Culture is Healing

 In this week’s conversation, George Harris Jr. and educator Kelsey Crawford explore how cultural healing, community support, and everyday acts of presence can transform the lives of Indigenous youth.
Together, they reflect on the power of elders, regalia, music, and seasonal teachings in helping young people build identity, confidence, and connection.
Their discussion offers practical insights for educators and community members committed to creating safe, culturally grounded spaces where youth can truly thrive.

In this episode of Culture Is Healing, Rachael Hunt and George Harris Jr. talk about what it means to return home — to culture, ceremony, and community. 
Rachael shares ancestral wisdom and teachings from the Eighth Fire.
The conversation is a call to remember that culture isn’t something we practice once in a while — it’s something we live. 
Whether through prayer, gratitude, or presence, every moment can become ceremony.

In this episode of Culture is Healing, George Harris Jr. sits down with Jenn Smith of the Tlowitsis Nation, a leader in Indigenous Cultural Safety and reconciliation work. 
Together, they speak about how self-love can be an act of reclamation and how personal journeys of cultural connection are vital for identity and healing. 
Jenn shares how ancestral teachings, truth-telling, and community care help repair what colonialism tried to take — reminding us that healing deepens when culture is at the centre of our lives.
 

Education can be a place of deep healing when guided by culture, story, and community.
George and his friend Colleen Mullin share a conversation about bringing Indigenous language, teachings, and community connection into education in meaningful ways. 
George reflects on moments of racism and insensitivity he faced as a student, and how those experiences shaped his commitment to creating safer, more understanding learning spaces.
 They speak on the progress that has been made, the care it takes to do this work well, and how storytelling continues to open doors for healing and understanding.

Gabriel George Sr. speaks to canoeing as a teacher — one that carries lessons of discipline, unity, and spirit.
 
He reflects on how revitalizing language has restored strength and pride to his community. 
 
He points to the guidance of elders, who remind us that healing also means breaking harmful cycles and choosing a different way forward.
 
At the heart of it all, Gabe emphasizes that love and connection to culture are what make reconciliation possible.

“Art and music helped me survive.”
This week, George shares a raw conversation with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw’s Benjamin Lewis.
Ben opens up about his recovery from addiction, sharing the story that led him to hosting his own 12-step meetings. He also talks about how turning back to culture and creativity became his way through.
For Ben, art and music aren’t just passions — they’re lifelines.
In this episode, he shares some of his songs — honest, heavy pieces that speak to the realities of residential schools, abuse, and what it means to live through it.

This week’s episode with Tchadas Leo is packed with teachings to help us reach our fullest potential.
 
He talks about how smudging became a foundation in his reconnection to culture, and how patience can transform everything — the way we live, the way we create, and the way we heal.
 
Tchadas also shares why joy and purpose are not optional, but essential parts of healing and living well.

This week’s guest is family—George’s brother-in-law, Cal Swustus Jr., from Cowichan Tribes.
Cal shares how he navigates walking in two worlds - Indigenous and Western.
 
Listeners will hear teachings on rites of passage, the guidance of Elders, and how storytelling and performance are great tools for moving through grief and growth. 
 
Cal nudges listeners to lean on culture as a source of healing and to carry it forward for the generations to come.

Richard Van Camp and George Harris Jr. share a conversation about the signs we receive from those who have passed on. 
They speak to how oral storytelling, cultural practices, and creative projects carry us through loss. 
Richard reflects on his experiences as a Tłı̨chǫ storyteller and author, and on the ways culture connects us across generations.
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In the final episode of Season 2, host George Harris Jr. sits down with storyteller and TV host Bob Kronbauer—better known as BC Bob—for a conversation rooted in stories—about learning, and unlearning.
They share about how salmon, harvesting and food have brought people together in their lives and created deeper understanding. 
Bob shares about his own learning path as a non-Indigenous person building relationships with Indigenous communities—speaking about what it means to show up with respect, ask questions, and commit to lifelong learning.
The truth that was woven into this episode is that reconciliation is not an end goal—it’s an ongoing relationship.
George will be back for the fall season on September 9th.