Marina Coates: ”The Grounding of Being on the Land”

Marina Coates is one of the moms who joined the Return of the Buffalo community in the summer of 2018. Her infectious delight in her young son was immediately noticeable, as was the way she and her whole family came home to their best selves when they were on the land together at Sandy-Saulteaux. Marina reminds us how the sweat ceremony and time on the land are simple and central practices for Indigenous wellness and healing. Her story also reflects a reality that is known to many who are recovering their sobriety: Often when the sobriety journey is undertaken by two partners, it can be hard for the pair to keep pace with each other. When do you wait for a partner to catch up, and when do you know that it is time to move ahead on your own? Marina shares some hard-won wisdom that will speak to many.