We are proud to share that Dr. Denise Findlay has been invited as a featured speaker for the upcoming 20th anniversary celebration of the Neufeld Institute, with her presentation taking place on September 20, 2026.
This milestone event, Celebrating Our Reach, honours two decades of global impact rooted in attachment-based developmental science that has grown into an international movement—reaching families, educators, and helping professionals globally.
Founded on the work of developmental psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld, the Institute’s approach emphasizes that children are not problems to be solved, but individuals who need strong, secure relationships to thrive. This model encourages caregivers to become the answer to a child’s need for connection, belonging, and emotional safety.
Dr. Findlay’s participation in this global celebration highlights the importance of diverse voices and lived experience in shaping how we understand children and relationships today. Representing the Canadian West Coast and Indigenous communities, Denise brings a perspective that aligns deeply with the core principles of attachment—principles that have long been understood and practiced within Indigenous cultures.
Her presentation, “Becoming the Answer our Children Need: Returning to our Roots – What Indigenous Communities Have Always Known,” will offer meaningful insight into the ways traditional knowledge and community-centred approaches continue to support healthy child development. Her voice contributes to a more inclusive understanding of attachment, reminding us that these ideas are not new, but rather deeply rooted in longstanding cultural wisdom.
Dr. Denise Findlay, a member of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, will host a ceremonial gathering to honour parents and caregivers, followed by a 90-minute keynote exploring the sacred role of adults in the lives of children. Grounded in Indigenous wisdom, this presentation reflects on the diverse and culturally rooted ways that community and kinship have long held and supported the relational needs of children.
Joined by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Elders, Dr. Findlay will speak to what Indigenous knowledge systems have always known—that relationship, deep connection, and love are foundational to healthy development and collective wellbeing. This offering is both a celebration and a call: to remember, to return, and to re-root ourselves in Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being in how we raise and care for our children.
The Neufeld Institute’s anniversary programming will feature faculty members from around the world, each presenting in their own language and cultural context. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to nurturing strong relationships and supporting the developmental needs of children across diverse communities.
For more information about this event, please email info@denisefindlay.ca.