Healing Circles for Trauma Recovery

Trauma, when left unaddressed, can manifest itself in chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and countless other challenges.

Many Indigenous people are facing addiction and trauma and are in need for ongoing support to start healing. The Sts’ailes, a Coast Salish First Nation, recognized this need and established weekly Healing Circles named “Your Spirit Remembers.”

The Healing Circles follow Indigenous practices and use a holistic approach, integrating Somatic therapy, land-based therapeutics, spiritual healing, coping skills, and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). The Circles also address underlying issues linked to Intergenerational trauma.

Funding from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will support the Sts’ailes in conducting weekly Healing Circles for a full year. This includes covering honorariums for the therapist and facilitator, providing participant lunches, and facilitating the therapist’s travel to the community. 

The initiative is as a crucial step toward healing and reconciliation within the First Nations community, offering support to participants and their families. By acknowledging the interconnectedness of trauma recovery, the Sts’ailes aim to contribute significantly to the healing journey of their community.

Archdiocese of Vancouver