Noela Crowe-Salazar BA, BSW, MSW, RSW

Founder/Wellness Therapist

Tanisi. nêhiyaw ôma niya. I am the mother of two young adults, birth mother of one adult and proud Kokum to one grandson. I am a citizen of Cowessess First Nation with lineage across Treaty Four Territory, including Piapot First Nation, Peepeekisis First Nation and Pasqua First Nation. I am a registered social worker, and I am currently working on a PhD exploring traditional life cycle teachings for beginning of life and end of life. Over the past 30 years, I have had the privilege to work extensively with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples across Canada in wellness (mental health), and in the delivery of child welfare services. This work included direct services, program design, operational policy, strategic policy and management. I was adopted in the Sixties Scoop, and I bring lived experience to the work. I am passionate about First Nations child welfare reform. I have extensive experience in the former (current) child welfare system and knowledge on ways communities can create new paths to walking with our families in their healing and wellness.

  • Founder/Wellness Therapist kîwêtinohk maskwa (2023-Present)
  • 2021 SSHRC Doctoral Award Recipient
  • Owner Pimatisiwin Consulting and Counselling (2014-2022)
  • CEO Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge (2022 – June 2023)
  • CTRI and ACHIEVE national trainer in trauma, mental health, counselling skills, and violence prevention (2018 to present)
  • University of Regina Faculty of Social Work Sessional Lecturer (2014 to 2021)
  • Dalhousie University School of Social Work Sessional Lecturer (2019-2021)
  • First Nations Child and Family Services policy and quality assurance development (2014-2018)
  • Saskatchewan CFS Legislative renewal work, including review and analysis (2012-2014)

Publications

  • Crowe-Salazar, Alexa, and Noela Crowe-Salazar. 2020. Connecting Myself to Indian Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop in The First People Child and Family Review. Volume 15, Number 1, pp 5-11.
  • Crowe-Salazar, Noela. 2020. Applying Truth and Reconciliation in Clinical Practice in Working with Families. ACHIEVE Publishing: Winnipeg MB. In process of publication.
  • Crowe-Salazar, Noela. 2012. Pregnancy and a Women Centred Harm Reduction Approach: Challenging the Mother and Baby Divide to Support Family Well Being in Awakening the Spirit: Moving Forward in Child Welfare; Voices from the Prairies. University of Toronto Press.
  • Hunter, G., Donovan, K., Crowe-Salazar, N., & Pederson, S. 2008. We Are Not Asking Them to Hate Us, We Want Them to Help Us: findings of focus groups studies with pregnant drug users in Regina, Saskatchewan in Poverty Papers –Social Policy Research Unit, University of Regina.
  • Crowe-Salazar, Noela. 2007. Exploring the Experiences of an Elder, A Psychiatrist and a Psychologist: How can Traditional Healers and Practices Complement Existing Practices in Mental Health in The First People Child and Family Review Volume 3, Number 4, pp 83-95.
  • Ongoing presentations on mental health and addiction to Indigenous groups across Canada with CTRI and ACHIEVE.