Healing camp under new leadership
Valerie G. Barnes Connell Jordan
Northern Advocate
The 32nd annual Stanley Mission Traditional Healing Camp was under new leadership in 2025 as the next generation took over in a historic move.
The Camp was held on the traditional campgrounds with many coming to support it with their own talents and care.
Leanne Charles and Charlleen Charles grew up with the camp and the traditional knowledge and practices taught through it and everyday life.
Leanne’s father, Sol Charles, was one of the three founders of the community program that gave birth to the traditional healing program that is the base of the camp.
Her mother, Linda Charles, was active in the camp leadership for many years, and is always there to support, and that continued this year.
Charleen’s parents, the Late Fred and Karen Charles, ran the camp for many years.
“We do this for people to come, to heal together and learn this way, because we lost this way back in the day,” Charlleen said.
“It was our parents who revitalized it.”
Their parents organized the camp and “did it through the Elders that came into their lives, especially their healing journey, their sobriety paths. That’s what led them to start with this camp,” she said.
“They needed something to heal because of what they went through, because of residential school (and what) my father, my uncle’s and so many of our relatives had gone through,” Leanne added. “It was them who paved the way for us for me and Charlleen to take on now because they’re all getting older and they’re tired, but they are our biggest supporters. They guided us.
“My parents and Charlene’s Mom and the Late Fred, Charleen’s Dad. He’s guiding us from the Spirit World now, along with the other Elders that have passed on, before them.”
With just two-and-a-half weeks to prepare, the two went to work, getting donation request letters out, shopping for groceries and the Giveaway, and the myriad of things needing to be done.
The Camp was a success, and many were happy to see the younger generation take on the four-day Camp.
Each morning began with a Traditional Pipe Ceremony, where wisdom and knowledge is shared by the Elders.
There were daily Sweat Ceremonies, traditional healing treatments, traditional medicines, and meals cooked with traditional foods throughout the four days.
With the Closing Ceremonies, the Pipes were put down, and a Memorial was held to honour three people, who passed away and who were vital to the camp for many years.
The Late Fred Charles was a Medicine Man and Sweat Lodge Keeper, who led the camp for many years.
The Late Jean Charles was a Social Worker with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) and offered leadership and support to the camp for many years.
The Late John George Charles was a helper for the Sweat Lodge Ceremonies for many years.
The families were presented with Star Blankets in honour and appreciation for the vital work and support these three people gave to the camp over the years.
Karen Charles, who led the camp for many years, with her Late husband, Fred, wrote in her Facebook…
“The Memorial was a beautiful tribute to our three angels now residing in the Spirit World.
“I am deeply grateful that Charlleen and Leanne took over the roles of leading the camp this year, executing their responsibilities with remarkable leadership.”
“It was an awesome thing to see, that the young people are taking over. That’s the way we envisioned it to keep the Spirt of our Cultural Camp. It has been very important to my family,” Robert Ballantyne, one of the three founders of the camp, said in an interview with the Northern Advocate.
Ballantyne said he hopes the leadership will pass down to his grandchildren in the future.
He believes it is important adding, “We’ve been out here for 32 years breaking down the colonial, the impact of the colonialism, residential schools … the internalized colonial mentality that the church imposed on our people. That’s a hard nut to crack but we’ve come a long way … We see, people that were afraid of us back then, are part of our circle now. They’ve come around. That’s hopeful,” he said.
Ballantyne sees this as a “lifeline for children … that was beautiful to see.”
The camp grew out of an initiative, an adoption of a program developed out of Vancouver, to support the Indigenous traditional culture and spirituality, to bring healing to the community, particularly youth caught up in addictions.
Sol Charles, Larry Laliberte and Ballantyne were the leaders of the program that involved bringing in Elders from other parts of the country, teachings, ceremonies, sharing circles and the camp.
Charlleen said, she was told, “you have it for the next 30 years.” The two cousins have accepted the challenge with one year under their belt.
