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Understanding Grief ›
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- Truths about grief
- What grief looks and feels like
- Common challenges with grief
- Grieving before the loss
- Ideas for living with loss
- Grief triggers
- How long grief lasts
- How the loss affects families and others
- When life starts to get better
- Special dates
- Rituals, funerals, and memorials
- Do I need more help?
- Prolonged grief
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Grieving a Death ›
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Non-death Loss ›
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Supporting Someone ›
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Professionals & Volunteers ›
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Resources & More ›
Grief and Indigenous Peoples
Grief is a universal experience, but for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, grief is profoundly influenced by unique historical and cultural contexts that distinguish it from the grief experienced by others. For Indigenous communities, grief both encompasses the loss of loved ones and is deeply intertwined with the loss of culture, land, and social structures disrupted by colonization. This grief transcends generations, rooted in centuries of systemic violence, forced assimilation, and dispossession.
Historically, Indigenous Peoples have had rich and diverse cultural practices for caring for one another through life’s transitions, including death. These practices are based on community knowledge, spiritual teachings, and strong family connections, emphasizing collective well-being. However, the arrival of European settlers brought assimilation policies such as the Indian Act and the establishment of the Indian Residential School system. These policies aimed to erase Indigenous cultures and practices. As a result, traditional ways of mourning and healing were disrupted, forcing Indigenous communities to adapt to foreign systems of governance, religion, and education. This forcible removal of culture is a significant source of grief in itself, as Indigenous Peoples were denied the right to care for their sick, mourn their dead, and pass down ancestral knowledge.
The grief experienced by Indigenous Peoples is further compounded by the trauma of losing ancestral lands, cultural practices, and social structures. Colonial violence, including the dispossession of land, has led to not only material loss but also a profound disconnection from spiritual and cultural identities. These losses are evident in the high rates of suicide, substance use, and mental health issues prevalent in many Indigenous communities. Ongoing struggles are a direct result of the historical and continuing trauma of colonization, which continues to disrupt social cohesion and individual well-being.
In Indigenous communities, grief is also experienced as intergenerational trauma. The consequences of forced assimilation policies and residential schools have inflicted deep wounds that echo through generations. Survivors and their descendants carry the emotional scars of cultural genocide, and while this grief may not always be visible, it is deeply felt within families and communities. It often leads to a loss of trust in institutions, the erosion of cultural practices, and a sense of displacement.
Addressing Indigenous grief requires recognition and understanding of its multifaceted nature. It is not just about the loss of loved ones but also about the loss of culture, identity, and connection to the land. Healing begins with acknowledging the past and its ongoing effects on Indigenous communities. It involves supporting the restoration of cultural practices, promoting community-based healing initiatives, and addressing the systemic inequities that continue to impact Indigenous Peoples.
The next steps in addressing this grief must include supporting Indigenous-led initiatives that reclaim and reactivate Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Efforts must prioritize the restoration of Indigenous languages, the promotion of land-based healing, and the empowerment of Indigenous Peoples to take control of their own healing processes. It is also essential to create spaces for open dialogue about the ongoing impacts of colonization and to advocate for policies that foster justice, reconciliation, and the restoration of Indigenous sovereignty. Only through these collective efforts can we begin to heal the profound grief that has been passed down through generations.
Video Gallery
Resources
This guide shares First Nations ways to heal after a loss. It uses stories and old traditions, like smudging, to help the heart stay strong and find peace in culture and community.
This guide shares Métis ways to heal from loss. Stories from Métis Knowledge Carriers and activities help the heart stay strong and find peace.
This guide shares Inuit ways to heal after a loss. It uses stories and traditional wisdom to show how culture, the Land, and family help the heart stay strong and find peace during hard times.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis share stories about living with serious illness and grief in over 170 short video clips. Indigenous Voices was developed by a national team of researchers, educators, he ... Read more
Published by Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council (IIKELC), Talking to Children About Suicide is an illustrative book created to help families navigate highly difficult conversat ... Read more
The Métis Patient Cancer Care Guidebook is a wholistic, culturally integrated resource that blends Western medicine with traditional Métis values to support patients and families. The guide validates ... Read more
A father shares his journey of healing after losing his son. Using Anishinaabe language and traditional ceremonies, he finds a way through deep pain and secrets to discover hope and new meaning.
