In this powerful and heartfelt episode, host 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗺𝗮𝗻 sits down with 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲 (𝗩𝗮𝗹) 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝘆𝗸, Executive Director of ISEAD - Indigenous Skills, Employment, Apprenticeship & Development - a national Indigenous not-for-profit committed to supporting Indigenous youth, communities, and their pathways into education, training, and the skilled trades.

Val shares her personal story as a Mi'kmaq woman and Sixties Scoop survivor, and speaks openly about the importance of community, lifelong learning, and building relationships based on trust, sincerity, and shared responsibility. She reflects on ISEAD’s longstanding partnership with CUSW, describing it as an unwavering relationship rooted in mutual respect, support, and a genuine sense of family.

Together, Val and Dan explore reconciliation as a personal journey, not a checklist. Reconciliation is a daily practice that shapes how we learn, work, and show up for one another. They discuss mentorship, culture, safety, the ripple effect of leadership decisions, and the importance of creating psychologically safe spaces where people can grow, heal, and contribute in meaningful ways.

This conversation is honest, warm, and deeply human. It highlights what is possible when organizations come together with aligned values, open hearts, and a shared vision for long-term positive impact in communities across Canada.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗗? Feel free to reach out to her directly at [email protected]

Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected].

🔻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪 https://www.cusw.ca/who-we-are
🔻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 https://www.cusw.ca/news
🔻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 https://www.cusw.ca/contact
🔻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 https://www.cusw.ca/participation-model
🔻 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 https://thecuswspotlightpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2460173/follow

🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.

📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 and 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 as you watch the full episodes on our official YouTube channel.

🎵 Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.

𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁!

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