Culture is Healing

#12 - The Sacred Power Of What We Eat with Jared Qwustenuxun Williams

In this episode of Culture is Healing, we sit down with Indigenous food sovereignty advocate, chef and storyteller Qwustenuxun.
 
Rooted in Salish culture and drawing from over a decade of experience cooking for Elders in his home community of Quw’utsun, Qwustenuxun shares powerful reflections on the spiritual, cultural, and communal role of food.
 
From inherited teachings to the sacred responsibility of preparing food with care, this conversation explores how nourishment goes far beyond the physical—and how ancestral knowledge continues to guide us in kitchens, in ceremony, and in life.
 
To learn more about Qwustenuxun's work visit his socials: 
https://www.instagram.com/qwustenuxun/
https://www.tiktok.com/@qwustenuxun
 

#11 - You Don’t Have To Be Perfect To Belong with Len Pierre

For our first episode of season 2, George is joined by Len Pierre - Puleeqweluck, a Coast Salish educator, consultant, and knowledge sharer from Katzie First Nation.
Len is an award-winning entrepreneur, professor, TEDx Speaker, and social change-maker whose work focuses on decolonization, reconciliation, and transforming education systems.
We speak about the path of cultural reconnection — the fears that come with it, the healing found in ceremony, and the deep importance of identity, belonging, and access.
Len shares what it means to approach culture as a way of being, not a standard to meet. This conversation is a reminder that healing work doesn’t require perfection — just presence, patience, and a willingness to begin.

#10 - Everyday Practices to Stay Rooted in Culture with Montana Fox

As the final episode of Season 1, this conversation brings us back to the heart of what Culture Is Healing is all about.
Montana Fox, an Anishinaabe writer, bead weaver, and Community Engagement Manager at CheckingIn, joins us for a conversation on identity, belonging, and culture.
Together with George Harris Jr., she reflects on the quiet, everyday practices that help her stay rooted in who she is and where she comes from.
From ceremony to small acts of care, this episode is a reminder that culture lives in how we choose to show up each day.

#9 - What Community Taught Me That School Never Did with Cameron Park

This week on Culture is Healing, George Harris Jr. sits down with Cameron Park, an educator who is a settler who spent over 20 years learning from the Stz’uminus First Nation community.
 
From language and ceremony to grief and generosity, Cameron reflects on the teachings that shaped him—lessons you won’t find in any textbook.
 
It’s a conversation about showing up with heart, earning trust, and learning in ways that leave a mark for life.

#8 - Raising the Next Generation with Teachings with Atawni Hall

George is joined by Atawni Hall of Sq’ewlets First Nation—a mother of five and Program Coordinator for q’eyéx.
Atawni speaks openly about her path to sobriety, and how movement, ceremony, and language have supported her healing. She reflects on breaking harmful cycles, raising her children with teachings, and staying grounded in who she is becoming.
She also shares how life in Sq’ewlets looks a little different—how the Nation is made up of people from many territories, and how, without their own traditional songs and dances, they create space for traditions by sharing in those of other Nations.
It’s a conversation shaped by lived experience, care for future generations, and the strength that comes from returning to what’s always been theirs.
To learn more about Culture Is Healing visit https://go.checkingin.co/cultureishealing/

#7 - Ancestral Resilience, Carried Forward with Ryan Boyer

This week’s episode is rooted in resilience.
George Harris Jr. and Ryan Boyer reflect on their personal paths of reconnecting to identity, community, and ancestral teachings. 
Ryan, a counsellor of mixed Celtic, Norse, Slavic, and Cherokee ancestry, shares perspectives shaped by his work in First Nations mental health and his own healing journey.
They speak to the emotional and spiritual healing that happens when we’re seen, when we’re heard, and when we’re held in culture.
This episode reminds us that resilience isn’t always loud—it can be found in quiet moments, in shared songs, in the act of simply showing up.
To learn more about Culture Is Healing visit https://go.checkingin.co/cultureishealing/

#6 - Reclaiming Who We Are: Métis Identities with Katy Carson

In this episode of Culture is Healing, host George Harris Jr. sits down with Katy Carson who shares her path of reclaiming Indigenous identity and connection to her community. 
They share memories of the ceremonies that shaped them. Katy reflects on her experience of embracing her Métis heritage and the importance of asking questions, learning from mistakes, and honouring the evolving path of cultural growth.
 Their conversation is a reminder that reconnecting with who we are is not a destination—it’s a lifelong journey supported by community, ceremony, and heart.
To learn more about the podcast visit https://go.checkingin.co/cultureishealing/

Culture Is A Daily Practice with Aaron Moore

In this episode of Culture is Healing, host George Harris Jr. is joined by Aaron Moore who is a dedicated social worker with familial connections to Cowichan Tribes, Stz'uminus First Nation, & Penelakut Tribes. Together, they reflect on the role of culture in healing—not just as a concept, but as a lived practice.
Aaron shares stories from his work supporting Indigenous families and reflects on the importance of cultural humility and taking time to build trust. He also speaks to the spiritual strength that children often carry. Additionally, he highlights the need to honour cultural protocols in everyday practice—not just in ceremony, but in all interactions.
Their conversation is rooted in lived experience and long-standing relationship, offering reflections on what it means to walk alongside others in community care.

From Uninvited to Welcomed: A Guest on Indigenous Lands with Kim Trottier

This week, we’re joined by friend of the podcast Kim Trottier, who reflects on the teachings she’s gathered as a settler living and working in First Nations community spaces. Together, Kim and George explore the deep meaning that comes from understanding one’s ancestry, the central role children play in community life, and the healing power of language and relationships. They speak to the ripple effect of showing up with care, and the ways trust and belonging are built over time. In their conversation, they offer insight into why safe spaces matter, and how—especially in healthcare—relationships often mean more than expertise.

A Future Rooted in Culture with Daniella Harris-David

What does it take to pass culture down across generations?
In this episode, George Harris Jr. and Daniella Harris-David share personal stories about family, resilience, and the role of community in shaping identity.
From the power of language to the challenges of staying connected, they offer wisdom on keeping traditions strong and guiding youth toward a future rooted in culture.
Tune into this week’s by clicking the link in our bio.