Smokii Sumac shares a love poem for mothers who have lost children. It shows how their strength helps others keep going when they feel hopeless. You are not alone in your grief.
This guide helps you understand grief using traditional teachings. It shows how the Seven Grandfathers help us heal and find balance, reminding us that culture and connection are vital for wellness.
This guide explains how to handle stress and keep your heart and mind in balance. It offers simple tips for a healthy life and uses traditional ways to help you feel calm and strong every day.
Elder Elva and Elder Jo-Anne share how First Nations people face death. They talk about using old traditions and family love to help the dying and the grieving find peace and strength.
History and colonialism cause deep trauma and loss today. This guide calls for better mental health care led by Indigenous people to help families heal and find strength in their own culture.
Five short films share Indigenous stories of loss. From a bear named Jesus to life in the North, these tales show how to survive hard times and find love and hope in our grief.
Indigenous youth share their feelings on loss and how it ties to their culture. This film uses art to show how they find strength and heal from the pain caused by the past.
This video shows how Aboriginal Australians use culture to heal from old trauma. It shares ways to find strength in rituals and "griefology" to help families find peace after a loss.
Experts share how trauma and loss affect Aboriginal children. It shows how the past impacts the present and how families can help kids heal through culture and community.
Pastor Deborah Minoose shares healing for First Nations families after MMIWG loss. Using the Tia Blood case, she offers spiritual help for the pain of missing or murdered loved ones.
This video shares how climate change hurts the heart and mind. It explains "ecological grief" for those tied to the land. It helps families find hope while facing the loss of their home and culture.
Doug Widow Jr. shows how horses and Lakota traditions help heal the heart. This video shares ways to use Spirit, nature, and old ceremonies to find strength and peace after a hard loss.
Mary-Lou Restoule shares how Indigenous people see death. She talks about using old ways and Spirit to help the dying and their families. It shows how to honour a loved one’s final journey with love.
Sean Choolburra shares how grief is like the seasons. He shows that while loss hurts, it changes over time. Talking and healing help families find hope and meaning after a hard change.
Doug Widow Jr. shares how to use red willow bark and old traditions to heal from loss. It shows how Spirit and culture help families stay strong and find peace while dealing with hard times.
Serene Thin Elk shows how we carry the pain and strength of those before us. She shares how to use Lakota/Dakota ways to heal from old trauma and find hope in our family stories.
Wally Brown shares Navajo beliefs on what happens after we die. He talks about "joy after old age" and how our Spirits keep going. This video helps families find peace when a loved one passes.
This video shows how moving our bodies helps heal the mind and Spirit. It explains how trauma can get stuck in our bellies and brains, and how staying active helps families feel strong and well.
Jeff Lujan and Atekpatzin Young share how Indigenous people see and move through grief. They talk about using Spirit, community, and old ways to help families heal from trauma and loss.
Wally Brown shares Navajo beliefs on death and healing. He explains rituals like the 4-day wait and why we honour the dead to keep balance and help the Spirit find peace in the next world.
This video explains why Indigenous kids might not show grief right away. It shares how "delayed grief" happens and how families can use love and culture to help children heal when they are ready.
Smokii Sumac talks about his film on how to handle deep sadness. He looks to the strength of mothers who have lost children to find a way to heal and keep going when times are hard.
Holly Scribe shares how grief is like the seasons. She explains how to handle the pain of change and how talking helps us grow. It shows that no hard time lasts forever and hope will return.
A poetry book about life in the North. It looks at family trauma, money struggles, and sadness over the changing earth. It shows how the land and our past affect our healing and daily life today.
A Cherokee family heals 15 years after their son was killed by police. Using myths and tradition, they face grief, drug use, and memory loss to find their way home together. A story of love and hope.
A Cree musician shares her story of facing disability, divorce, and the loss of her children. This memoir explores deep grief and how she found the strength to keep moving forward after many losses.
