Connecting Land, Spirit & Indigenous Wisdoms in our Work with Addictions

In her keynote address, Dr. Fellner will discuss the power of working with addictions and their root causes through land-based practices guided by natural law. Indigenous peoples have always maintained intricate understandings of human suffering, healing, development, and relationships rooted in natural law and wahkohtowin (kinship). Using concrete examples of community-led initiatives and Indigenous counselling, Dr. Fellner will offer strategies for connecting these teachings through working with land and spirit in addictions prevention and treatment. Dr. Fellner will discuss Indigenous understandings of addictions as spiritual relationships that may be addressed through land-based and spiritual practices, including traditional ceremonies, cultural teachings, Indigenous psychotherapies, medicine making, creative arts, and other land-based interventions.

Learning Objectives

Describe some of the primary concepts underlying Indigenous understandings of addiction as a spiritual relationship in the context of natural law;
Apply Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing into their work in addictions;
Incorporate land-based approaches and/or design land-based healing programs specific to the communities and contexts they live and work in.

Core Functions: Assessment, Treatment Planning, Counseling, Client Education, Referral, Consulting with Other Professionals, Human Diversity