Denise Findlay, M,ED., CPCC, ACC

Tselkxáliya (Denise Findlay) is a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh scholar practitioner from the village of Xwemélch’stn and a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Denise is a published academic author whose background is in Philosophy of Educational Theory and Practice, and the recipient of a Social Sciences Humanities Research Council Scholarship (Canadian Graduate Scholarship) for her community-based research. Denise is an autobiographical writer who leads with her Sḵwx̱wú7mesh wisdom and weaves knowledges from the fields of Indigenous education, developmental sciences, and contemplative inquiry. Denise’s academic research and community work is focussed on the cultivation of educator and practitioner wisdom and presence. Denise intersects Sḵwx̱wú7mesh knowledges and ways of being with Indigenous contemplative educational theories and practices in her healing centred work families and communities. Denise is a innovative program and curriculum developer who regularly works with public and private sector organizations to consult on and develop programs and services in response to calls for reconciliation, decolonization and indigenization to better serve Indigenous peoples in Canada. Denise is an advisor to local post-secondary institutions in regard to decolonizing higher education. Denise has spent countless hours facilitating group processes in response to social issues rooted in intergenerational trauma and colonization. Denise holds a Master of Education from Simon Fraser University focusing on Contemplative Education and is on Faculty with The Neufeld Institute where she specializes in Developmental Attachment Theory, Trauma, and Resilience. Denise is a certified BC Provincial Post-Secondary Instructor and Professional Co-Active Coach with advanced training in Process Psychology and systems work.