A First Nations youth book chronicling a fourteen-year-old's true story of healing from profound stigmatized loss through traditional Elder guidance and ceremony.
This story shows the bond between a girl and her grandfather. Using Denesuline teachings, it explains how dreams help us heal and find hope when we lose a loved one. It is a tale of love and memory.
This book follows a Dene woman bringing her brother’s body home after he dies overseas. Using dreams and memories, she follows cultural traditions to find peace and strength during a difficult loss.
Hazel returns home and meets an Algonquin crow Spirit. While mourning her father, she must save her land. This story shows how old myths and family secrets help a young woman face her own hidden grief ... Read more
A First Nations youth novel exploring the isolation of grief and the complexities of queer identity on a reservation following the suicide of a younger sibling.
This children's book explores bereavement through a beautiful story of a mother and daughter. It shows how their loving connection survives through tragedy and across time.
This book introduces a young girl and her horse into Little Chief’s life. Their adventure takes them on a journey which transforms her grief and loss into self-discovery and resilience through a new-f ... Read more
A First Nations children's book following a Nuu-chah-nulth boy as he navigates the complex emotions of grief and bereavement after losing his grandmother.
A poetry book by an Indigenous woman exploring love, grief, and life cycles. It uses short, powerful poems to share big feelings about loss and healing while mixing old and new Northern views.
Fourteen Indigenous women share how they healed and reclaimed their lives after surviving residential schools. This book explores the journey of overcoming trauma and finding their voice.
A First Nations children’s book that gently explores the natural cycles of life and death, helping children navigate the grief of losing a grandparent alongside the arrival of a new family member.
Two Lakota kids get lost on the prairie. Their late grandmother guides them home as a Star Person in the sky. This story shows how ancestors watch over us and that a grandmother’s love is forever.
A Cree boy learns about residential schools at a memorial of tiny shoes. This gentle story shows how family love and cuddling help heal the deep pain of the past and generational trauma for kids.
A young Cherokee girl looks for her missing mother in a town of secrets. This book explores the crisis of missing Indigenous women and shows a family finding hope and healing through deep grief.
A Mi'kmaw girl says goodbye to her Grampy in his favourite chair. This story shows how to face the loss of a grandparent and keep their memory alive through the special places and moments they shared.
After losing her mother and grandmother in six months, a woman explores grief and family duty. She learns to let go of old roles to discover her own strength and what it truly means to lead.
Teens Dez and Miikwan face deep grief after 215 children's remains are found at a residential school. This graphic novel follows their journey to find strength and hope in the face of great injustice.
After inadvertently starting rumours of a haunted cemetery, a teen befriends a ghost in this brand-new young adult novel exploring grief and belonging.
The story of a young girl and boy who go to live with their grandparents on the Blood Reserve when their parents are killed in a car accident.
Told in the voice of a boy and his father by turns, this book takes a thoughtful and heartfelt look at the emotional toll of a child being taken from their family and community to attend residential s ... Read more
A graphic novel about a girl searching for peace after her sister goes missing. It shows how Ojibwe traditions and family help her find hope and healing when there are no clear answers about loss.
A non-binary child learns to cope after their dog, Fluffy, passes away. Using gentle imagery of the stars, this book helps children navigate the heavy emotions of losing a beloved pet with love.
This book uses Mi'kmaw teachings to show that death is a new journey. It tells how the owl acts as a messenger from the Creator to lead Spirits home to their ancestors and the council fire.
A grandmother explains the meaning of death to her granddaughter using Native American teachings. This story shows how to understand loss through nature.
A heartfelt Inuit children's book that explores the enduring power of intergenerational bonds and the comfort of cherished memories after the loss of a loved one.
This guide challenges the sad stories often told about Indigenous loss. It asks us to use healing words and old wisdom to find hope, strength, and balance in our communities today.
This report shares stories from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families. It calls for justice for women and 2SLGBTQQIA people to heal the deep loss and pain caused by unfair treatment and laws.
This guide explains Métis traditions for honouring the dead. It shows how wakes, fires, and feasts help families heal. It teaches that accepting death helps a Spirit move on in peace.
