HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Together: Our Journey
Many Indigenous Peoples have been systematically disconnected from community, traditions and their sense of identity, which has led to a disproportionate number incarcerated, struggling with addiction, mental health and poverty.
Cultural-centered programming hubs that prioritize healing through traditional methods can help reconnect individuals with their Indigeneity.
As more Indigenous Peoples search for safe, welcoming spaces, these hubs are becoming critical for safety and cultural rejuvenation within communities.
Crow Shield Lodge (CSL) in Waterloo is a safe gathering place founded to help Indigenous Peoples heal from the intergenerational effects of systemic racism and colonization. It’s a place where those seeking reconnection to land, community and self can participate in land-based learning that aligns with their cultural practices. One of the most impactful projects has been the Healing Path, which hosts monthly sharing circles with Elders, firekeepers and community leaders. Started in 2023, it has been a major success and has seen unprecedented attendance by individuals looking for help through traditional methods.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) has supported CSL since 2023 and looks forward to continuing funding in 2025. The new funding will go towards the Healing Path project to help hold ceremonies, sharing circles, traditional healing practices, and cultural workshops and experiences for all ages. With an increasing need for spaces such as these, the ongoing accessibility and growth of CSL’s offerings will benefit generations now and into the future.
CSL was established in 2020 on the principle that everyone is broken in one way or another; and that to be broken is to be ordinary. Indigenous Peoples, settlers and immigrants make up Canada’s post-colonial community fabric, and reconciliation is necessary for healing to happen for all. Everyone is welcome to join CSL’s programs and walk the path on their healing journeys towards reconciliation.
Diocese of Hamilton
