Indigenous peoples of Canada have known the value of nature for thousands of years. The forests provide food, fuel, building materials, shelter, protection, medicine, cultural value, spiritual connection, and so much more. When European settlers began arriving in Canada in the late 15th century, they forcefully imposed their way of life on Indigenous peoples; this wrongdoing continued into the 20th century. Children were taken from their families and communities and placed in residential schools where abuse was common; the last residential school was closed in 1996. From 2008 to 2015, Canada formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada and documented the history and lasting horrific impacts that residential schools had on Indigenous peoples; the TRC report was released in June 2015.
It was apparent that many Indigenous Peoples in Canada needed healing, and returning to nature was an important step to bring healing to the thousands of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis residential school survivors and their families who continue to experience trauma caused by the Residential School legacy. The National Healing Forests Initiative was developed by Peter Croal (settler culture) and Patricia Stirbys (Saltaux Cree) in 2015.
There are now seven Healing Forests in Canada, where survivors and families of residential schools, as well as all visitors can go to reflect, meditate, teach, pray, and heal in nature, and participate in healing ceremonies. Reconnecting with nature can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve mood, re-build confidence and gain strength in people and their communities. Healing Forests also represent a living memorial to all of the lost children, and murdered and missing Indigenous women. The most recent Healing Forest has been established by the Abegweit First Nation on the Scotchfort Reserve in Prince Edward Island.
For more information, or if you are interested in creating a Healing Forest in your community, please contact Peter and Patricia at https://www.nationalhealingforests.com/
Dianne Whelan, a woman from British Columbia, with Mi’Kmaq heritage, is currently walking, canoeing, snowshoeing, and biking her way across Canada on The Great Trail, a 24,000 km journey. Dianne has a deep respect for forests and feels their healing powers when she is among the trees. She understands that the earth has a natural frequency that people can connect to in a forest or natural environment. Dianne was taught to say with every step, “the earth is sacred, the earth is sacred.” It is believed that the fragrant chemical compounds secreted by cedar, pine, and spruce trees are a “healing medicine” that permeates, cleans and purifies the air and acts like natural aromatherapy. When in nature, Dianne finds that her spirit and mind are stronger, and she feels closer to her ancestors and their vast wisdom. For more information on Dianne’s journey, please visit https://www.diannewhelan.com/