This Inuit guide uses an iceberg to show how we hide grief and pain deep inside. It teaches that talking helps us break through these frozen feelings to heal our hearts and find a way to live in peace ... Read more
Project Jewel helps Inuit families heal on the land. It uses nature and old traditions to help people deal with sadness and stress. It shows how being outside can make the heart feel strong again.
This statement shares the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's response to the 751 unmarked graves found in Saskatchewan. It expresses deep collective grief and support for survivors.
Christa Couture lost her leg, her children, and her marriage. Here, she gives instructions on survival for the uninitiated and companionship for those who know the terrain of heartache and loss.
Taqralik Partridge shares a story about losing the languages of her family. She uses flowers to show how lost words can bloom again. This film helps us find love in the memories we keep.
Smokii Sumac looks to the strength of mothers to handle deep sadness. He shares how memories and love are like gifts that help us keep going when the world feels different after a loss.
This Anishinaabe story tells of a baby's Spirit going home to ancestors after loss. It shares a creation story that shows grief is part of love, helping families find hope through ceremony.
Archer meets a bear named Jesus at a funeral. This story uses humour and sadness to show how religion can hurt families. It helps those who feel the loss of someone still living.
This book helps survivors understand how trauma affects the brain and body. It offers simple tips and tools to help people heal and feel safe again.
This manual helps support families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It gives clear steps for a search and offers tools to provide steady, kind care during a difficult time.
This manual provides tools to help prevent burnout in high-stress jobs. It offers simple steps to stay healthy and build long-term wellness.
This guide helps families cope when a loved one goes missing. It offers simple tips for staying healthy and strong while searching, giving comfort to those facing the pain of not knowing.
This manual helps communities build support groups for families of missing people. It uses Indigenous and Western ways to help people cope with the deep pain and stress of having a missing loved one.
A First Nations adult guide created by Caring Hearts and Elder Harry Francis to help agencies and frontline professionals understand and integrate traditional Neheyo healing methods and spiritual beli ... Read more
This site helps families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It shares how to use culture and community to help heal from a very hard loss. It offers hope and kind support.
This guide shares traditional teachings on grief. It uses stories and old wisdom to show how culture, prayer, and community help the heart heal and find balance after the loss of a loved one.
This guide shares traditional teachings on grief for Indigenous families. It uses stories and the medicine wheel to show that death is a natural part of life and that we are never truly alone.
Thinking about the past can bring up big feelings. This guide helps you understand these reactions and gives simple tips, like drumming or being on the land, to help you feel better and heal.
This guide helps Indigenous people plan for the end of life. It explains how to share final wishes about burials and gifts so families have peace and can honour their traditions in a good way.
This guide explains how the body slows down, loses strength, and needs more rest during illness. It teaches families to listen to wishes and focus on comfort to support a loved one's journey.
This guide helps families honour Indigenous traditions during grief. It shares how to talk to doctors about your needs and use stories, humour, and kindness to celebrate and heal after a loss.
This article explores how the Metisfest festival promoted Métis resurgence. It shows how traditions like fiddling and jigging can spark political change and community pride.
This guide helps families talk to children about a loss from suicide. It explains how kids grieve and gives families ways to offer support and comfort.
This guide helps families talk to children about a loss from suicide. It explains how kids show grief and offers simple ways to provide comfort and support during a painful and confusing time.
This Inuktitut guide helps parents talk to kids about loss. It gives tips for honest talks based on a child's age. It helps families feel safe while they heal and build strength together.
This guide helps parents talk to kids about loss. It shows how age affects grief and gives tips for honest talks. It helps families feel safe while they heal and build strength together.
This site helps Inuit families through all parts of life. It shares old wisdom on how to heal from loss and stay strong together. It offers kind ways to honour those who have passed.
This site shares how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families handle loss. It talks about "Sorry Business" and using old ways to help the heart heal after a loved one passes away.
