RADIANT RESILIENCE

a land-based somatic retreat

Come home to your body, your community, and your purpose.

It is time to tap into a deep memory that we are not separate from nature; indeed, we are no different from the earth on which we live.

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Whether we know it or not, we are working together. We participate in movements to reform laws, to help our environment, and to make social worlds more equitable and inclusive. We grieve as we see longed-for changes meet backlash, resistance, reversals.

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Our grief and despair are doorways to deeper connection. We will acknowledge this grief, yet hold steadiness for hope and resilience. With our bodies grounded on our earth, empowered by an embodied practice, and connected to community, we can disengage from old paradigms and act in support of new ones.

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Like the cells in our bodies, we are one with what is becoming. We know that laws of physics and ecology pattern the universe. As each of us expands into an exquisite particularity, we unite to strengthen ourselves and our communities. This is how we change.

The Invitation

Set an intention, and work together with a small cohort to build new skills in emotional agility, regulation, and connection.
Under the guidance of Indigenous Elders, learn models of resilience rooted in land and community.
Daily movement classes from ISMETA-certified Somatic Movement Educators help integrate your learnings and offer new tools to expand your practice or to be shared with your community and/or clientele.
Explore your own connection to “root systems” in guided experiences in the forested and oceanic landscapes of Salt Spring Island.

Through deep witnessing, embodiment practices, and intentional communication, we create a culture of belonging and mutual support; this fertile soil becomes the source material from which we can foster and cultivate our resilience, and is how we can bring a spirit of resilience back to our families and communities.

Radiant Resilience is a practice and curriculum designed for people who are committed to deepening their capacity for leadership and community building. We also offer a structured professional development pathway for those interested in certification in Embodied & Land-Based Resilience Practices. Learn more about certification here.

interested? Reach out to talk

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RADIANT RESILIENCE RETREAT

The Way of Witnessing

Here’s what to expect

Practical Retreat Details

Meet the Guides

Opportunities for Certification

Frequently Asked Questions

THE WAY OF WITNESSING

A Message from Dr. Seónagh Kummer

I believe our work now is to be marked by what we are witnessing, to awaken in awe at the depth of what we are observing in our world, and to focus ourselves positively in meaningful networks and partnerships that are built with great care and connection. We need to be conscious of ecological and structural damage we see, of attacks on human rights and progressive laws, while being wary of the mass dissemination of our grief. What we are witnessing needs to be held with care, and reciprocated with gestures of committed action. In-person rituals help us to acknowledge this time without becoming overwhelmed or desensitized. We unite to strengthen and expand, to become aware of solutions we envision in our immediate communities and to build networks of possibility.

I invite you to this retreat wherein we consciously value and develop skills of witnessing as we strengthen and build community with intelligent purpose. I am grateful to hold this retreat on the ancestral and unceded traditional territories of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. I extend gratitude to the many leaders and knowledge holders active in the movement of healing from the in‐depth effects of Residential Schools and Canada’s Policy of Assimilation on Indigenous communities. One Elder I know says, “Gratitude comes from the heart, but the heart cannot speak, so we need to show our gratitude through actions.” At this retreat, we share grateful and studied actions we can take as travelers, as friends, as people living on unceded territories, and as people groping for language to articulate our grief about what we see happening in our world.

We offer an intergenerational space for practicing the skills of witnessing in somatic movement, meditation, talking circles, experiential learning, and ceremony. The meta-skill of witnessing offers a way forward that is non-judgemental, yet acknowledges where we come from and what we are now seeing, so we don’t recreate old systems. This specific quality of awareness–a steady, embodied, non-judging presence connected to something deeper than thought–is what we need to cultivate at this time of rapid change.

Living in this way is not naïve or inconsequential. It is a refusal to participate in the destruction we are witnessing. When we choose peace in our own bodies, relationships, and how we consume, we interrupt cycles of harm. When we cultivate peace, joy and loving kindness within ourselves, we bring it to our embodied everyday relationships. We find space and time to love and nurture the important people in our lives. We develop friendships with others who elevate peace and freedom from oppression and violence. In this way, we build strength in our communities, generate hope, and bring support and joy to those around us.

