Calling My Spirit Back

Indigenous Peoples have always carried the knowledge necessary to heal. When our people heal, our families heal, our communities heal and our land will heal. You cannot have one without the other.

These stories are teachings, prophecy and protocols shared throughout the years by elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers. They have been the foundation to individual healing and learning self-love. They teach us how to make good decisions for ourselves and for all other aspects in our lives.

When our people were young, they were sent on the land to gather as much experience and knowledge as they could, and when they returned, they would contribute what they learned.

I am Syilx and Secwepemc and although many of my teachings come from this place, they also intertwine with indigenous knowledge shared through ceremony from many other nations.

People from all backgrounds have embraced concepts from other parts of the world that promote self-love, healing and well-being through practices of discipline and meditation.

Very little has been shared about indigenous systems and how it promotes self-love and approach to healing.

About the Author
Alec, Elaine: - Elaine is from the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation and Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation and is a member of the Penticton Indian Band. Elaine was raised by her grandmother who spoke only the nsyilxcen language. It is this foundation that shaped her world view and the importance of connection and relationships. In 2008 she led a four-year process in her community to create their Comprehensive Community Plan for the Penticton Indian Band. The PIB CCP gained national recognition and as a result has been invited to speak about their process in other communities across Canada. Elaine has worked for Provincial and Federal governments as both employee and contractor for the past 20 years and has extensive experience in designing inclusive processes that can mediate and bring together opposing perspectives and varying experiences. She has worked as a political advisor to British Columbia leadership, Chief of Staff to the BC Assembly of Chiefs Regional Chief and served a three-year term as the Union of BC Indian Chief's Women's Representative. She is an advocate for women and girls, facilitator of healing circles and mediator for highly sensitive issues that occur as a result of multigenerational trauma. Elaine has spent over 20 years in over 100 communities across Canada to promote healing and wellness. She is a partner of an Indigenous owned and operated planning company called Alderhill Planning Inc., along with Chris Derickson and Jessie Hemphill who are all leading experts in Indigenous community planning.