Un roman contemporain pour jeunes adultes mettant en scène une adolescente autochtone timide ; elle tente de surmonter le deuil de son frère en jonglant entre la dure réalité de la vie dans la réserve ... Read more
A contemporary First Nations youth novel featuring a shy Indigenous teen who navigates the grief of losing her brother by balancing the harsh realities of "Rez" life with her dominant, confident perso ... Read more
In this sequel to Walking in Two Worlds, Bugz continues to navigate the grief of losing her brother while returning to the virtual Floraverse for comfort. As she creates an AI companion modeled after ... Read more
Damien's brother vanishes in a river. Lost in grief, he travels to a village with its own secrets and magic. This Diné story shows how sibling loss and old myths help us face our deepest pain.
A memoir about losing a mother. It shares stories of queer love and family. Using Cree and Métis teachings, it shows how community helps us survive grief and find the strength to heal together.
A Cree musician tells her story of losing her leg, two children, and her marriage. This memoir shows how she found deep strength and a new way to see what matters most after facing many hard losses.
This poetry book follows a Métis woman facing the loss of her parents. It shares stories of residential schools and missing women to show how grief and history shape our lives and our healing.
A poetry book about land, love, and ancestors. It explores grief and healing through the views of a parent and herbalist. It shows how the land and our past help us grow through hard times and loss no ... Read more
A poetry book looking at the modern Secwepemc world. It explores deep feelings like grief, love, and survival. It includes a word list to help readers learn the language while they read about healing.
Rooted in a Cree worldview and inspired by stories about the author’s great-grandmother’s life, The Ghost Collector delves into questions of grief and loss.
This graphic novel uses Haida and Japanese manga art to retell a traditional story. It explores tragic sibling loss as an orphan named Red searches for his kidnapped sister.
This article explores how the Metisfest festival promoted Métis resurgence. It shows how traditions like fiddling and jigging can spark political change and community pride.
Published by Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council (IIKELC), Talking to Children About Suicide is an illustrative book created to help families navigate highly difficult conversat ... Read more
A father shares his journey of healing after losing his son. Using Anishinaabe language and traditional ceremonies, he finds a way through deep pain and secrets to discover hope and new meaning.
A poetry book about life in the North. It looks at family trauma, money struggles, and sadness over the changing earth. It shows how the land and our past affect our healing and daily life today.
A Cherokee family heals 15 years after their son was killed by police. Using myths and tradition, they face grief, drug use, and memory loss to find their way home together. A story of love and hope.
A Cree musician shares her story of facing disability, divorce, and the loss of her children. This memoir explores deep grief and how she found the strength to keep moving forward after many losses.
A First Nations youth book chronicling a fourteen-year-old's true story of healing from profound stigmatized loss through traditional Elder guidance and ceremony.
This story shows the bond between a girl and her grandfather. Using Denesuline teachings, it explains how dreams help us heal and find hope when we lose a loved one. It is a tale of love and memory.
This book follows a Dene woman bringing her brother’s body home after he dies overseas. Using dreams and memories, she follows cultural traditions to find peace and strength during a difficult loss.
Hazel returns home and meets an Algonquin crow Spirit. While mourning her father, she must save her land. This story shows how old myths and family secrets help a young woman face her own hidden grief ... Read more
A First Nations youth novel exploring the isolation of grief and the complexities of queer identity on a reservation following the suicide of a younger sibling.
This children's book explores bereavement through a beautiful story of a mother and daughter. It shows how their loving connection survives through tragedy and across time.
This book introduces a young girl and her horse into Little Chief’s life. Their adventure takes them on a journey which transforms her grief and loss into self-discovery and resilience through a new-f ... Read more
A First Nations children's book following a Nuu-chah-nulth boy as he navigates the complex emotions of grief and bereavement after losing his grandmother.
A poetry book by an Indigenous woman exploring love, grief, and life cycles. It uses short, powerful poems to share big feelings about loss and healing while mixing old and new Northern views.
Fourteen Indigenous women share how they healed and reclaimed their lives after surviving residential schools. This book explores the journey of overcoming trauma and finding their voice.
A First Nations children’s book that gently explores the natural cycles of life and death, helping children navigate the grief of losing a grandparent alongside the arrival of a new family member.
