Introduction

My name is Jessica Day and I’m the Family Art Therapist and have been since May 2025, my preferred name is Jessica or Sagaate (pronounced Saw-gaw-tay, translates to “sunrays”). I originally moved to Haida Gwaii (Daajing Giids) in late 2017 and left the island in July 2019 to attend Art Therapy school in Nelson BC. I moved back to Haida Gwaii June 2024 and just bought a house near my sister in Masset. What brought me to this role was Megan Campbell the previous Health Director, she encouraged me to work with the organization as I had previously been working with the Skidegate Health Centre. 

Education & Training

Formal Education / Degree(s): Bachelor of Child and Youth Care with Indigenous Specialization from the University of Victoria, Diploma in Art Therapy from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute (Art Therapists in BC are currently not able to register as Clinical Counsellors as the field of Art Therapy is considered psychotherapy, however this is changing in 2027 and Art Therapists will be able to register under the College of Psychotherapists) 

Relevant Certifications:

• Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy training

• Expressive Arts and large group creative arts facilitation training (all ages)

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST, taken three times)

• Non-Violent Communication training

• First Aid

Work & Leadership Experience

I have been working in community health, wellness and community roles since I was 17 years old, about 16 years. I initially began working for the Ooknakane Friendship Centre in Penticton BC, co-facilitating two drop-in programs for children and youth— admittedly I had no experience, but I knew I loved working in Indigenous community and with families/children/youth. At this point in my life, I was disconnected from my Anishinaabe heritage, as my father had not been in my life since I was 2 years old due to alcoholism and other personal reasons. My father had attended St. Josephs Reformatory School in Ontario, which was a Catholic boarding “reformatory” school for Indigenous boys. His attendance at this school negatively impacted his connection to our culture and he became very spiritually and mentally ill, which is why my sister and I were not connected to our community or that side of the family/  My mother moved us from Thunder Bay to Vancouver in 1993, so I did not grow up in my home territory and I was estranged from that part of my family due to a lack of safety. As a child and teen I was very shy and unsure how to express or connect to my Anishinaabe heritage, especially since I was white passing and had been treated as such my entire life. I was kindly encouraged and supported by my Syilx peers and elders to participate in their ceremonies, such as Winter Dances, Sweat Lodges, Salmon ceremonies and wild food harvesting. This began my journey into recognizing I had a passion for working with Indigenous children, youth and families (especially with traditional arts) and I needed to know more about my mixed ancestry. When I attended the University of Victoria, I immersed myself in learning Anishinaabek traditional arts such as sewing regalia/quilting, beadwork, traditional hand drumming and pow-wow singing, and old-style jingle dress dancing. I ran beading/regalia making circles, joined a local drum group named Standing Nation and an Anishinaabemowin language class, and I received my traditional name of Sagaate through my connections with these groups. I enrolled in classes that were Indigenous focused, attended lectures, events, talking circles and local activist and protesting events. I specialized in my practicum placements working in Indigenous settings, and volunteered hours at local events at Friendship Centres or local reservations (there were 9 in the surrounding Victoria area). When I attended my art therapy program, I wrote my thesis on traditional regalia making as a therapeutic process, constructing a dress and providing a presentation to share my methodology and process. 

Key organizations and roles I have worked in throughout the years have been Early Childhood Education (with Hulitan Community and Family Services in Victoria), Youth and Family Counsellor (with SD 63 in Saanich BC), Aboriginal Policy Analyst  (Provincial Ministry of Children and Families), Child and Youth Mental Wellness Counsellor (Haida Health Centre), Administration Assistant (Gidgaalang Kuuyas Naay, SD 50), and PEACE Counsellor/Child and Youth Mental Health Outreach (Salmo Community Resources Society in Salmo BC). I also have extensive experience with facilitating creative arts-based activities at Indigenous youth-focused land-based summer camps, where I designed and facilitated many art workshops and co-managed camp operations (primarily with IndigenEYEZ and Power of Hope Canada and US).  In my career as an Art Therapist, I have facilitated various community and school-based groups primarily for Indigenous children, youth, families, and adult individuals. I have facilitated online art therapy groups and in person groups at assisted living facilities, family and youth drop-in centres, and elementary/high schools. In working towards my full registration as a Canadian Art Therapist I worked privately as an Art Therapist for three years and have my own business called Zhawenim Art Therapy & Counselling (Zhawenim is our word for “the act of loving kindness”). 

Vision for Your Role

I began my role here at Niislaa Naay in May of 2025, the last 8 months in my role have been primarily focused on establishing my clients, the art therapy/sand tray space and have only just caught up with all of my charting with massive delays from switching the record system to MOIS. My priority is to continue delivering quality art therapy to this community and to continue networking so families and other working professionals are aware of my services. I dream of continuing to deepen my understanding of Sand Tray and Play Therapy and to also provide art therapy supervision to practicum students. 

Personal Interests & Grounding Practices

Agate hunting, windy beach walks, hiking, traditional arts and food harvesting/preservation, family and friends.