Grace a Mental Health practitioner was inspired to draw on her own cultural and traditional Plains Cree Native practice to create a Jingle Dress dancing outfit designed to identify meridian points that are specific for working with mental health. For her thesis, Sound Healing: Jingle Dress – Our Wholeness Within, Grace conducted qualitative research on vibrational energy, specifically sound, and its importance for reclaiming a sense of wholeness and mental health. Additionally, in keeping with her cultural tradition, she also created a comprehensive Mental Health Handbook to offer as a gift to the Acutonics community. If you would like to receive a copy, please email ellen@acutonics.com.
After completing her thesis mentorship with Grace, Erin Taylor wrote: “I have been blown away by the sincerity and depth of Grace's project. It has been an absolute honor to work alongside Grace at this time, sharing and listening to her story and her wisdom. Grace is an asset to the Acutonics community, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity with her. It is truly sacred work.”
In her thesis for Acutonics, Grace Dion reflects that the project served as a personal story of recovery, of how she found her way home after feeling lost for so many years.
From my earliest memory in life, to losing my own six-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), I have had many personal and emotional challenges. Over thirty years ago, I made a vow to myself and to our Creator that I would learn everything that I could to gain an understanding of the human psyche and that I would share this knowledge with others. At the age of 56 years, I am at a point in my life where I hunger to know and nurture, personally and professionally, a deeper nêwoyaw (four-bodied) understanding; emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Grace was raised on the Samson Cree Nation Reservation. She is nehiyaw iskwew from the Maskwacis territory.
Grace was the youngest of nine children, as she reflects on her early years, Grace states: I always knew I was a bit different. “My mother told me that when I was born, I had red hair on one half of my head and black on the other. I like to believe that despite my mother’s heart issues, maybe there was more to the story…”
As a teenager Grace loved sports. “I was a sports fanatic and enjoyed playing volleyball, basketball, and I won a Canadian Title in the sport of Rodeo.”
The mother of seven, Grace had five biological children, losing her second child to sudden infant death syndrome, and she raised two of her nephew’s children. Grace has experienced much loss in her life, of her eight siblings, she has just one remaining brother and three sisters.
Grace spent many years working as a mental health therapist. Her fascination with the human psyche, motivated her to learn everything she could so that she would be able to pass along the information to others.
I was encouraged to pursue Education by my father (Late Myers Buffalo). As such, I completed a number of formal education programs including a Diploma in Career Development; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Bachelor of Education in Adult Education; Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology; and Doctorate Degree in Indigenous Studies (iyiniw pimâtisiwin kiskeyihtamowin), along with numerous Integrative training programs such as Reiki, Chi Nei Tsang, Color & Sound Therapy, and Theta Healing.
It was during Chi Nei Tsang training that Grace first discovered Acutonics.
I was with a lady who spoke about Acutonics as something that may be of interest to me. After ignoring my visits to the website three times, I realized that Acutonics was calling for me to learn.
I love learning about the cosmological aspect of Acutonics. We originate from the stars (ahcâhk-star) and I loved learning about our origins and connections with stars, planets, plants, and corresponding connections within our own being. Acutonics has helped to open a whole new world.
As I studied different modalities, I learned of so many commonalities. I will use what I have learned with Reiki, Sound and Color Therapy, and Chi Nei Tsang alongside Acutonics.
While working to complete both her doctoral studies and her Acutonics Certification, Grace took a break from clinical practice.
My plan is to work towards a clinical practice supplemented with integrative health care modalities. I want to integrate what I have learned in Acutonics with my work in the Mental Health Field. I would also like to spend more time teaching personal development workshops.
Grace envisions drawing on her thesis work and using it to teach others:
I integrated sound, meridian lines, and points into the design of a Jingle Dress Outfit for my Acutonics thesis. I envision using the information to teach others about how sacred we truly are.
I also plan on approaching my Elders with proper protocol to learn our nehiyaw ways and to ask them what I can share.
For relaxation and self-care, Grace enjoys running in the pool and she takes time each day to connect with water.
Grace intends to establish her new practice in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada. She can be reached at gracedion01@gmail.com.