Two Lakota kids get lost on the prairie. Their late grandmother guides them home as a Star Person in the sky. This story shows how ancestors watch over us and that a grandmother’s love is forever.
A Cree boy learns about residential schools at a memorial of tiny shoes. This gentle story shows how family love and cuddling help heal the deep pain of the past and generational trauma for kids.
A young Cherokee girl looks for her missing mother in a town of secrets. This book explores the crisis of missing Indigenous women and shows a family finding hope and healing through deep grief.
A Mi'kmaw girl says goodbye to her Grampy in his favourite chair. This story shows how to face the loss of a grandparent and keep their memory alive through the special places and moments they shared.
After losing her mother and grandmother in six months, a woman explores grief and family duty. She learns to let go of old roles to discover her own strength and what it truly means to lead.
Teens Dez and Miikwan face deep grief after 215 children's remains are found at a residential school. This graphic novel follows their journey to find strength and hope in the face of great injustice.
After inadvertently starting rumours of a haunted cemetery, a teen befriends a ghost in this brand-new young adult novel exploring grief and belonging.
The story of a young girl and boy who go to live with their grandparents on the Blood Reserve when their parents are killed in a car accident.
Told in the voice of a boy and his father by turns, this book takes a thoughtful and heartfelt look at the emotional toll of a child being taken from their family and community to attend residential s ... Read more
A graphic novel about a girl searching for peace after her sister goes missing. It shows how Ojibwe traditions and family help her find hope and healing when there are no clear answers about loss.
A non-binary child learns to cope after their dog, Fluffy, passes away. Using gentle imagery of the stars, this book helps children navigate the heavy emotions of losing a beloved pet with love.
This book uses Mi'kmaw teachings to show that death is a new journey. It tells how the owl acts as a messenger from the Creator to lead Spirits home to their ancestors and the council fire.
A grandmother explains the meaning of death to her granddaughter using Native American teachings. This story shows how to understand loss through nature.
A heartfelt Inuit children's book that explores the enduring power of intergenerational bonds and the comfort of cherished memories after the loss of a loved one.
This Inuit guide uses an iceberg to show how we hide grief and pain deep inside. It teaches that talking helps us break through these frozen feelings to heal our hearts and find a way to live in peace ... Read more
This book helps survivors understand how trauma affects the brain and body. It offers simple tips and tools to help people heal and feel safe again.
This manual helps support families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It gives clear steps for a search and offers tools to provide steady, kind care during a difficult time.
This manual provides tools to help prevent burnout in high-stress jobs. It offers simple steps to stay healthy and build long-term wellness.
This guide helps families cope when a loved one goes missing. It offers simple tips for staying healthy and strong while searching, giving comfort to those facing the pain of not knowing.
This manual helps communities build support groups for families of missing people. It uses Indigenous and Western ways to help people cope with the deep pain and stress of having a missing loved one.
A First Nations adult guide created by Caring Hearts and Elder Harry Francis to help agencies and frontline professionals understand and integrate traditional Neheyo healing methods and spiritual beli ... Read more
This guide helps families talk to children about a loss from suicide. It explains how kids grieve and gives families ways to offer support and comfort.
This guide helps families talk to children about a loss from suicide. It explains how kids show grief and offers simple ways to provide comfort and support during a painful and confusing time.
Un roman contemporain pour jeunes adultes mettant en scène une adolescente autochtone timide ; elle tente de surmonter le deuil de son frère en jonglant entre la dure réalité de la vie dans la réserve ... Read more
A contemporary First Nations youth novel featuring a shy Indigenous teen who navigates the grief of losing her brother by balancing the harsh realities of "Rez" life with her dominant, confident perso ... Read more
In this sequel to Walking in Two Worlds, Bugz continues to navigate the grief of losing her brother while returning to the virtual Floraverse for comfort. As she creates an AI companion modeled after ... Read more
Damien's brother vanishes in a river. Lost in grief, he travels to a village with its own secrets and magic. This Diné story shows how sibling loss and old myths help us face our deepest pain.
