Coming Home to the Land

While Indigenous organizations are active in urban centres, there is a need for programing that takes Indigenous Peoples out of the city to provide land-based healing experiences.

Traditional practices connect Indigenous Peoples with their culture, while addressing the root causes of trauma, homelessness and substance addiction.

The Turtle Spirit Land Based Healing Society, founded by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center, has one primary focus: to improve the health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples. In June 2023, Turtle Spirit successfully partnered with a private landowner and secured rights to eight acres of rural property in the Chilliwack area to build a cultural healing retreat. By offering programs, services and counselling using traditional Indigenous healing practices and a retreat from city life, Turtle Spirit is improving the lives of Indigenous Peoples predominantly living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. 

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) recognizes the importance of Turtle Spirit and is honoured to provide funding to support its expansion. 2025 funding will help renovate a head office and facilitation space on the property to ensure activities can be hosted year-round. The IRF’s support will also cover personnel costs for the Healing Coordinator, program facilitators, Elders and firekeepers. 

The selfless, unpaid volunteers and members of the Friendship Centre’s partner organizations have helped Turtle Spirit do much for the community. For the last two years, the society has hosted ceremonies and experiences such as sweat lodge and pipe ceremonies, a National Indigenous Peoples Day event, and cultural field trips for students and teachers from Maple Ridge Public School. It has also Indigenized the land by erecting a 16 foot teepee, building a Thunderbird Sweat Lodge, completing a sacred fire pit and more. 

Archdiocese of Vancouver