Sacred Synergy

Peter Gilhuly

Impact

  • The Sacred Synergy Project created a safe, community-led space for dialogue around trauma, recovery, and wellness within the Takla Nation

  • The dialogues helped identify gaps and disconnections within existing recovery supports, reduced stigma through shared experiences, and strengthened conversations around culturally grounded healing approaches, including land-based healing, ceremony, and entheogen-assisted therapies within the community. The project also documented community voices and helped lay the groundwork for a more connected, culturally grounded recovery approach guided by the Takla Nation’s values and priorities.

“Coming from my own lived experience in recovery, this project wasn’t just research for me. It connected directly to my long-term vision of creating spaces where people can heal in a way that feels real, supported, and culturally grounded. Being able to sit with community members, listen to their stories, and understand what’s actually needed helped deepen that vision in a meaningful way. As an indigenous person, this work also continues to shape my own path of reconnecting and learning. it reminded me that i don’t carry all the answers, but I do carry responsibility to listen, to build relationships, and to help create space where people can reconnect to their own healing, culture, and identity.

— Peter Gilhuly

  • British Columbia

  • Studentship

  • Vancouver Island University

  • Takla First Nation, Salish Sea Entheogenic Society

  • Mitacs, Health Research BC

  • 2025-2026

  • Indigenous Mental Health

  • Indigenous Communities

About the Project

Sacred synergy is a six-month project that supported Takla Nation in their journey towards wellness from addiction and intergenerational trauma. The project explored how traditional Indigenous healing ceremonies, land-based activities, and certain natural medicines (entheogens) can integrate into recovery programs. The objective of the project was to enable Takla Nation to identify and adapt a culturally fitting program, helping members find stronger paths to healing and well-being, and assessing local recovery support. 

Methodology

This project used a community-driven, relationship-based approach grounded in Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), bringing together Indigenous and Western ways of knowing. Guided by trust, collaboration, and responsiveness to community needs, the research used a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, where participants actively helped shape the project.

Between 7 to 11 participants were engaged from the Takla Nation’s Addictions Recovery Circle (ARC) to partake in community-driven and relational approach grounded methods. The participants were involved in three extended group discussions and individual conversations, contributing approximately 15 hours of dialogue grounded in lived experience, where they shared stories through sharing circles, conversations, and storytelling, focusing on experiences of trauma, addiction, healing, and recovery. The methodology identified common themes related to intergenerational trauma, pathways into addiction, recovery experiences, gaps in support systems, and culturally grounded healing approaches, including land-based practices, ceremony, and entheogen-assisted healing.

Findings

The following findings were made from the study:

  • The project identified the importance of relational and community-based approaches to addiction recovery and mental wellness within Takla Nation. Participants described gaps between existing recovery supports, which can contribute to isolation and challenges in maintaining long-term wellness.

  • Cultural practices were consistently identified as central to healing and recovery. Participants emphasized the importance of land-based healing, ceremony, and connection to culture and ancestors as grounding and restorative supports for addressing trauma and addiction.

  • Sharing circles and one-on-one conversations created opportunities for open discussion about addiction and mental health, helping reduce stigma and strengthen feelings of understanding, connection, and collective support within the group.

  • The project identified community interest in exploring additional healing approaches, including entheogen-assisted therapies, when delivered in safe, culturally grounded, and community-led ways. Participants emphasized the importance of Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and appropriate safeguards in these approaches.

  • The project also identified key themes around community strengths, gaps in recovery supports, and culturally grounded healing approaches. This work contributed to early planning for a more connected, community-led recovery model and continues to support dialogue within the Addictions Recovery Circle (ARC).

  • Overall, the findings highlighted the importance of culturally grounded, flexible, and relationship-based mental health approaches that integrate Indigenous knowledge systems alongside Western models of care.

Project Outreach

There are currently no formal plans to expand the Sacred Synergy project beyond Takla Nation; however, early steps have been taken to support future collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Sharing the Sacred Synergy project created opportunities to connect Takla Nation’s work with broader national discussions on Indigenous-led healing and emerging therapeutic approaches, while also opening possibilities for future collaboration and partnerships. Any future expansion will continue to be guided by community leadership, readiness, and consent to ensure the work remains community-led and culturally grounded.

Resources Created

  • The Sacred Synergy Project created several community-based and knowledge-sharing resources, including recorded sharing circles, conversations, and transcriptions documenting lived experiences related to trauma, recovery, and wellness. Presentation at the LIVE-PATH Gathering at the University of Calgary.

  • No formal publications or tools have been released at this stage, as the primary outcomes are community knowledge, relationships, and ongoing healing discussions.