A memoir about losing a mother. It shares stories of queer love and family. Using Cree and Métis teachings, it shows how community helps us survive grief and find the strength to heal together.
A Cree musician tells her story of losing her leg, two children, and her marriage. This memoir shows how she found deep strength and a new way to see what matters most after facing many hard losses.
This poetry book follows a Métis woman facing the loss of her parents. It shares stories of residential schools and missing women to show how grief and history shape our lives and our healing.
A poetry book about land, love, and ancestors. It explores grief and healing through the views of a parent and herbalist. It shows how the land and our past help us grow through hard times and loss no ... Read more
A poetry book looking at the modern Secwepemc world. It explores deep feelings like grief, love, and survival. It includes a word list to help readers learn the language while they read about healing.
Rooted in a Cree worldview and inspired by stories about the author’s great-grandmother’s life, The Ghost Collector delves into questions of grief and loss.
This graphic novel uses Haida and Japanese manga art to retell a traditional story. It explores tragic sibling loss as an orphan named Red searches for his kidnapped sister.
The Métis Patient Cancer Care Guidebook is a wholistic, culturally integrated resource that blends Western medicine with traditional Métis values to support patients and families. The guide validates ... Read more
This guide helps you understand grief using traditional teachings. It shows how the Seven Grandfathers help us heal and find balance, reminding us that culture and connection are vital for wellness.
This guide explains how to handle stress and keep your heart and mind in balance. It offers simple tips for a healthy life and uses traditional ways to help you feel calm and strong every day.
History and colonialism cause deep trauma and loss today. This guide calls for better mental health care led by Indigenous people to help families heal and find strength in their own culture.
This guide challenges the sad stories often told about Indigenous loss. It asks us to use healing words and old wisdom to find hope, strength, and balance in our communities today.
This report shares stories from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families. It calls for justice for women and 2SLGBTQQIA people to heal the deep loss and pain caused by unfair treatment and laws.
This guide explains Métis traditions for honouring the dead. It shows how wakes, fires, and feasts help families heal. It teaches that accepting death helps a Spirit move on in peace.
This guide shares traditional teachings on grief. It uses stories and old wisdom to show how culture, prayer, and community help the heart heal and find balance after the loss of a loved one.
This guide shares traditional teachings on grief for Indigenous families. It uses stories and the medicine wheel to show that death is a natural part of life and that we are never truly alone.
Thinking about the past can bring up big feelings. This guide helps you understand these reactions and gives simple tips, like drumming or being on the land, to help you feel better and heal.
This guide helps Indigenous people plan for the end of life. It explains how to share final wishes about burials and gifts so families have peace and can honour their traditions in a good way.
This guide explains how the body slows down, loses strength, and needs more rest during illness. It teaches families to listen to wishes and focus on comfort to support a loved one's journey.
This guide helps families honour Indigenous traditions during grief. It shares how to talk to doctors about your needs and use stories, humour, and kindness to celebrate and heal after a loss.
This Inuktitut guide helps parents talk to kids about loss. It gives tips for honest talks based on a child's age. It helps families feel safe while they heal and build strength together.
This guide helps parents talk to kids about loss. It shows how age affects grief and gives tips for honest talks. It helps families feel safe while they heal and build strength together.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis share stories about living with serious illness and grief in over 170 short video clips. Indigenous Voices was developed by a national team of researchers, educators, he ... Read more
Project Jewel helps Inuit families heal on the land. It uses nature and old traditions to help people deal with sadness and stress. It shows how being outside can make the heart feel strong again.
This statement shares the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's response to the 751 unmarked graves found in Saskatchewan. It expresses deep collective grief and support for survivors.
This site helps families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It shares how to use culture and community to help heal from a very hard loss. It offers hope and kind support.
This site helps Inuit families through all parts of life. It shares old wisdom on how to heal from loss and stay strong together. It offers kind ways to honour those who have passed.
This site shares how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families handle loss. It talks about "Sorry Business" and using old ways to help the heart heal after a loved one passes away.
Smokii Sumac shares a love poem for mothers who have lost children. It shows how their strength helps others keep going when they feel hopeless. You are not alone in your grief.
