Red Shoes Rock honors the FASD pioneers –
Her name appropriately was given as a clue. Kee Warner is a true KEY to FASD life with purpose. Thank you!
Kee Warner and Whitecrow Village
envision a world where people with FASD
are valued for the gifts they bring to all
It will be a world where it is safe to be a person with FASD with a greater community understanding that will lead to the prevention of FASD and to a healthier, happier society for all people.
Shared with Jodee Kulp by Deb Evensen
“There is no one in the world that I have ever worked with that treats people more equally than Kee Warner,” shares Deb Evenson. “With Kee everyone has equal oppotunities, the one with the highest IQ is not necessarily in charge. I have never seen anyone do this to the extent that she does. Her “camps” (live in opportunities) have people with FASD who are the teachers. I remember watching her, she is my teacher. She doesn’t miss anything, she is highly perceptive. She is one of the geniuses behind a lot that has happened in the world of FASD. Kee demonstrates cognitive diversity. Everyone has a voice, absolutely everyone. She is honorable. She does not listen because it is her job to listen. Kee listen because she loves. I watch her work with awe and I see miracles happen.”
For Kee, it is about people. She is a humble person and Red Shoes Rock honors that. Her work and development, with the people she so loves created Whitecrow Village.
Whitecrow Village camps present a microcosm of the “real” world, where we live, work, and play together; and where we learn how to understand and appreciate each other; acknowledging our limitations as well as our gifts.
Why the White Crow?
The white crow in many traditional stories, myths, and legends in many world cultures is initially shunned for its differences. As the telling of the story progresses, the white crow comes to be values for its unique contributions to community. The white crow directs us to look at the gifts and strengths that exist in everyone. The white crow offers hope in the journey of working together toward a society of diverse perspective and abilities of all members, with all members being valued and recognized as important and equal.
FASD can be a platform from which to address community wellness. Whitecrow Village offers long-term consultation and capacity building within communities in a relationship which allows communities to gain an understanding of FASD that reaches into all sectors. Visiting periodically over months or years, Whitecrow Village team members interact with parents and foster parents, social service workers and program managers, local government officials, educators, economic development managers, maintenance and operations managers, Chief and Council, Elders, health care and legal service professionals. Combined Whitecrow Village/community events normalise FASD, mitigate the fear and inspire the community as a whole to move forward toward intentional wellness.
Whitecrow Village is for and about community.
Whitecrow Village programs offer a model for a way of life
and a way of being with one another.
Wherever and whenever we come together, we create a place where regardless of age, colour, gender, social class, disability or ability, sexual preference, religious persuasion, and all other things that have been used to divide and create disharmony among peoples throughout history each person has equal value and belonging. Each voice is heard; as each completes our circle.
Our core Live-In FASD Education (L.I.F.E.) Sessions – affectionately known as “camps” – present a microcosm of the “real” world, where we live, work, and play together; and where we learn how to understand and appreciate each other; acknowledging our limitations as well as our gifts.
“The L.I.F.E. sessions are much more than simply children’s camps. The typical camp activities are structured to support brain differences. The adults have intensive experiential training opportunities that build understanding and collaborative relationships among professionals, parents, paraprofessional, and extended family. …Parents get to experience their children being successful and appreciated by adults. All get to experience the competency of Whitecrow team leaders who live with FASD.”
– Kee Warner Founder of Whitecrow Village
The foundation of all Whitecrow Village programs is respectful relationship.
Essential elements include:
- equality and interdependence;
- routine;
- structure and consistency;
- caring honesty;
- a focus on strengths;
- anticipation of success;
- celebration of unique contributions;
- intentional, effective, and respectful communication;
- predictable daily routine; and
- awareness of tangible and
- intangible environment.
Whitecrow Village consistently model:
- appropriate language,
- actions,
- attitude,
- healthy nutrition, and
- self-care.
We insist on maintaining these elements of our model as we know that they not only prevent problems, they also enhance solutions.
“Spirituality is my structure.” Marcel Gagnon
Whitecrow Village is a community of people who value and respect each other for the gifts, abilities, and teachings each brings. We recognise that every human being has an innate need to belong, to contribute, and to be a part of the fabric of family and community life.
“I have never seen anyone that demonstrates truth the way Key does! The depth of what she says is real, raw and powerful.” Deb Evensen.
Whitecrow Village presentations (led primarily by successful adults living with FASD) often astonish and always inspire the audience – both through their content and in the professional and powerful manner in which they are delivered.
**PLEASE NOTE:
A must read blogpost – In a Perfect World
Whitecrow Village FASD Society was born in 1996 in response to a parent’s desire to structure an environment through which children affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) could experience success at summer camp. For the first 2 years, the Village offered one 3 ½ week camp for children with FASD per annum, and it was financed “out of pocket” by a single government employee. By the third year, it became clear that in order for the children to experience continued success beyond the camp setting, it would be necessary for the greater community to learn to recognise the needs of and to witness the many strengths of people living with FASD. Thus, the inclusion of families, community agencies, and professionals at our week long Live-In FASD Education (L.I.F.E.) training sessions became an integral part of the heuristic Whitecrow Village community model.
PROFESSIONAL IMMERSION PROGRAM CHANGES MINDS INTO HEARTS and PUT THEORY INTO PRACTICE!!
For professionals this hands on experience will be pivotal to your understanding of how to work with people with an FASD and will impact your professional practice.
During this workshop participants will have the opportunity to:
- Connect the head and the heart.
- Learn, work, and play together as a community with families experiencing an FASD.
- Interact with Canadian team leaders.
- Engage in classroom and experiential activities that support individuals affected by an FASD.
- Recognize and appreciate contributions made by people experiencing an FASD.
- Experience the impact of interdependent living.
- Observe the effects of a whole foods, no additive diet.
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