New Saskatchewan Program Teaches Artists to Navigate Trauma and Culture
A new training program in Saskatchewan is helping artists address trauma and cultural sensitivity in their work. Called T.A.C.T. (Trauma-Informed and Cultural Sensitivity Training), it was co-founded by Eliza Doyle and Holly Yuzicapi—two artists with lived experience as Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals. The initiative comes at a time when nearly half of racialised Canadians report facing racism or discrimination in recent years, according to Statistics Canada. The program began as part of the Community Arts Mentorship Project, created by Doyle and Yuzicapi. Their goal was to share their own experiences while educating fellow artists on handling sensitive cultural topics. T.A.C.T. now runs as a 12-hour session split over two days, covering trauma awareness and cultural sensitivity in depth.
Public interest has driven the program’s growth, leading to partnerships with other organisations. Participants like Andrew Bay have already noticed shifts in their perspectives after just one day of training. The sessions encourage open discussions about trauma and cultural understanding, aiming to foster healing through conversation. Prevention specialist Rend Teed brings decades of expertise on racism and discrimination to the program. He argues that much of this behaviour stems from fear and that T.A.C.T. helps reduce those fears by broadening perspectives. Co-founder Doyle emphasises the importance of tackling these issues directly, rather than avoiding difficult conversations.
The T.A.C.T. program continues to expand, meeting demand for training in trauma and cultural awareness. Artists who complete the sessions gain tools to approach their work with greater sensitivity. Organisers hope the initiative will contribute to broader change in how communities address racism and discrimination.