Elder Elva and Elder Jo-Anne share how First Nations people face death. They talk about using old traditions and family love to help the dying and the grieving find peace and strength.
Five short films share Indigenous stories of loss. From a bear named Jesus to life in the North, these tales show how to survive hard times and find love and hope in our grief.
Indigenous youth share their feelings on loss and how it ties to their culture. This film uses art to show how they find strength and heal from the pain caused by the past.
This video shows how Aboriginal Australians use culture to heal from old trauma. It shares ways to find strength in rituals and "griefology" to help families find peace after a loss.
Experts share how trauma and loss affect Aboriginal children. It shows how the past impacts the present and how families can help kids heal through culture and community.
Pastor Deborah Minoose shares healing for First Nations families after MMIWG loss. Using the Tia Blood case, she offers spiritual help for the pain of missing or murdered loved ones.
This video shares how climate change hurts the heart and mind. It explains "ecological grief" for those tied to the land. It helps families find hope while facing the loss of their home and culture.
Doug Widow Jr. shows how horses and Lakota traditions help heal the heart. This video shares ways to use Spirit, nature, and old ceremonies to find strength and peace after a hard loss.
Mary-Lou Restoule shares how Indigenous people see death. She talks about using old ways and Spirit to help the dying and their families. It shows how to honour a loved one’s final journey with love.
Sean Choolburra shares how grief is like the seasons. He shows that while loss hurts, it changes over time. Talking and healing help families find hope and meaning after a hard change.
Doug Widow Jr. shares how to use red willow bark and old traditions to heal from loss. It shows how Spirit and culture help families stay strong and find peace while dealing with hard times.
Serene Thin Elk shows how we carry the pain and strength of those before us. She shares how to use Lakota/Dakota ways to heal from old trauma and find hope in our family stories.
Wally Brown shares Navajo beliefs on what happens after we die. He talks about "joy after old age" and how our Spirits keep going. This video helps families find peace when a loved one passes.
This video shows how moving our bodies helps heal the mind and Spirit. It explains how trauma can get stuck in our bellies and brains, and how staying active helps families feel strong and well.
Jeff Lujan and Atekpatzin Young share how Indigenous people see and move through grief. They talk about using Spirit, community, and old ways to help families heal from trauma and loss.
Wally Brown shares Navajo beliefs on death and healing. He explains rituals like the 4-day wait and why we honour the dead to keep balance and help the Spirit find peace in the next world.
This video explains why Indigenous kids might not show grief right away. It shares how "delayed grief" happens and how families can use love and culture to help children heal when they are ready.
Smokii Sumac talks about his film on how to handle deep sadness. He looks to the strength of mothers who have lost children to find a way to heal and keep going when times are hard.
Holly Scribe shares how grief is like the seasons. She explains how to handle the pain of change and how talking helps us grow. It shows that no hard time lasts forever and hope will return.
Christa Couture lost her leg, her children, and her marriage. Here, she gives instructions on survival for the uninitiated and companionship for those who know the terrain of heartache and loss.
Taqralik Partridge shares a story about losing the languages of her family. She uses flowers to show how lost words can bloom again. This film helps us find love in the memories we keep.
Smokii Sumac looks to the strength of mothers to handle deep sadness. He shares how memories and love are like gifts that help us keep going when the world feels different after a loss.
This Anishinaabe story tells of a baby's Spirit going home to ancestors after loss. It shares a creation story that shows grief is part of love, helping families find hope through ceremony.
Archer meets a bear named Jesus at a funeral. This story uses humour and sadness to show how religion can hurt families. It helps those who feel the loss of someone still living.
This guide shares First Nations ways to heal after a loss. It uses stories and old traditions, like smudging, to help the heart stay strong and find peace in culture and community.
This guide shares Métis ways to heal from loss. Stories from Métis Knowledge Carriers and activities help the heart stay strong and find peace.
This guide shares Inuit ways to heal after a loss. It uses stories and traditional wisdom to show how culture, the Land, and family help the heart stay strong and find peace during hard times.