A WEEK-LONG RETREAT: WHAT TO EXPECT

A week-long retreat on beautiful Salt Spring Island, B.C. We will be working with our bodies in close relationship with the land through teachings in mindful somatic movement, subtle body awareness, and cultural safety.
Guided ceremonies, rituals and eco-somatic explorations. Movement practices take place in a dome studio on a forested property and within various natural ecosystems across the island. Ceremonies are guided by indigenous Elders who are deeply rooted in their teachings with kindness and respect.
Experiential Learning taught by Elders. Kathi and Daniel share teachings in cultural safety, a principle that centers the needs and voices of indigenous people. These teachings play an important role in shaping the conversation about our collective interests. During Kathi’s experiential workshop Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village© participants explore their own, personal role in supporting the revival of the values that worked so beautifully in indigenous villages for thousands of years. As a group, we also explore in‐depth the effects of Residential Schools and Canada’s Policy of Assimilation on Indigenous communities.This workshop is geared to solutions rather than recrimination and is a great forum in which to ask questions. With the Elders’ modeling we analyse and respond to power imbalances in society and discuss what actions we can take from a non-blame, non-shame perspective. The workshop invites all participants to become a part of the healing that IS already happening.
Community. Radiant Resilience is a framework of support that values the journey of each individual as part of a living whole. Through an intentionally small, intimate cohort, we cultivate trust, shared reflection, and meaningful dialogue. Together, we set intentions and build relationships that extend beyond the retreat, supporting one another in integrating these teachings into our daily lives. As our first inaugural gathering, we are excited to co-create a unique and foundational experience with this initial circle of participants.
Sound Bath with indigenous healers. Hwiemtun (Coast Salish) and Lekha (Metis) provide a healing space to journey through a variety of frequencies.
Daily movement classes led by Somatic Movement Therapists and Educators certified through ISMETA.
Catered Meals. Farm-to-Table vegetarian and pescatarian meals with fresh, vibrant produce are a way of life on Salt Spring Island. The Welcome Dinner with faculty on Sunday and the Celebration Dinner with faculty on Friday are included in the tuition along with light breakfasts and lunches. Participants are encouraged to share evening meals as desired.
Elder on site offering healing brushings, support and herbal remedies for emotional balance.
Spaciousness for rest, integration, and unstructured time—we make time for varied opportunities for quiet reflection, hiking, or gathering in smaller groups.

On-site lodging with shared kitchen, or private units are available by reservation in advance at additional cost (spots are limited, reservations are first come first serve). Onsite camping is also available with showers, toilets, and a kitchen.

interested? Reach out to talk

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Dates: September 26-October 3, 2026

Location: Salt Spring Island, B.C.

Group Size: Limited to 12 participants

Experience Level: All levels Welcome

Language: English

Weather: Weather is often reliably mild and sunny in September, which is considered an excellent time to visit the island without the summer crowds. Average daytime temperatures are often perfect for outdoor activities, 18-20 Celsius or 68 Fahrenheit, with cooling at night perfect for eating outdoors or layering sweaters at an outdoor firepit.

Accommodation: On-site lodging and shared cooking facilities available at an additional cost.

Travel: Nearest airport Vancouver (YVR) with option to book a float plane (20 minutes flight) or ferry (1.5 hours direct) to the island. Flights and transportation are not included.

Retreat Pricing:

Tuition: $2,550 USD*

Includes all classes and activities, catered breakfasts and lunches, use of dome studio space for creative movement exploration throughout the workshop, welcome dinner (Sunday evening), and a celebration dinner (Friday evening). Arrivals are expected on Saturday, September 26th, and we will offer a grocery store shuttle to help you get settled.

*Please contact Seonagh directly for information on work-study or scholarship assistance for local somatic practitioners. You can email (seonagh@seonagh.com) or click the link below to set a time for a conversation. BIPOC will receive primary consideration for scholarships as we strive to create more access to this work and support expansion of this network.

Optional Activities:
We know learning happens when we are together socially, or sometimes people need time alone, and we leave time for reflection and choice about the activities you want to do. Optional hikes or user pay activities are offered but not required curriculum. On Saturday, October 3, after our final reflection, morning movement classes, and a closing ritual we provide options for those who can stay on. We will connect with some local somatic practitioners, explore the island together– hiking, kayak, a favourite swim spot, go to the farmers market, and/or visit an artisan goat cheese farm or a local winery. On Saturday evening, we will visit a local working farm/restaurant (Ciderie) together, and those who want can share dinner and farewells.

Lodging: Participants are welcome to book the type of lodging that suits their needs. The retreat venue, Honest Farms, offers comfortable, affordable lodging options that will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Feel free to reach out to Seonagh for more information regarding stays on or near Honest Farms.

Professional Development & Certification The first 60 professional development hours of the program can be completed during the in-person workshop and a six week online integration course (six 2 hour sessions scheduled in Fall 2026), and culminate in a Certificate in Embodied & Land-Based Resilience Practices. Those who wish to deepen their practice may apply to the in-depth 250 hour Radiant Resilience program. All classes feature teachings of a somatic movement therapist certified through ISMETA.

interested? Reach out to talk

MEET THE GUIDES

Kathi Camilleri is a Métis, Cree, and Ojibwa woman, who has coordinated healing programs in the Indigenous Community for over 29 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies, Certificates in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and training in re-enactment therapy for trauma survivors. Kathi worked with Indigenous Mental Health and has her own consulting business.

