Sarah West, MPA, BA(Hons), DKATI
The Short & Sweet
Sarah is a creative, land-based professional development consultant, blending 15 plus years of experience working in senior level positions for provincial, local and Indigenous governments and her work as an environmental arts therapist.
Sarah has a Masters in public administration and an honours degree in cultural anthropology and peace studies. She is a trained mental health professional as a climate aware, environmental arts therapist, and is a professional member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association and the Climate Psychology Alliance.
She has spent two decades honing exactly why engaging with the natural world and creativity works at work, and crafts tailored programs and retreats for professionals and organizations.
Experience & Work in the World
With over 15 years of senior-level experience leading consultations on environmental issues, governance administration, strategic planning and policy initiatives with provincial and local governments and Indigenous communities, Sarah’s primary focus is to enhance organizational decision making, workplace health and two-worlds thinking by deepening professionals' connection to the natural world and the people around them.
Sarah was brought “under wing” in her early twenties by Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Elders and teachers. After being encouraged to explore the indigeneity found within her own ancestral traditions, she has been devoted to understanding how indigeneity was, and still is, a lived expression of the peoples of Scotland, Ireland and England. This has laid the foundation of Sarah’s work for how we can intentionally weave creative, land based practices within our lives and workplaces to support us in today’s times to steward our communities and the earth.
Sarah is an active artist and author of forthcoming book With Intention, With the Land: A Creative Path to Regenerative Partnership With the Natural World (2025).
An avid outdoors-woman, Sarah has cultivated a lifestyle that folds together ancestral skills such as hide tanning and herbalism, place-based mythology, and the eco arts. She’s often out gardening, kayaking, fishing, camping, and hiking. Sarah also volunteers to support Indigenous Elders with cross-cultural and land-healing work.
You can find Sarah reading the likes of:
Tyson Yunkaporta, Art Manuel, Sharon Venne, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Suzanne Simard, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sharon Blackie, Mary Reynolds, Manchan Magan, Martin Shaw, Nan Shepherd, Ian Siddons Heginworth, Alexander Kopytin, Leslie Davenport, Francis Weller, Brit Wray, Rob MacFarlane, and Joanna Macy.
What people are saying about Sarah
“Sarah is a wise, generous facilitator who emulates beautifully the principles and practices of reciprocity... helped deepen my own relationship with the land but also given me the tools & confidence to share this approach with my clients. I highly recommend Sarah.” - Sophie, course participant
“Sarah is gifted with an intuitive, spiritual connection to the earth and she has honed her ability through years of professional training and cultural exploration. When working with Sarah, one can feel that she has gone into the depths of herself, and because of this, she holds the capacity to companion others on a dedicated path of self-inquiry.” - Susan, client
“Sarah has this natural, down to earth facilitation style, which makes everyone feel so comfortable in her workshops.” - Chloe, course participant
“Your presence has been so gentle, guiding and it’s nice to have that. I really see the care and passion you have for this work.” - Kaitlin, course participant