Our group is gathered along the gravel path overlooking the Sts'elxwíqw' stó:lō (Chilliwack River). The rush of the water fills our ears and reflects the early spring sunlight onto our faces. One of our tour guides stops at the bank of the river.

Jonny Williams raises his voice over the sound to explain how the water serves as a filter, carrying the emotions of the people as it travels through the lands. “It's always moving, so it takes your pain," he says. His co-guide, Beth Julian, chimes in, “we use the water and ask it for strength."

Jonny, a community coordinator for child and youth care, and Beth, a traditional wellness coordinator, are sharing this knowledge with attendees of the Chilliwack Youth and Child Committee Annual Conference. Service providers for children, youth and their families are here to learn about themes of resilience, support and well-being through this land-based tour.

Attendees are guided along the Rotary Trail behind Stitó:s Lá:lém Totí:lt Elementary / Middle School by Beth, Jonny, and other members of the Fraser Salish Maternal Child and Family Wellness Team. At each stop, team members share concepts of “Indigenous Pathways to Resiliency".

Maggie DeFazio, Aboriginal Head Start On-Reserve Advisor, shares how a connection to the land can promote overall well-being. Stopping where the trail enters a row of homes, she uses this location as a visual representation of how Indigenous children walk with one foot in each world, balancing modern and traditional ways of living. She encourages the service providers to ask themselves what the Earth has to offer, and how they can “allow families and children to feel that bit of peace and connection". She says the universal experience of being a child outside in nature can change relationships between service providers and those they work with.

Jonny stops everyone in a clearing where several cedar trees stand. Significant to mental health and well-being, “the arms of the cedar are always reaching out to hold our hand," he shares. Indigenous children are taught the healing power of cedar and are encouraged to hug a cedar tree or “hold his hand" when needed. Attendees add experience to their learning by taking a moment to touch their hands to the bark and reflect on their newfound knowledge.

For Beth and Jonny, these revived teachings are shared with the understanding that a connection to the land supports the spiritual part of the Medicine Wheel.  Alongside emotional, mental and physical wellness, spiritual wellness completes the wheel to “anchor the person" and makes them feel whole. They shared the knowledge openly to help service providers understand the balance of two worlds, and how they can incorporate traditional ways of being into their work.