About

Nihkhah Qahiq Consulting is committed to addressing the need for trauma informed practices and support of Indigenous Peoples and Communities who face social issues, specifically marginalization, misrepresentation in the criminal judicial system and high rates of violence including intimate partner violence and family violence.

I acknowledge, give my gratitude and respect to the Creator, the grandmothers and grandfathers, the land and the homes of the Northwest Metis, the Blackfoot, Kainai First Nation, Piikani First Nation, Siksika First Nation, Bearspaw First Nation, Chiniki First Nation, Goodstoney First Nation, Tsuut’ina First Nation, and Metis Nation Battle River Territory. I am humbled to live and work on these lands and territory, and will strive to learn from the Elders and Knowledge Keepers from each of these Nations.

My name is Maire and I am the founder of Nihkhah Qahiq Consulting. I served as a police officer for ten years with the City of Vancouver, and over the span of my career, I investigated hundreds of incidents involving domestic violence and sexual violence. Many of these investigations involved Indigenous survivors. Knowing that Indigenous peoples have had many negative experiences with police, government and public sector agencies, I needed to figure out how to bridge these gaps. From here, I became passionate and dedicated to exploring how to better relations and communication between police officers and Indigenous Peoples. This meant my connecting and learning from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, attending and observing Indigenous-led events, participating in cultural training, and discovering that as a police officer, I needed to do better to serve the Indigenous Community with appropriate trauma informed skills. You’ll notice that I replaced “justice” with “judicial”. I do not wholly believe the criminal justice system is “just” or provides justice in its current climate to survivors of power-based crimes and so I believe it would be a disservice to participants and people affected by the system to call it thus.

NIHKHAH – “together” in Gwich’in

QAHIQ – “to do the same thing” in Inuvialuktun

“Nihkhah” means “together” in Gwich’in and “qahiq” means “to do the same thing” in Inuvialuktun. I am a proud mixed Gwich’in Indigenous and Inuvialiut woman, with Irish settler heritage. My paternal family are from the Mackenzie Delta in the Northwest Territories and have endured a history of intergenerational trauma, familial and lateral violence. My Naanak (“grandmother” in Inuvialuktun) was a survivor of intimate partner violence and birthed seventeen children while living in the one of the most remote, isolated areas of the North. When I developed the concepts for Nihkhah Qahiq, I dedicate this practice to my Naanak.

I am very proud to share my personal and professional experiences where I found success with applying trauma informed tactics and strengthening connections with Indigenous community members. Please be advised that any advice I provide is meant to be anecdotal and does not reflect specific investigations or police training I have partaken in. “Together, to the do the same thing” is the ultimate goal in pursuing ways of Reconciliation.

Contact

maire@nihqahconsulting.com