Good Medicine | Melanie Bazin | CTRI

In this interview, Melanie Bazin, Director of Indigenous Services at the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI), shares her personal journey and professional work centered around land-based wellness and trauma-informed care. Melanie, who is a Red River Metis from Manitoba, discusses her passion for land, and how it informs her work on land-based wellness practices and decolonized approaches. At CTRI, she develops workshops, incorporates Indigenous perspectives into programs, and practices the ‘two-eyed seeing’ methodology, which integrates multiple cultural viewpoints. Melanie also highlights the importance of understanding the history of colonization, using curiosity over judgment, and valuing every perspective around the metaphorical fire. Additionally, she discusses community empowerment, self-care practices, and the integral role of elders in guiding and validating their work.