delivery. In this section of the website, we provide an example of a training agenda as well as a robust set of materials to guide coordinators and facilitators through the training process.

Facilitated Training Sessions

Community partners and facilitators are invited to attend a regional one- or two-day workshop, delivered by the McGill researchers to familiarize themselves with the sessions and the program’s topics. The facilitators learned about facilitating techniques, as well as the ethics and responsibilities of program delivery. At the training workshops, the facilitators are given the LTOA manuals to be culturally adapted and covered the following topics: information about the intervention and the sessions, facilitating techniques and self-care techniques for facilitators.

Training Through Regional Indigenous Centres

Training was initially supported by the McGill-based research unit, but was gradually transferred to regional Indigenous centres. Before program deliveries in each region, a training session invited surrounding community facilitators, Elders, managers, coordinators, and researchers to review the program materials and delivery goals in order to prepare for the upcoming deliveries.

Modular Training

In 2018, concerns about the length of the program inspired community partners in Kenora, ON, to develop a new training model that modularizes the program into three separate training sessions, instead of one single workshop. Facilitators attended a training session on the first five sessions of the program (Module 1), which were then delivered in their respective communities. After delivering the first five sessions, the facilitators reconvened for a second training session on Module 2, which included sessions 6-10. At this second training session, the facilitators had the opportunity to discuss their experiences and debrief about the successes and challenges faced when implementing the program. This modular system allows for ongoing feedback from facilitators about their implementation process, and to further their facilitating skills.

Capacity Building and Cross Community Engagement

Currently, new efforts are made for capacity building across the LTOA team. LTOA facilitator from Siska, B.C., Erin Aleck is involved in training other community member across Canada. For instance, in February 2019, Erin attended the final modular training session with the facilitators in Kenora, ON. In March 2019, Erin also attended training sessions in Nova Scotia with new members and spoke about her experiences with the program. Erin is also building her community from within, and is in the process of training a former attendee of the LTOA program who will take on the role of facilitator.

Training looks different across communities and can be catered to suit your individual community! Feel free to contact the LTOA coordinator to learn more about the program and training sessions at: ltoanationalcoordinator [at] gmail.com

Tips from past facilitators

In this video, Carla, Carolyn, Catherine, and Don — four experienced LTOA facilitators — share practical tips about conducting sessions: