The Carrier Sekani Family Services began the Healing Fires program as a way to rebuild a sense of community among marginalized populations, especially after the pandemic left so many feeling isolated.  These healing fires offer a welcoming space for friends and family to gather, remember loved ones, enjoy warm meals, engage in conversation, enjoy and learn drumming with the drum group, learn more about resources, and strengthen connections with community resources.  The program also highlights critical issues such as housing, addiction, and the overdose crisis, while uniting various organizations, nations, and businesses to support Prince George’s (PG’s) vulnerable populations.  The Healing Fire initiative has played a significant role in reconnecting families and linking community members with their home communities.  The Fires offer a friendly setting for connecting with people outside the typical office environment.  We use a speaker and microphone for opening prayers, welcoming attendees, and playing traditional music.  Elders, chiefs, and community members often join us to share words of kindness.  We also provide tables and chairs for guests to sit, eat, and socialize.

At the fires we provide hot meals for everyone, serving soups, sandwiches, Bannock, burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, spaghetti, lasagna, salmon, beef, chicken, granola bars, fruit cups, coffee, tea, lemonade, hot chocolate, and water.  For those in need, we distribute items like socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, toques, mitts, backpacks, and clothing like shoes and underwear.  We also provide water bottles, wound care supplies, band-aids, smudge kits, matches, waterproof items, jackets, and blankets.  Harm reduction supplies include safe sex kits, safe injection kits, safe inhalation kits, and naloxone kits.  Some of these items are purchased with our Healing Fire budget, while others are donated by community organizations.  In April, three hundred people attended the Healing Fires and community engagement focused on Aboriginal Housing.  In May, three hundred people attended the Healing Fires and community engagement focused on Nak’azdli Whut’en and Nezul Be Huyuneh.  In June, three hundred people attended the Healing Fires and community engagement focused on the Northern Branch of the British Columbia Association of Social Workers.