The Power of Connection: Building Strong Communities for Healing

For many Indigenous and marginalized communities, healing is a deeply interconnected process. It extends beyond the individual, rooted in family relationships, cultural traditions, and the strength of the broader community. Pamela Spurvey, an Indigenous Wellness Coordinator and facilitator with United Way’s Empower U program, highlights the transformative impact of these connections. From the medicine wheel to land-based practices and traditional ceremonies, these cultural anchors play a critical role in personal and collective healing. 

Healing is deeply connected to the relationships we hold — with family, the land, and culture. These connections are not just sources of support; they are essential to well-being. In Indigenous teachings, the medicine wheel represents this balance, illustrating how spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental wellness are all interconnected. By embracing this holistic approach, individuals and families can find strength, healing, and resilience together.  

Through collective strength and shared traditions, we can create spaces where no one is left behind. 

The Strength of Community in Healing 

Healing is most effective when it happens together.  

“Whenever you begin something… you bring an Elder in, and she’ll hold a pipe ceremony to bless your project,” Pamela shares. These traditions do more than mark an occasion; they create a foundation of collective strength, reinforcing that healing is not a solitary experience. 

Access to cultural practices, especially for Elders and knowledge keepers, is essential in fostering supportive environments.  

Pamela emphasizes the importance of healing as a shared journey: “If someone returns home to an environment where their family isn’t healing with them, it can feel isolating.”  

By strengthening these connections, we ensure that healing extends beyond the individual, empowering entire families and communities. Real change happens when people come together — when traditions are honoured, barriers are broken, and everyone has the resources they need to heal and thrive. 

Programs That Strengthen Connections 

Across the region, United Way and its agency partners offer programs that honour these traditions while fostering modern solutions. These initiatives ensure that everyone, regardless of background, has access to culturally-relevant resources. Some examples include:  

• Aboriginal Counselling Services blends cultural teachings with individual and family counselling, providing support for those impacted by trauma or domestic violence. 

• NiGiNan Housing Ventures incorporates ceremony and cultural connection into supportive housing environments, helping residents rediscover their identity and build resilience. 

• Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society strengthens families through initiatives like the Kikosewin Family Resource Network, offering parent mentorship, childhood development programs, and more. 

Together, these programs reinforce a shared vision: fostering stronger connections that honour both individual growth and collective well-being. 

Storytelling as a Bridge to Healing 

For many, storytelling is an enduring link between generations and a pathway to healing.  

Pamela reflects, “We don’t write things down. You have to keep coming to this over and over until you know the story.”  

Oral traditions preserve cultural knowledge while reframing challenges as sources of strength and resilience.  

“It’s such a beautiful way to look at your story, instead of looking at your past with so much hurt,” Pamela says. By reclaiming their narratives, individuals can shift perspectives, turn pain into wisdom and adversity into resilience. 

Honouring the Work of Connection 

Every act of healing, whether through a program, a story, or a family’s journey, is a testament to the power of connection. Together, we build communities where no one is left behind, where tradition and modern resources work hand in hand, and where every voice matters. 

Join us in supporting initiatives that strengthen cultural connections and foster healing for individuals and families. Whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, your actions make a difference in creating communities where everyone can thrive.