MEL & SHIRLEY CHARTRAND
Co-Founders/Co-Directors/Lead Behavioural Health Specialists

Mel & Shirley Chartrand are an Aboriginal couple who, as a team, have been providing crisis intervention, therapeutic trauma treatment, and psychological rehabilitation for more than two decades.

They are co-founders and co-owners of Being You Inc., a company through which they develop and facilitate specialized treatment programs rooted in Aboriginal Tradition and culture. They are also co-founders of Eyaa-Keen Centre Inc., a not-for-profit charitable organization where they deliver and facilitate their innovative programs.

Since 1989, Mel & Shirley have provided more than 9000 individual and group sessions throughout North America, including many First Nation communities. Recognized and respected for their ground-breaking work using Aboriginal Traditional based treatment, in 1991 they became service providers for First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, providing crisis intervention sessions. They are also called upon to provide consulting services for treatment, therapeutic, and rehabilitation programs.

Drawing upon formal training, personal experiences, cultural practices, and unwavering passion to make life better for Aboriginal people, Mel & Shirley have founded, researched, created and delivered sessions on change, healing and development. They have extensive combined knowledge, experience, and observation in program research, development and delivery.

Their specialized individual and group sessions are Aboriginal Traditional based and geared towards working with the effects of traumas from sexual abuse, family violence, and the Residential School Legacy. In addition to providing psychological rehabilitation services, Mel & Shirley have developed training programs for caregivers and staff in areas of self-care, self-management, team-building, and life balance, as well as intervention treatment services.

Under Mel & Shirley's guidance, Eyaa-Keen Centre Inc. was registered as a charity in 1999. It was established as a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization run by a volunteer Aboriginal Board of Directors, with Mel & Shirley currently contracted to design and deliver specialized programs and administrative services for Eyaa-Keen Centre. In 2005, Eyaa-Keen received International Accreditation in Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults) through CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). This is the highest level of accreditation than an organization can receive.

Mel & Shirley receive their personal strength and self-disciplines by practicing and living Ojibway (Anishinabek) Midewiwin principles and values which they apply as a base to do their work. They remain on their own healing paths, and continue to work with and learn from Elders, so they can live and teach in Traditional ways. They celebrate five children and six grandchildren.