National Healing Forests

National Healing Forests. Imagine woodlands setting(s) for health, wellness, understanding, and respect across cultures. Reconciliation through Healing Forests A forest can help people heal and connect them with nature. With this in mind, Peter Croal (retired CIDA Environment Specialist) and Patricia Stirbys (legal and Indigenous Relations specialist) – inspired by the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and its Calls to Action to strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples – developed the National Healing Forests initiative. A Healing Forest project brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours to plan and develop green spaces where survivors and families of the Residential School legacy, as well as all Canadians, can heal, do ceremony, reflect, discuss and meditate. This reconciliation project is community-led and totally grassroots. This presentation outlines a brief history of the residential school system and explains how communities and institutions can create their own Healing Forest space for reconciliation. We are grateful for this presentation by Patricia Stirbys (Indigenous relations specialist) and Peter Croal (P. Geol. International Environment and Development Advisor), co-founders of the National Healing Forests initiative. This virtual connection provides a time to learn more about the National Healing Forests in this era of Truth and Reconciliation. Our goal is to promote discussion about trees and forests, and their multiple and essential benefits. The health of trees is being affected by climate change but trees are also a necessary solution in mitigating it. We aim to raise awareness about what trees and forests give us and what we need to do in return to protect and enhance trees and forests. Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are proud to bring to you this series of events for National Forest Week Theme "Our forests - Continually giving" Saturday September 18, 2021 to Sunday September 26, 2021 Commemorating and celebrating Maple Leaf Day September 22, 2021