HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Kwakiutl Health Centre Supports Healing Through Culture and Connection
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.
The Centre is dedicated to supporting the well-being of all Kwakiutl Peoples with holistic, authentic and consistent care. As community members, the Centre’s team understands the importance of meeting people where they are and offering support in ways that align with Kwakiutl values. This includes hosting weekly intergenerational sharing sessions, which strengthen connections to self, family, community, culture, language, and land. The centre also provides access to Knowledge Keepers, traditional healers, medicine practices, and Kwakiutl Elders to guide participants on a journey rooted in Kwakiutl beliefs and teachings.
To ensure the Kwakiutl Health Centre can continue this work, the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is contributing to program and administrative costs. This support provides the flexibility needed to host a variety of in-person sessions and maintain the Centre as a space for cultural celebration and traditional healing.
Opportunities to learn and deepen understanding of Kwakiutl cultural practices are essential to support the community in following its own path, rather than one imposed upon them. By creating a foundation rooted in cultural teachings, the Kwakiutl Health Centre is addressing community needs, supporting mental health, and providing a place where individuals can feel a true sense of belonging.
Archdiocese of Vancouver
