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Land-Based Healing
The land is more than being outside. For Indigenous peoples the land is central to many roles within Indigenous ways of knowing and being. It is interconnected with the land, school, food, community, history, healing, culture, language, ceremony and more. The traditional lands of the people tell the stories shared throughout generations and plays a significant role in understanding the relationship between land and Indigenous peoples. Land based healing is a way to reconnect Indigenous peoples to Identity, community and culture. It is intricate throughout many stories and histories.
Throughout colonization, Indigenous peoples have been systemically displaced from their traditionals territories and lands. This harm has been explicitly implemented through systemic racism in policy and law through residential schools, sixties scoop, loss of language, restriction of culture, ceremony and land based healing practices.The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report 2015 shares the truth experienced by residential school survivors calls to action to address the systemic harm caused by the Government of Canada and church institutions (read here).
Title: Love of Our Elders
Artist: Annette Sullivan (maaskowishiiw fleur)
What is Land-Based Healing About?
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Reconnecting with the land
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Community, connection & relationships
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Healing and health
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Language & Culture
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Spiritual and metaphysical connection
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Ceremony and Elders, Knowledge keepers
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Ancestral knowledge and traditional territory teachings
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Reclaiming identity
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Interconnectedness with land
Land-Based Healing Encompasses Many Elements, including:
Resources for Land-Based Healing
Reclaiming Indigenous Culture, Community and Connection
Children's Literature for Land-Based Healing Books:
All my relations - Storm Angeconeb (here)
Can you hear the plants speak? - Nicholas Hummingbird and Julia Wilson (here)
Dancing on the wild rice - Elizabeth Albert-Peacock (here)
I am a Rock - Ashley Qilavaq-Savard (here)
Mwakwa Talks to the Loon - Dale Auger (here)
Summer’s Magic - Eduardo Maticorena (here)
It’s Powwow Time! - Hawaii Pichette (here)
The Hawk Shadow - Karlene Harvey (here)
Be a good Ancestor - Leona Prince, Gabrielle Prince (here)
Berry Song - Michaela Goade (here)
London, Ontario Children’s Hospital - Healing Garden Groups
Healing Garden Groups
Garden Group Thursday 3pm - D4 Inpatient Youth
Garden Group Monday 2pm - Open to patient, families and staff
To book, please contact: yiwp@lhsc.on.ca
The indigenous healing garden is a space to connect and an individual's ecological self. The Indigenous healing garden is an initiative that is a collaboration with the Youth Indigenous Wellness Program and the Land-Based Healing | Nature for Healing Program, with assistance from our youth patients. The garden allows for an opportunity to work with the Earth, a sense of accomplishment in growing flowers, herbs or vegetables, as well as support overall mental health and cultural wellness. The garden continuously changes each season as new crops are grown and harvested.