Parents in Ranch Ehrlo’s family programs have found a sense of purpose and belonging in a moccasin-making workshop.
What began as a structured group has evolved to become a beautiful community of heartfelt friendships.
“This was a space where parents could have a community, engage in healing, and also have space to talk, visit, and process. We started to see an organic out flow of natural connection with this small group of parents who had all recently come from northern communities,” said Erica Gray, family therapist. “The group became a strong source of support and became this beautiful circle where they would create, chat, laugh, and just be together.”
The 12-week group was spearheaded by Linda*, a family program participant and artisan from the Northwest Territories.
“She really advocated that this was something that she wanted to do. I was excited about it and so easily convinced when she showed me the images of the moccasins that she has made throughout her lifetime,” said Erica. “As a team, we agreed it would be something valuable to offer the families because it is something significant to their culture. It just felt like something really close to their heart and to their home.”
Erica shared that the success of the group came from both the journey and the outcome. The parents not only created a beautiful pair of moccasins, but in the process, they built resilience and confidence. Over the course of the project, despite daily challenges and moments of doubt, they stayed committed. They pushed through frustration, and the tangible result was a symbol of their perseverance.
Beyond the product, the process offered rich interpersonal experiences. Parents learned from each other, asked questions, sought help from peers, and reconnected to their cultures and histories.
“We know that many of the parents in the family programs come with decades of generational trauma and years of pain, grief, and loss. Often just talking about it isn’t effective because these are things that aren’t accessible with our words so being able to engage in a process of creativity has some very deep emotional healing qualities,” explained Erica.
“I think there’s a lot of value in a group that isn’t just about education and information, but one that includes more parts of self – I think that’s really impactful."
Ranch Ehrlo offers several different family programs that help provide support to families in their journeys. The programs include the Family Treatment Program, Intesive Family Preservation Services, and the Family Centred Addictions Program.
