Canada

We live, work, and gather on the ancestral territories of more than 200 First Nations across British Columbia (B.C.). We honour and celebrate their ancestral relationships with lands, waters, and all living beings that sustain them, and that continue to sustain us all. We acknowledge the profound and enduring impacts of colonialism and residential schools on First Nations communities and survivors. We continue to hold you in our hearts. We recognise the diversity, strength, and sovereignty of all First Nations in Canada and around the world, and commit to respectful partnership guided by their leadership, knowledge, and protocols. We honour the Ancestors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers of the past, present and future, as well as the children, youth and future generations who connect us and inspire us to do better every day.

In Canada, the SPIRIT Project is coordinated by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the only provincial First Nations health authority in British Columbia. The project works with community partners across the province to strengthen early childhood, family, and community wellbeing through culturally grounded play, language, and teachings.

SPIRIT partners, including Cowichan Tribes, Lil’wat First Nation, Haida Gwaii’s Niislaa Naay Healing House, Skowkale First Nation, and Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Teaching Centre Society, are embedding the Family Spirit home-visiting programme into local contexts, creating safe spaces for families to gather, play, learn, and heal. Each site emphasizes culture as central to parenting and wellbeing, offering services that include maternal and child health, early learning, and opportunities to strengthen connections to language, land, and traditions.

Through SPIRIT, communities are reclaiming play as a vehicle for cultural transmission, identity-building, and intergenerational healing, while ensuring families have the resources and support to thrive. The project connects remote and urban communities across British Columbia to a broader Indigenous movement, affirming that culture and play are essential foundations for resilient families and vibrant futures.