A Culture of Place

 

The Path of Belonging

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​​In a world that often feels fragmented and disconnected, there is a deep longing within many of us to find our place, to belong. As settlers on this land we carry the privilege of colonial history and cultural erasure, often feeling adrift from our ancestral roots and unsure of our relationship with the land we inhabit. This unique yearlong immersion invites you to embark on a transformative journey of reconnection, responsibility, and reciprocity, guided by the land itself.​

 

This is not simply a course, but a pilgrimage of longing - a return to the wisdom of your ancestors and the natural world. We will delve into practices that have been passed down through generations, weaving together ancient skills, contemporary practices, cultural inquiry, and personal reflection.

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Guiding Threads

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• Embodied Presence: through mindful movement, sensory awareness practices, games and nature connection exercises, we will cultivate a deep, animate relationship with the living world around us.

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• Ancestral Skills: we will relearn traditional skills such as fire-making, aidless navigation, foraging and herbal medicine, as well as ancestral crafts such as leatherwork, knifework and fibre craft.

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• Cultural Inquiry: through oral stories, council circles, and guided reflection, we will explore the complex history of this land, our settler identities, and the path towards reconciliation and healing.

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• Spiritual Connection: we will cultivate a ritual relationship with the land that feeds the life of this place, bringing us into true stewardship, reciprocity, and belonging.​

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This journey unfolds with the rhythms of the seasons, mirroring the cycles of growth, decay, and renewal found in nature. Each gathering will be held in a different location of natural beauty in the Comox Valley, culminating in a multi-day wilderness immersion where you will be guided into a ritual solo to complete your year of deepening relationship.

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Optional zoom councils will be offered on a Wednesday evening between each monthly session to provide a drop-in space to share what is unfolding for you at home as you take up the practices and invitations of the course. 

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Who is This For?

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This immersion is designed for individuals who are:​

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• Seeking to deepen their relationship with the natural world and the lands they call home.

• Committed to personal growth and healing.

• Open to exploring their settler identity and the path towards reconciliation.

• Ready to step into a more meaningful and reciprocal relationship with the land and its Indigenous stewards.

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As we walk the path of belonging together, we will honour the cultures of our Indigenous hosts, and the wisdom of our own ancestral traditions, learning from the land, and rediscovering our place in the greater web of life.

 

This is an invitation to step into a more authentic and meaningful way of being in the natural world – a way that honours the past, embraces the present, and creates a more hopeful future for the generations to come.