“The land is a healer”: Perspectives on land-based healing from Indigenous practitioners in northern Canada

Abstract

This research paper articulates a largely undefined cultural concept within mental health promotion and intervention, described as ‘land-based’ healing, which has been understood and taught for millennia by Indigenous knowledge holders. This knowledge is currently being revitalized by northern practitioners where ‘land’ is understood as a relational component of healing and wellbeing. Land-based activities such as harvesting, education, ceremony, recreation, and cultural-based counselling are all components of this integrative practice. Land-based practices are centered in Indigenous pedagogy and recognize that cultural identity is interwoven with and connected to ‘land.’ Directly cultivating this fundamental relationship, as assessed through a culturally relevant lens, increases positive mental health and wellness outcomes in Indigenous populations. In this study, qualitative narrative methods were used to document the experiences of eleven land-based program practitioners from the three northern territories in Canada. As experts in this field, practitioners’ narratives emphasized the need for a greater understanding and recognition of the value of land-based practices and programs within mainstream health. The development of working definitions, terminology, and framing of land-based practice as a common field are delineated from relevant literature and practitioner narratives in order to enable cross-cultural communication and understanding in psychology. Land-based healing is presented as a critical and culturally appropriate solution for mental health intervention and community resilience in northern Canada.