Our Stories Connect Us
‘My Mother’s Resurrection’ by Robert Butters
'“And just as the Phoenix rose from the ashes, she too will rise, returning from the flames, clothed in nothing, but her freedom & strength, and more beautiful than ever before.”
How my journey began.
Aaniin! Hello & welcome to She Heals Noojimo Noojimo’iwe! This name has a very special meaning to me. In Ojibwe, it means ‘She heals, She heals others.’ This relates to my own personal healing story and the others that heal in our own healing.
My name is Renee Butters, and my Anishinaabe name is Awanishbaasin, which means ‘The Breath of the Spirits.’ My lineage is in the Ojibwe snake clan, the clan of healing & medicine. I am an Indigenous Healing Practitioner who has worked in health & wellness for over 30 years. I have a special interest, and share a deep connection with those who have experienced trauma, and I have additional training; specific to helping others move out of trauma, and into living their own best life, or mino-bimaadiziwin!
My journey began right from the womb, where my life’s challenges would first begin, and continue throughout my life, eventually leading me to my most difficult challenge/initiation, coming face to face with my own repressed/unhealed trauma. At a place of near death, and at the darkest place of my life, I chose healing. Through embracing myself and my wounds, I rose from the depths to find a new found life & path, one filled with self love, peace & healing.
Today, I walk along side others and assist them on their individual path to healing. I do this by creating a loving and heart centered, safe & sacred space. I add the support of energy healing & other holistic modalities, along with the insight & clarity of clairvoyance to help to bring awareness and healing to the ‘root cause’ of illness, and cultivate wellness & harmony in the full body, the body/mind/spirit.
This sacred work was the catalyst in my own healing journey. Wherever you are on yours, I would love to help you restore what is innately yours, your health, healing & happiness!
“How do I put into words the experience I had as a result of working with Renee? I'll do my best! In short, it was life changing. From the moment I first met her and we discussed my needs, to the warm welcome I received the day of our meeting, I felt nothing but love, kindness and compassion from her. Her gift has been instrumental in helping me to identify how I begin my journey to healing, how I prepare for what is to come and how to seek support and understanding along the way. She is a blessing and a gift. If you're ready to begin your own personal journey to healing or restoration, please, please make a stop along your way to see Renee. You won't regret it.”
— Alicia N, current client
Certifications
Certified Healing Touch Practitioner
Certified Hands on Healer
Usui Reiki Master Teacher
Myofascial Release
Certified Aromatherapist
Certified Sexual Assault Advocate
Strategies for Trauma & Resilience
HeartMath Resilient Heart
Mending Broken Hearts
Indigenous Doula
Indigenous Circle Keeper
Presentations & Workshops
2024 The University of Minnesota Duluth
2024 The NDN Collective
2024 Women of Nations
2024 Ogitchidakwe Council Sexual Assault Advocacy Training Program
2024 Ojibwe Grandmother Teachings
2024 Keynote Speaker for The University of Minnesota Project for Advancing Healthcare Stewardship
2023 Ojibwe Grandmother Teachings
2023 All That We Are
2023 Women of Nations
2023 The Ogitchidakwe Council Sexual Assault Advocacy Training Program
2022 Foundations of Traditional Healing, Well Rooted
2022 Marnita’s Table, Healing From Trauma
2022 The Return to First Medicines & Food Sovereignty Gathering
2022 Hennepin County, American Indian Month
2021 The American Indian Cancer Foundation
2021 The Return to First Medicines & Maternal Health Gathering
2021 Hennepin County, Community Healing for Trauma
2021 YMCA of the North, Community & Staff Healing Circle
2021 YMCA of the North, Youth Healing Circle
2021 The University of Minnesota, Extension Team Conference
2021 The Ogitchidakwe Council Sexual Assault Advocacy Training Program
2021 Ramsey County, Community Healing to Support Health & Wellbeing
2020 The Return to First Medicines & Maternal Health Retreat
2020 Tawacin Tanka, Beyond Historical Trauma Training Program
2020 The MN Network of Hospice and Palliative Care Conference
2020 The American Indian Family Center, Monthly Healing Ceremony
2019 The St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Cultural Healing Summit
2019 The Ogitchidakwe Council Sexual Assault Advocacy Training Program
2019 The St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Suicide Prevention Program
2018 The Ogitchidakwe Council Sexual Assault Advocacy Training Program
Education
2023-2025 Horsemanship, True Blue Equine
2025 Mending Broken Hearts Facilitator Training
2024 Land-based Learning & Reconciliation
2024 Substance Abuse Advocacy & Prevention, IPTF
2024 HeartMath, Resilient Heart Trauma Sensitive Certification
2023 Academy for Coaching with Horses
2023 Equine Essentials, True Blue Equine
2022-2023 Traditional Healing, Maestra Rita Navarrete
2021 Indigenous Tools For Complex Trauma, MIWSAC
2021 Full Spectrum Indigenous Doula, Zaagi’idiwin
2021 Sacred Disciples of Healing, Rosalyn Bruyere
2019-2020 Beyond Historical Trauma, Tawacin Tanka
2019-2020 Aromatherapy, ISHA
2018 Judeo Christian Anointing, HTSM
2018 Myofascial Release I/II & Unwinding, John Barnes
2018 Animal Reiki Healing
2018 Sexual Assault Advocacy, MIWSAC
2018 Sexual Assault Advocacy, Ogitchidakwe Council
2017-2019 Usui Reiki, Levels 1-4
2017 Strategies for Trauma & Resilience, MNPBLI
2015 & 2016 Psychic Development, Echo Bodine
2013-2016 Healing Touch, Levels 1-5 HBB
2013-2015 Hands on Healing, Reverend Ron Moor
2013 & 2014 Psychic Development, Dr. Julia Assante
1987 Massage Therapy, Sister Rosalind Gefre
Councils
Founder, Giiwedinanang/Ojibwe Grandmother Teachings
Inter-Generational Council of Elders, Indigenous People’s Task Force
Advisory Council & Original Collaborator, All That We Are
Community Outreach
Giiwedinanang/Ojibwe Grandmother Teachings
All That We Are
St Paul Ramsey County Mental Health and Wellness Action Team
St Paul Ramsey County Community Healing Circles
Hennepin County Community Healing Circles
White Bear Lake Schools Support Hub—Holistic Healing Resource/Provider
UMN/MN Indian Affairs TRUTH Project Provider
The MN People’s Fund Provider

'“Our hardships are our wisdom. It’s where we earn our medicine.”
— Awanishbaasin