The Sk’ai Zeh Yah Youth Drop-In Centre is excited to offer a ‘Back to the Land’ program for youth. This crucial program provides youth opportunities to reconnect with traditional practices, strengthen cultural identity, and promote healing. 

The Carrier and Sekani Peoples have had a long-standing relationship with the land, guided by respect and reciprocity. Many Elders have claimed that Indigenous peoples are the caretakers of their ancestral territories since time immemorial, and this inspired Youth Services to help youth reconnect with their heritage and strengthen peer relationships. 

In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, leadership from Youth Services encouraged the team to create an event based on the 94 calls to action. Call to Action #22 was chosen: 

“We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.”

“Our team shared an understanding of the importance of the medicine nature provides and the cultural connections,” says CSFS Intensive Youth Social Worker Krista Soles.

“The team believed that these were crucial elements in the healing process for our clients, fostering a sense of unity and a shared vision. Some of our activities include working with medicines such as devils club, birch bark, labrador, red Willow, pine and spruce pitch, yarrow, soapberries, and low bush blueberries. Through these activities, we concluded that traditional healing methods of Indigenous people are equally as valuable as Western medicine.”

Pine Pitch - Dzeh. Part of the 'Back to the Land' activities is identifying plants, learning about traditional medicines from knowledge keepers.

Through the Back to the Land program, youth learn environmental stewardship practices essential for preserving ecosystems and biodiversity. They develop a sense of responsibility for caring for the land. 

“We have done some kayaking, and nature walks for plant identification and spent time with knowledge keepers from the Nations. Staff have had several training opportunities to learn more, such as how to set nets and process fish, hunting, canning, juicing, mushroom identification, and other things to enhance our abilities and pass this down,” continues Krista. 

Before any community outings, Youth Services staff request appropriate permissions to teach or collect in the surrounding territories and knowledge of the community's authority and the Elders who safeguard these traditions. 

Intensive Youth Social Worker Krista Soles and Youth Services Workers Keisha McKenzie and Nadine Patrick recently completed a foraging course with Moose, Mushroom, and Mud, where they learned about edible plants in Prince George's. During the course, they discovered Tooth Jelly Fungus, Lobster Mushrooms, shaggy Maine, Puff Balls, Bunch Berries, High Bush Cranberry, Rosehips, Plantain Seeds, Yarrow, Labrador Tea, Bog Cranberries, ox-eye daisy leaves, False Solomon Tea. 

Krista, Keisha, and Nadine are gearing up to gather Labrador Tea, known for its calming effects that can help alleviate sore throats, relieve chest congestion, ease coughs, and more! 

“We are excited to explore the stunning unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh and are eager to share this experience with the youth,” shares Keisha.

Sk’ai Zeh Yah has recently acquired a Ten Thousand dollar Grant through Northern Health, With the funding, the Youth Drop-In Centre has purchased all the required equipment, honorariums, and travel costs for knowledge keepers to join in on Back to the Land activities.