Ga’walap̓a laxa̱n’s ḵa̱n’s sa̱nale’: Help Us to Be Whole Healing Camp + Film Trailer
I’m grateful to share an update from a community partnership I had the pleasure of collaborating on. I co-developed and led a healing camp alongside Stephanie Bernard, Nawalakw, and many Kwakwaka’wakw wellness leaders in Hada (Bond Sound) - this work centered the upflifting and holding together for frontline wellness and community care.
Community-Led Healing in Hada
In 2024, we held a trauma-informed, culturally rooted healing camp at Nawalakw Language & Culture Camp, hi'ma̱nis ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̓ła̱'at̓si (“a place of forever learning”) in Hada, on the traditional and unceded territory of the Ḵwiḵwa̱sut̓inux̱w.
Frontline workers from Kwakwaka’wakw communities came together to:
Reconnect with the land, water, forest, and non-human relatives
Weave Kwak̓wala through daily practices, songs, and movement
Engage in somatic and contemplative practices (breathwork, yoga, circle dialogue, visualization)
Sit in circle with elders and one another to speak honestly about burnout, grief, responsibility, and hope
So many participants shared that it was the first time in a long time they felt safe enough to exhale, to cry, to laugh deeply, and to feel proud and grounded in who they are as bak̓wa̱m.
Film Trailer: Help Us to Be Whole
The trailer for my second film project, Ga’walap̓a laxa̱n’s ḵa̱n’s sa̱nale’ (Help Us to Be Whole Healing Program), is now live on Vimeo.
Created in deep collaboration with Nawalakw and filmed with my dear friend and cinematographer Cody Preston, this short film follows our community-led trauma healing pilot for Kwakwaka’wakw and First Nations frontline workers and wellness providers.
The film uplifts the wisdom and presence of some of our beloved leaders and knowledge keepers, including:
Kwa̱nkwa̱nxwa̱ligedzi Wakas Chief Dr. Robert Joseph
G̱a̱'ax̱stalas Elder Maggie Sedgemore
K’odi Nelson
Stephanie Bernard
Ruby Isaac
And many Kwakwaka’wakw wellness leaders, cultural supports, and helpers
Through ceremony, Kwak̓wala, land-based practices, and somatic healing, the film offers a glimpse into how we are creating space for the helpers to be held, to rest, and to remember that they are worthy of healing too.
The film is not the centerpiece of this work, but a catalyst for storytelling and conversation—a way to carry the teachings of the camp to other communities, partners, and supporters.
Community-Based Research and Ongoing Work
Together with Stephanie Bernard, the Nawalakw team, and our community partners, we are now carrying this work forward through:
Community-based research on what supports frontline wellness in culturally rooted ways
A toolkit that includes Kwak̓wala phrases, teachings, and practices from the camp
Publications and community presentations to share what we’re learning in accessible, accountable ways
This is part of a longer-term vision to build sustainable, land-based, language-forward healing opportunities for frontline workers, and to create a model that other Indigenous communities can adapt to their own lands and laws.
Save the Dates: Women’s Trauma Healing Camp, June 23–26, 2026
I’m excited to share that we are now preparing for our second camp, a Women’s Trauma Healing Camp in Hada, June 23–26, 2026.
This gathering will focus on Indigenous women and femme-identifying caregivers and wellness leaders, offering:
Land-based healing and ceremony
Kwak̓wala-informed somatic and contemplative practices
Circle-based sharing and support
Space to rest, grieve, reconnect, and imagine new possibilities together
More details on registration, community partnerships, and sponsorship will be shared over the coming months.
How You Can Stay Connected
If you’d like to:
Watch the film trailer and stay tuned for the release of the film
Learn more about Ga’walap̓a laxa̱n’s ḵa̱n’s sa̱nale’
Receive updates about the June 2026 Women’s Trauma Healing Camp (Kwakwaka’wakw and First Nations leaders in community wellness)
Please keep an eye on my website and future newsletters for links, details, and invitations.
Thank you for walking alongside this work, for holding space for frontline workers, and for believing in land, language, and ceremony as pathways to collective healing.
With gratitude,
Jessica 🌊🌿🔥