“Our Children Our Way” - Remarkable Accepted to Present Again in 2025

I’m honoured to have been selected to return to speak at this year’s Our Children Our Way conference. I am excited to build on the lessons and insights I gained from my first experience presenting there last year, and really looking forward to connecting with more incredible Indigenous leaders and changemakers.

The Our Children Our Way (OCOW) conference is a national forum for Indigenous child and family well-being. It’s dedicated to supporting the growth of Indigenous Child and Family Services. It offers a crucial platform for sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and driving positive change across the country. The offerings at the conference all align with one or more of the OCOW’s goals:

  • Child & Family Best Practices

  • Nation-based Prevention Services

  • Community Healing

  • Policy & Operational Development

  • Jurisdiction Pathways & Models

In 2024, my presentation was about using modern tech to share ancient wisdom “Skyrocketing Community Engagement.” My presentation doubled as a workshop – rooted in lessons I’ve learned through collaborating with Indigenous leaders, communities, and organizations over the years through my company. It’s available for free online if you’re interested: rocketengagement.ca

Presenting to a room full of people who are as passionate about decolonization as I am was beyond powerful – and beyond meaningful for me. I wasn’t there only to teach – I was also there to learn, and I definitely did. A lot. By the time I left OCOW 2024, I had gained so many new insights and perspectives and I worked to digest it all with clear hearted intentions. It all inspired and challenged my work in the months that followed.

Now, looking back over the past year, I’m amazed at how much my company was able to integrate these learnings. My business has grown and my work with visionary Indigenous leaders continues to deepen. 

I’m excited to find out what I’ll learn from my fellow presenters and attendees at OCOW 2025. And I can’t wait to share what I learn with my community and team members, too. 

If you’re attending OCOW 2025, I’d love to connect with you there! Reach out to me here. Learn more about the event and register here. 

Laurel Anne Stark