Healing on the Water for Indigenous People in Vancouver’s DTES

Many Indigenous people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) face significant challenges related to substance use.

The cycle of addiction – often rooted in historical trauma and marginalization – can make it hard to see a future beyond their immediate surroundings. While the DTES provides a sense of community, it can also be a difficult place to escape the grip of addiction.

All Nations Outreach launched Healing on the Water in 2022 to help break the cycle and offer Indigenous residents of the DTES a chance to step away from their daily struggles and engage in a positive, healing experience. The program takes participants out of the DTES and into the natural beauty of the nearby water and shorelines. It provides a safe, non-judgmental space where participants can speak openly about their trauma and challenges in a peer-supported environment.

Healing on the Water is guided by Elder James Harry and Indigenous Wellness Worker David Arnault from Community Builders. Each outing is accompanied by an Elder in Residence, who provides cultural support, ensuring that Indigenous traditions are at the heart of the healing process.

A grant from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will enable All Nations Outreach to offer Healing on the Water twice a month over the next year. Additionally, funding will support Community Builders’ Indigenous Cultural Wellness Program, which offers culturally relevant services and workshops for Indigenous residents in shelters and supportive housing.

For many participants, simply leaving the DTES and stepping into a different environment offers a new perspective. The physical distance allows space for reflection and healing, opening doors to a renewed sense of possibility.

Archdiocese of Vancouver