A message from Amanda, founder of Reframe Reclaim Rejoice Wellness

Hi my name is Ruth Daku but from a young age I have went by my middle name Amanda.  In February 2026 I opened Reframe Reclaim Rejoice Wellness in Canora, Sk! After working on and off reserve in a variety of social work roles I found my passion in art therapy combined with mental health and addiction counselling by seeing, witnessing and experiencing the benefits it has on our mental and overall health.  I offer both private one on one sessions as well group sessions. As a registered social worker I am registered under Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) where individual sessions are fully covered. I am also registered with a variety of Health Insurances such as BlueCross, Canada Life, Green Shield, Medic, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), where individual sessions can be direct billed to insurance companies or reimbursed upon receipt. Individual sessions are preferably held in person in Canora but if this is not attainable sessions can take place via zoom or by phone.

I grew up in rural Saskatchewan, graduating from Preeceville School in 2011, quickly moving away from home to learn about the world and myself. I moved back to the Yorkton area in 2017 to complete University. In 2022 my husband Tanner, myself and our two children Bentley and Zoey settled in Canora making it our home.

I grew up in foster care from age two separated from my biological mother and my three siblings and placed on and off with two of my other siblings throughout my upbringing. Growing up I only knew my biological mother was Indigenous from Cote First Nation, Saskatchewan. It was in my late twenties when I discovered my biological father was of Russian descent and this side of my family settled near Veregin, Saskatchewan. Unsure how that new information would be something I could or even want to incorporate into my identity.

Realizing due to my upbringing, my identity was something I wasn’t particularly sure of. Losing my family to suicide, addictions, mental health, I had to face my grief, loss, and find out who I was despite the challenges I faced. As a Metis woman now in her thirties I offer counselling incorporating the practices of Art and Expressive Art Therapy as through my education and lived experience it helped me find my way back to the ways, home within myself.

My journey truly began when I started to build a relationship firstly with myself. Who was Amanda, what did she like, what were her favorite smells, tastes, feelings, visuals, and sounds. Before I started to tune into who I am, I found myself having to mask who I was and leave out parts that I wasn't proud of.

In order for me to come back home within myself it felt like I had to dismantle my identity. What was mine, what felt like programming and conditioning. What did I not question though in my entire being I knew the answer and what was happening didn’t feel right.

It has been important to ask myself what is real. Is this experience currently from my perception, what I’ve been told to believe, or does it come from my innate knowing and being of what is true. When asked how I know, the answer is simple. I’m a vessel of God. We were made in his image. This human experience I get to witness is my own, it is not going to look, feel or appear the same as anyone else’s.

When I lived in constant need of instant gratification, it was a way to silence myself because what would come up within felt uncomfortable, irritating and too much to sit with. Not because I didn’t have the time or resources, but because I had normalized not putting my needs as a priority. Though it was painful to continue in my destructive patterns, my dysregulated nervous system felt safer to continue the cycle because I knew the outcome and that felt safer then stepping into the unknown.

By taking time to reflect on myself, witnessing narratives my body held, I offered them space to breathe, to be seen. I was able to heal different parts of myself little by little. Always knowing that I was in the driver's seat, I could go as far or as little as I wanted. Fully understanding and believing that there will be a number of people who cross my path and each come with a opportunity to learn, but in turn that nobody could push me or do the work for me. I had to be open, curious and willing to go into the depths of each and every layer of Amanda.

Releasing the expectations I had for myself and expectations I would have for others. Taking full accountability of how I was showing up in each moment. Showing myself grace and honoring all parts of me, not just the ones that were easy to love and accept.

I often resorted to self sabotaging behaviors from the fear of being misunderstood. Not feeling worthy of how I seen the world to be shared. But by stepping into my power I shared my story outloud, voice shaky, stomach in knots. I allowed myself to be seen without needing advice, pity or answers. Finding symbolism, lessons, proof that by allowing myself to do the unthinkable the more confident and capable I started to see that I can be.

When I chose to meet Amanda, I had to be vulnerable with myself. Hold parts of myself that I had neglected because self soothing with quick fixes to the point of numbness was what I had normalized. It was easier to ignore the parts of myself that were too much, too little, too dark.

But eventually I had to release fear, and lean into vulnerability from a place that didn’t come from comparison, shame or guilt. Asking myself what was I so scared of? People not liking me, not fitting in, or being talked about. I started to see that how others portray me is none of my business, I can only control me and how I perceive and show up in the world.

When I started setting boundaries it felt uncomfortable, I had fears of missing out, fears of being lonely. But the more I had boundaries and discipline for myself, I found safety in being alone without needing outside validation. By releasing I slowly watched people, places, jobs, materialistic things slip away which was terrifying but in turn it created space for new, healthy and aligned possibilities to occur.

Through safety with myself, with the decisions I made by trusting God's true guidance and surrendering I started to have peace. It didn’t mean all bad things stopped or that my pain disappeared. It meant that I trust each step I make because it is taken with pure and true intentions. I can trust my passions, gifts and role without force, control, people pleasing, or manipulation. I can be free to say how I feel, ask for what I want, and choose to not engage in things, people, places that no longer serve me.

In turn I get to show up as my real authentic self and hold space for others to be seen, to hear themselves, to navigate the path they choose to live. No expectations, no performing, no quick fixes, but meeting themselves at the stage they are currently at.

In closing I share a bit about my journey with a visual of the space I have created to give hope that it is possible to heal and it doesn’t have to be done alone. By becoming connected to ourselves through respect, truth, humility, courage, love, honesty and wisdom. We get to reframe how we perceive the world. We can acknowledge our part and what we control by reclaiming our power. We then can be at peace knowing we get to decide and rejoice in our human experience on this journey of life. One breath at a time.

I work from a holistic and somatic experiencing framework, focusing on a strength based approach, by looking to balance our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

I look forward to meeting and getting to know each and every one of you in the Canora and surrounding area! I appreciate the support, guidance, feedback and encourage questions, requests on workshops or topics you would like to see more of.

Sincerely,
Amanda