• 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.

  • Safeguarding and Revitalizing the Heiltsuk Language

    For 14,000 years, the Heiltsuk language (Haíɫzaqvḷa) has been a cornerstone of Indigenous identity, culture, and way of life in Heiltsuk territory on the Central Coast of British Columbia. Despite its deep roots, like many Indigenous languages, it has seen a sharp decline in fluent speakers.

  • Healing and Cultural Connection at Mashkwa Healing Garden

    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.

  • Ucwalmícwts Program Preserves St’át’imc Nation’s Cultural Legacy

    Language is at the heart of culture, carrying the spirit, traditions, and identity of a people. For Indigenous communities working to reclaim their heritage, revitalizing language is more than just education – it is what ties individuals to their ancestors, their land, and traditional ways of knowing. However, access to language programs remains a significant challenge for many communities.

  • Honouring a Sacred Promise

    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.

  • Talitha Koum Society Creates Space for Learning and Reconciliation

    The Talitha Koum Society (TK) in Coquitlam, BC has been dedicated to empowering women struggling with addiction, helping them build healthy and fulfilling lives. Through its supportive housing, 12-step programming and life-skills training, TK provides women with the tools they need to recover and thrive.

  • Uncovering the Forgotten History of Métis Contributions in the Pacific Northwest

    The term "Métis" refers to individuals of mixed Indigenous and European heritage, reflecting the blending of two distinct cultures. The Métis Peoples are an integral part of history in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), having played important roles in the region’s economic, social, cultural, and political life. Yet, much of their history has been overlooked or forgotten, their contributions erased from the mainstream narrative. Métis communities have faced systemic discrimination and marginalization.

  • Uut Uustukyuu: Bridging the Gap for Indigenous Wellness

    The Uut Uustukyuu Indigenous Healing Society, which operates out the Ahousaht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, has been addressing the unique healing needs of Indigenous people through a trauma-informed and culturally grounded approach.

  • EmpowerRoots – Resources for educators to help Indigenous youth thrive

    Indigenous communities face significant mental health challenges, many of which are deeply tied to the lasting effects of colonialism. Intergenerational trauma, poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity have created an environment where mental health struggles are prevalent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 5 Indigenous adults reported mental health issues - double the rate of non-Indigenous adults.

  • 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.