Introduction

Long before European settlers arrived to the land that is now known as Canada, this region was home to many diverse and rich Indigenous cultures; which all possess their unique values and beliefs. Indigenous people of Canada include Inuit, First Nations, and Métis.

• The Inuit primarily inhabit the northern regions of Canada. Their homeland includes much of the land, water and ice contained in the Arctic region.
• First Nations peoples were the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada, often occupying territories south of the Arctic.
• Métis peoples are of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, and live mostly in the Prairie provinces and Ontario, but also in other parts of the country.

(The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2023)

The hope for this resource is to help those residing in Canada today who may be unfamiliar with traditional Indigenous healing to understand its importance and foster an environment of respect and knowledge surrounding traditional healing practices. This resource will introduce basic facts about Indigenous health and healing tools used by many Indigenous groups. There are far too many different Indigenous cultures and nations to comprehensively cover, let alone in this one capstone resource, but I hope that this article will serve as a starting place on your journey to understanding traditional healing practices.