Indigenous Support Program
Informed by traditional healing practices
Salal operates on the stolen and unceded Coast Salish Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
We acknowledge this territory was stolen through acts of oppression and exploitation of both Indigenous bodies, the land of Turtle Island, and the attempted eradication of language, culture, and ceremony.
We advocate for social and systemic change through education, outreach, activism, strive to live into our intersectional feminist framework, and decolonizing practices daily.
Indigenous peoples continue to endure the brutal impacts of colonization, including intergenerational trauma, impacts of the residential school system, forced displacement, removal from land-based sustainability, and sexualized violence.
Acknowledging these realities, we strive to offer programming that is culturally safe, relevant, and developed with the specific needs of Indigenous survivors at the center.
We recognize the importance of ceremony and traditional medicines for healing and work to provide these modalities to survivors and community.
In honour of the diverse experiences and identities of Indigenous peoples, we do not require survivors to disclose their nation or status. Survivors are, however, welcome to share about their culture in support settings if they choose.
Indigenous Support Programs at Salal
We offer free and confidential programs that support healing for Indigenous survivors of sexualized violence, ages 14 and up.
This includes:
Individual
Counselling
Support Circles &
Elder-Facilitated Workshops
Ceremony &
Cultural Connection
Individual Counselling
We provide free-of-charge individual counselling for women, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse Indigenous survivors who are seeking safety, cultural reconnection, and general support.
Despite our waitlist, we prioritize Indigenous survivors and provide access to services as soon as possible.
Our counselling sessions provide:
Emotional support in processing the compounded impacts of sexual violence and intergenerational trauma
Pathways to discover coping mechanisms to heal from and live through gender-based violence
Information about systems of oppression, abuse of power, and gender-based violence
Connection with an Elder or Knowledge keeper for access to traditional healing, knowledge, and medicines
We work with you to focus on healing, using cultural teachings as a tool of reconnection, and overall well-being, provided in a confidential and nurturing space.
To access the Indigenous Support Program call 604-255-6344 Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM.
Support Circles & Elder-Facilitated Workshops
We offer a variety of support circles that are rooted in Indigenous healing approaches as well as providing ways for survivors to come together and heal through connection.
Below are our current support circle offerings.
Remembering Our Ancestors
A workshop series grounded in culture and tradition for Indigenous survivors of sexualized violence.
Facilitated by an elder, these workshops allow a way for folks to re-establish a connection to the land, and utilize traditional movement for healing mind, body, and spirit.
In the process, survivors will also be able to reclaim their stories, and learn ways to bring Indigenous teachings into their daily lives in order to heal.
16 Steps for Discovery & Empowerment
Using the approach developed by Dr. Charlotte Kasl to cope with addiction in a holistic way, these support circles encourage individuals to examine their beliefs and behaviours from a place of self-love and acceptance.
Utilizing an approach that takes all aspects of personhood into account, our support circles empowers folks to take control of their healing journeys, while acknowledging the realities of the society we all live in.
Elder Support
We can connect you with an Elder or Knowledge Keeper who can offer guidance, share teachings, lead ceremonies, and provide healing medicines.
Elders hold the knowledge of generations, helping you reconnect with your cultural roots and find strength on your healing journey.
To access Indigenous support programs call 604-255-6344 Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM.
Ceremony & Cultural Connection
Salal supports Indigenous survivors to explore connection and reconnection to self, community, and culture.
We work to bridge survivors to traditional ceremonies and events, including:
Sweat Lodge
Drum Circle
Moon Lodge
Pow Wow
Pipe Ceremony
Sun Dance
These connections foster healing, cultural grounding, and a renewed sense of belonging.