Sts'ailes Elders Pat Charlie and Cyril Paul, along with Dory Pentz, community wellness worker, recently shared with us about the good work they and others are doing with their Nation and neighbouring Nations. This work includes leading Healing Indigenous Hearts (HIH) groups, safe spaces for community members who are navigating the loss of loved ones to toxic drug poisoning, to share their grief and support each other. Both Elders and Dory took the training to lead these groups in 2024.
Elder Pat highlighted the value of the training, saying it helps build strength and a better future for the next generation.
“The first 23 women who took the training are already teaching people and loving it," she said. “I love doing it – I think of my mother and aunties who were strong women, my ancestors. And I love the way the training sessions were facilitated, that's the way to go – it made each person feel stronger, respected, and empowered. It helped us talk and listen to each other. It's not people coming in and telling us what to do – it's helping us do it ourselves. At meetings, we can feel the healing.“
Elder Pat also emphasized the importance of land-based healing for grief and loss, including practices like cedar brushing, going back to the land, and water immersion, especially for those carrying deep grief or intergenerational pain.
“When we go into the water, we wash off what we don't need," she said. “Sometimes people who are struggling a lot carry the hurt and pain of their parents. Being immersed in water can release emotional burdens and bring healing. Sometimes we have so much stuff inside and are numb – our people were so strong to withstand all the trauma imposed on us. We have to use our traditional medicines – the land, water, song, dance – to help our people heal."
Both Elders Pat and Cyril say they are happy they can be there for the younger generation in particular, and teach them about traditional ways of healing, as well as the importance of the seven teachings for a good life [love, respect, honesty, courage, wisdom, humility, and truth].
“These teachings are what's real," said Elder Pat. “Being honest with oneself and others, seeking knowledge and understanding, and living authentically. There's only a few of us left in our generation, and we are getting stronger, and can talk about the things we see that are wrong and help younger people talk and have a voice – like we didn't. We want better for our children."
Elder Cyril shared that his efforts are also motivated by a desire to protect youth from experiencing the same pain.
“We do it for our youth so they don't have to go through what we did," he said, adding that he didn't have culture in his life growing up because he joined the army when he was young. “Culture and land-based activities are an important piece of healing."
Dory spoke about love, trust, connection, grief, and loss as a process. He noted that healing is a journey guided by the Creator, and that safety and ancestral teachings are key to navigating it.
“As we go on our journey, we are going to get rid of superficial things we have used to cope, like substances," he said. “We are reclaiming and also becoming, while working on trauma, and listening and learning from each other. Grief needs to be let out and witnessed, not stuffed down with superficial things.
“We still hear [community members] talk about the Healing Indigenous Hearts groups. They provide hope for people who are grieving. People contacted us because of this good work."
We can come to your community! If you are interested in taking the training and learning how to lead a Healing Indigenous Hearts peer support group in your community, please contact the FNHA's Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) at CMO.HIH@fnha.ca.
A tour of the beautiful new residential
treatment centres under construction.
