The Seven Nations of the Interior (Dãkelh Dené, Ktunaxa, Nlaka’pamux, Secwepemc, St’át’imc, Syilx , Tsilhqot’in) have come together with a vision to create the Seven Nations Soaring Eagles Healing Centre for a Ceremony-based Indigenous Transformation Healing & Wellness Program. The Healing Centre, and the program that will be offered here, will provide participants with the opportunity to reclaim their lives from the impacts of colonization, so that they can live in wellness.

Cover is proud to be a part of this project and have been working the Seven Nations of the Interior, and particularly the Ktunaxa and Yaqan Nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay Band) on whose land the project is located, creating a design to support the vision for the project and assisting throughout the funding process.

The project includes seven buildings and extensive site work, including a Healing Centre, and on-site housing for clients. Supporting the healing outcomes and highlighting culture through the design has been considered and prioritized at every opportunity, with engagement and input from the community and project committees.

The Healing Centre flows from the critical work and efforts of Mary Basil, who recognized the need for alcohol and substance recovery within her Ktunaxa community and opened her own home for this care in the 1980s. She developed the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Wellness Centre in the 1990s, but it was closed in 2005. This Seven Nations Soaring Eagles Healing Centre would not be possible without her extensive advocacy and care and represents the return of this critically important healing work to the community.