It’s time to end the endemic of violence against Indigenous women and girls that has swept Canada for generations. Indigenous women and girls have faced abuse, domestic violence, addiction issues and much more. The victims of this cycle have often gone voiceless and unheard, and it’s time they had a platform.

Indigenous Peoples have always known that the land can heal us. In a time where addiction and unhealthy living are on the rise, remote communities who lack access to urban resources are turning to this ancestral knowledge to heal wounds and promote cultural pride.

Newcomers to Canada arrive at its coasts seeking opportunities, safety and fresh hope for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, their view of Canada is often formed through media and romanticized assumptions, which typically leave out the country’s history of Indigenous Peoples and ongoing reconciliation efforts. Today, there are still no systematic approaches to educating new Canadians about reconciliation or how to encourage their active participation in these significant dialogues.

In the decade since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Report in 2015, many Canadians have taken steps to understand and support tangible actions working towards reconciliation. However, racism and contempt towards Indigenous Peoples still exists, with some choosing to blame them as architects of their own misfortune. This is simply not good enough. Indigenous Peoples deserve to be heard and supported on their healing journeys.

In Indigenous communities, the relationship between Elders and children is a cornerstone of cultural preservation and growth. Elders, as keepers of wisdom, share teachings that nurture young minds, instill confidence, and foster a deep sense of cultural identity. These connections are not just educational - they bring joy, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose to Elders, strengthening the fabric of the entire community.

The Kwakiutl Peoples are experiencing a mental health crisis and lack of short-term crisis response care in their community on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. In response, they have come together and are blending traditional Kwakiutl ways with modern approaches to create programs and services that protect and uplift their community at the Kwakiutl Health Centre.

Like other Indigenous Peoples, the Métis have endured colonial policies aimed at severing cultural ties and displacing them from the land. This disconnection has contributed to intergenerational trauma and a decline in well-being for over 8,000 Métis individuals and their families. For many, access to their traditional culture or a sense of belonging has been limited to services run through urban organizations or community groups.

The legacy of the residential school system has left deep scars on Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Survivors were forever changed by the treatment they endured, and families and communities who lost children to the system were never the same. Although the last residential school closed in 1997, many who were forced to attend are still with us today.

To address historical wrongs, rebuild trust, and foster lasting relationships, Catholic ministries across Canada are working toward reconciliation by bringing together Indigenous culture and the Catholic faith. This commitment has led to the creation of Indigenous ministries within dioceses nationwide, where cultural programs support healing and deepen connections between communities.

Shockwaves rippled across Canada and the international community in 2021 with the discovery of suspected unmarked graves in British Columbia. For the people of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and Indigenous people across Canada, it confirmed what they already knew: that hundreds of loved ones who had never returned home from residential school remained forever children.