Indigenous peoples have been suffering from the impacts of colonization, the intergenerational trauma of residential schools, displacement, disconnection from the land and land-based healing, and sexualized violence for generations. In this spirit, we strive to deliver programming that is culturally safe and relevant with focus on the specific needs of Indigenous survivors and grounded in traditional practices.
We provide free-of-charge individual counselling for Indigenous survivors of sexualized violence, self-identified families of the MMIWG2S+, survivors of residential school and/or intergenerational trauma, and childhood sexual abuse. Our programming also includes support circles, and a virtual workshop series called Remembering Our Ancestors. Salal acknowledges the importance of ceremony and medicines for healing, and works to provide both to survivors and community. We recognize the diverse experiences of Indigenous survivors, and do not require survivors to disclose their nation or status. Survivors are invited to share about their culture to support the counselling sessions if they choose.
Salal is located on the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples and are visitors on this land. We acknowledge that this territory was stolen through oppression and exploitation of both Indigenous bodies and the land of Turtle Island. We advocate for social and systemic change through education, outreach, activism, and strive to live into our feminist and decolonizing practices daily.
