Before Whiteness
Price
pay what you can
Duration
tbd
About the Course
Before Whiteness is an invitation for people racialized as white to explore the identities inherited through colonization, remember the ancestral ways of being that existed before whiteness, and return to right relationship with Indigenous lands, communities, one another, and the living world.
This is not about guilt or shame, nor is it simply about learning the histories of others.
It is about understanding how colonial systems have shaped our identities, severed us from our own ancestral cultures, and normalized ways of living rooted in domination, extraction, and separation.
Participants are invited into an ongoing process of remembering, unlearning, and returning through reflection, dialogue, embodied practice, and relationship.
Together, we explore themes including:
the histories of colonization across Indigenous lands and within our own ancestral lineages
the social construction of whiteness and colonial identity
learning from Indigenous voices, perspectives, and teachings
dismantling colonial identities and patterns of domination
remembering ancestral ways of living rooted in reciprocity, relationship, and community
regenerative ways of living, working, and relating
embodied reconciliation and how this work lives in our everyday choices, relationships, and communities
This work honours two interconnected processes:
Decolonization: The ongoing work of dismantling the colonial identities, behaviours, institutions, and systems we have inherited and continue to uphold.
Indigenous resurgence: The ongoing reclamation of Indigenous lands, languages, governance, cultures, and ways of being, led by Indigenous peoples.
Before Whiteness is not a one-time learning experience.
It is an ongoing practice of examining how we have been shaped by colonial systems, taking responsibility for our place within them, and cultivating more reciprocal, accountable, and life-giving ways of living and relating.
The invitation is not to become someone new.
It is to remember who we were before whiteness.
Your Instructors
Carly + Collective (details to be announced)
About Carly
Carly is a 3rd-generation settler born on Indigenous lands now called Canada, with ancestral ties to Hungary, England, and Jewish heritage connected to the regions known today as Poland and Russia. Her deep curiosity drives her to continually seek the truth about her origins.
She spent her early years in British Columbia, on the unceded territories of the Katzie and Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nations, before moving to Ontario, where she lived on the lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat peoples. Carly has also lived on the ancestral lands of the Tocobaga people in Florida, where the Seminole and Miccosukee peoples continue to uphold their presence and stewardship, and on the lands of the Kaqchikel Maya in Guatemala.
After moving over 40 times throughout her life, Carly has embraced a nomadic lifestyle, transforming her experience with housing instability into a path of adaptability and freedom. Along her journey, she remains deeply mindful of her role as a guest on the land and is committed to honoring and advocating for the rights of its original caretakers.
Carly is a passionate advocate for regenerative and embodied living, committed to inspiring others toward a harmonious and fulfilling life. With a deep love for adventure and authenticity, she thrives on exploring the unknown while staying true to her genuine self. Her core values — community, curiosity, diversity, harmony, health, integrity, love, service, and sovereignty — guide her approach to personal growth and collective well-being.
As a neurodivergent being, Carly embraces diverse ways of thinking and existing, adding depth and richness to her work. Guided by her Human Design as a Projector with Splenic Authority and a 5/1 Profile, her natural intuition and insight enable her to offer support and practical solutions when invited. She thrives on deep understanding, balancing leadership with mindful energy management. Her astrological Big Three — Sun in Aries, Moon in Aquarius, and Rising in Libra — reflect her direct and energetic nature, strong need for freedom and originality, and passion for justice and community.
Carly’s name, meaning "free woman" and "warrior" in old German, resonates with her purpose. "Free woman" symbolizes her commitment to empowering sovereignty, while "warrior" reflects her dedication to embodied activism.
She is dedicated to cultivating cyclical consciousness, demonstrating the power of embodied movement, and advocating for self-healing, reconciliation, and right relationships. Currently completing her Onajigawin Indigenous Services training, which aligns with the Anishinaabe concept of being prepared as a helper, Carly enriches her ability to inspire others from a decolonial perspective.
By embodying her values, Carly creates spaces where individuals can thrive in mutual support, embracing their inner authority, freedom, and connection to nature’s rhythms, with integrity and true reconciliation at the core.
About the Collective
The upcoming course will be shaped by a collective of diverse voices, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous perspectives.
This group will bring together knowledge keepers, cultural practitioners, and leaders from various backgrounds to share their insights on decolonization, regenerative living and Indigenous resurgence.
While the collective is still forming, its future members will embody a commitment to honoring their ancestral wisdom and supporting others on their journeys toward personal and collective healing.
Rooted in a deep respect for community, diversity, and sovereignty, the collective aims to create a space where participants can connect, learn, and grow together. This collaborative effort will reflect the collective’s shared values of integrity, harmony, and the power of authentic engagement, offering a rich, multidimensional learning experience.