COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR FIRST NATIONS, INUIT AND MÉTIS INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE HAMILTON/DUNDAS REGION AND ONTARIO

Indigenous Health and Wellness

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Are you a part of the Indigenous community?

A family member? An ally?

Then this Indigenous Resource Guide is for you.

A free list of provincial, national, and international Indigenous supports including not-for-profit organizations, community centres, governmental programs, online networks and more.

FREE INDIGENOUS RESOURCE GUIDE

We honour and respect Indigenous rights and traditions and welcome First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, including those who identify as Two-Spirit, along with their families and communities.

We acknowledge the unique healthcare needs of Indigenous peoples, recognizing the impacts of colonization, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers. We are committed to providing culturally safe, affirming care that respects traditional knowledge and healing practices.

Using an approach that embraces Indigenous ways of knowing and being, we offer specialized support services for Indigenous youth 12+, adults, and family members. We can assist with issues such as:

Reconnecting with cultural identity and traditions
Exploring Two-Spirit identity and roles
Navigating between traditional and Western health systems
Addressing historical and intergenerational trauma
Managing stress, anxiety, and depression
Strengthening family and community relationships
Supporting land-based healing practices

***Dignity of Earth and Sky*** by Dale Claude Lamphere

We also offer guidance, counselling, and advocacy support for extended family members and allies who want to better support their Indigenous loved ones. Our services aim to promote holistic wellness, incorporating physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health, in harmony with Indigenous values and practices.

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OUR COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

" We need to approach mental health from a strength-based perspective, recognizing the resilience and wisdom within our communities. Our traditional knowledge and practices are powerful tools for healing. "

CAROL HOPKINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE THUNDERBIRD PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION

Honouring Indigenous Languages in Mental Wellness

At Cherry Tree Counselling, we believe that language holds power, not only in shaping our stories, but also in nurturing mental, emotional, and community wellbeing. When we speak and share words from Indigenous languages related to women’s and maternal mental health, as well as parent and family wellness, we honour ancestral knowledge and the diversity of experiences within our communities.

We are committed to gently weaving Indigenous words and teachings into our practice, respecting that concepts of strength, caregiving, healing, and belonging often have deep, untranslatable meaning in their original languages. By uplifting these words and sharing their significance, we support clients and families in reconnecting with the wisdom, identity, and resilience that language carries forward.

Here are a few words from Indigenous languages in Ontario and across Canada that reflect how Indigenous peoples name, respect, and relate to women, mothers, and grandmothers:

ENGLISH

Woman

LANGUAGE

Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe)

WORD/PHRASE

kwe/ikwe/ikawe

MEANING/SIGNIFICANCE

Represents the life-giver and nurturer; women are seen as central to family, community, and balance.

Mother

Nehiyawēwin (Cree)

nikâwiy

A word that conveys warmth, respect, and the deep relational ties between child and mother.