Pathway 5 Reciprocity

Abstract

Melissa and Sandra are very honoured to learn from Elder Albert Marshall and Andrea Currie as the open this pathway with a video conversation about their land and Nation-based Indigenous Teachings on reciprocity. Sandra and Melissa raise a number of key questions related to reciprocity that they have carefully considered in writing this book. Melissa shares some of her learning about reciprocity and the connection to various spiritual traditions as well as Indigenous Teachings of balance and reciprocity. In this pathway Indigenous perspectives on reciprocity form a foundation for deepening understanding of the importance and nature of relationship in professional practice. The remaining chapters in this pathway are grounded in the Seven Sacred Teachings approached through a Two-Eyed Seeing lens that embraces multiple perspectives on what it means to related with reciprocity. Affirmative care and anti-oppressive care are introduced as practices that offer points of connection with Indigenous perspectives on a relational approach to health, healing, and care.

Co-Authors

Sandra Collins (she/her), PhD, is a co-editor of this book. She writes from the perspective of a feminist, lesbian, cisgender, woman with an invisible disability, who is a white, retired professor, and inhabits a privileged social class. Over the 25 years of her academic and professional career, she focused her research, writing, and teaching on cultural responsivity and social justice in theory, research, and practice. This is her fifth book on these topics, two of which were awarded the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Counselling biannual book award. She also received a silver medal for best e-book design by the Independent Publisher Book Awards. 

Melissa Jay (she/her), PhD, RPsych, is a cisgender nehiyaw (Cree) member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and lifelong student of yoga philosophy. She is a cisgender, able-bodied woman who moves through the world with white-passing privilege. She is a psychologist and associate professor at Athabasca University. Her work is centred in reciprocity and relationship, decolonized healing, anti-oppressive practices, and the integration of ancient wisdom and psychology. Her intention is to share trauma-informed, culturally responsive care, alongside her ongoing collaborative research exploring relational accountability, Indigenous methodologies, and ethical engagement with community.

Elder Albert Marshall (he/him), PhD, is an Elder and a member of the Moose Clan of the Mi’kmaw Nation in Eskasoni, Unama’ki, known as Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He is a fluent Mi’kmaw speaker and a survivor of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. He has dedicated his life to bridging Indigenous and western knowledge systems. He was deeply honoured to receive the Order of Canada on October 3, 2024 as recognition for coining the term, Etuaptmumk. As a tireless advocate for reconciliation, sustainability, and Indigenous knowledge, he advises numerous organizations.

Andrea Currie (she/her), MEd, CCC, is Green Turtle Woman, a Red River Métis from the historic Métis homeland in southern Manitoba. She currently lives in Unama’ki (Cape Breton). She is a psychotherapist, writer, and musician. She is the Indigenous therapist at the Kiknu Centre (St. Francis Xavier University), has a private practice working with Mi’kmaw and Wolastoqiyik individuals throughout Mi’kmaki, and has been the facilitator and therapist for the We’koqma’q Residential School survivors for the past twenty years. She is a founding member and now part of the Elders and Knowledge Keepers Council of the Indigenous Circle of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association in 2004. Her newest book is Finding Otipemisiwak: The People Who Own Themselves.

Citation

Collins, S., Jay, M., Marshall, A., & Currie, A. (2025). Pathway 5 Relating with reciprocity. In S. Collins and M. Jay (Eds.), Decolonizing health, healing, and care: Embodying culturally responsive and socially just counselling (Chapter 5.0). Counselling Concepts. https://doi.org/10.71446/ud66338836