She facilitates strategic planning sessions and experiential workshops regarding Canada’s Policy of Assimilation and Colonization with social workers, foster parents, health care workers, church groups, all levels of government, students and educators, and frontline workers in communities across Canada and the U.S.

Daniel Elliott is an artist, cultural worker, and drug and alcohol counselor born into the Stz’uminus People on Vancouver Island. Deeply rooted in his teachings, Dan has dedicated his life to helping others find their way toward balance and wellness. He has shared cultural guidance in settings including the Nanaimo public school system and the Nanaimo Correctional Centre, offering ceremony and cultural grounding to those seeking connection.

Today, he continues to support individuals on their healing journeys, regularly facilitating smudges, sweat lodges, and traditional cooking classes. Dan also mentors through Culturally Committed, walking alongside settler people to nurture understanding, unlearning, and meaningful reconciliation. His mentorship is grounded in humility, patience, and relational accountability. A gifted artist, Dan’s work explores themes of healing, resilience, and reconciliation in painting, as a film maker and in his writing. Through his work, and as President of Raven Sky Productions, Dan uplifts teachings that honour ancestral knowledge while fostering growth and understanding across communities.

Seónagh teaches dance as a creative healing practice, cultural knowledge, and as a means to tap into the deep memory that we are not separate from nature. Seónagh incorporates her approach into the Radiant Resilience land-based retreat and certification, wherein models for deep witnessing and embodied communication offer a living breathing field of mindful movement, somatic social justice, and a homecoming to our root systems of land and body.

Born in Canada of Irish and Scottish heritage, Seónagh maintained a strong connection with her Celtic ancestry as she worked extensively in cultural dance research for over 30 years. Her experiences attending dance ceremonies and working alongside Indigenous elders in Africa and North America inform her approach to somatic movement therapy. When in Vancouver in the 1990s she taught workshops in community engagement and worked for the United Native Nations in indigenous self-government research while training and performing as a dancer. Seónagh earned her master’s degree at UBC (2000), wherein she focused on a method of teaching anticolonial education through movement before going to dance and teach in New York and Massachusetts. She received a Ph.D. in Dance (Temple University, 2009) as a Fisher Center Fellow for her research about Kenyan (Luo) women’s dance as a resistance to colonization, and worked as a Tenured Professor of Dance in the United States for over 19 years. After doing advanced training in somatic movement therapy programs she became a registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator, and a Dynamic Embodiment Practitioner (Dr. Martha Eddy).

Born and raised in Khowutzun (the ‘Warm Land’) by a Coast Salish mother and Hawaiian lineage father, Hwiemtun (Fred Roland) received many teachings of his Coast Salish culture. Through spending many years with elders of his territory, Hwiemtun learned the cultural and spiritual traditions of his ancestors. During the last 20 years, he has journeyed around the world to explore and share ways of being with elders and healers of many indigenous tribes.

Hwiemtun has devoted his life to creating partnerships internationally, nationally and locally with organizations, youth programs, treatment centers, spiritual groups and tribes. He conducts presentations, workshops and ceremonies on a regular basis to promote understanding of indigenous ways of knowing. He has built sweat lodges in Germany, Hungary, South America, West Indies, Caribbean, Asia, and throughout Canada. There are many other things that could be said about Hwiemtun, however, they can only be expressed in person.

Lekha, White Turtle Woman is a Métis woman who has lived in the Quwut’sun territory for the past 15 years. She has had a life long passion for music and singing which include a wide variety of ceremonial songs, devotional songs and percussive instruments that allows for improv and intuition of spirit to flow through her. She has extensive knowledge and training in traditional sweat lodge ceremonies and leads sweat lodges for women. Lekha has also studied the healing arts of Acupressure, Reiki and Ayurvedic massage, and has worked with First Nations elders in their tradition of clearing and brushing off energy. She has developed a strong sensitivity and intuition of people’s energy fields, and has implemented this into how she works in the sound healing journeys.

interested? Reach out to talk

CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CERTIFICATION

At the heart of this offering is the desire to build opportunities for connections between likeminded folks across different landscapes, cultures, and communities. We have a built-in opportunity to continue deepening your practice with faculty and a cohort of like-minded practitioners. You are invited to attend 6 online meetings scheduled in the months following the retreat. This deepens support for bringing the work into our lives. For those interested in an expansive relationship with a cohort and the Certificate in Embodied & Land-Based Resilience Practices, the online classes will provide a continued guidance to help you further integrate the material, and we will help you select and apply modalities that feel authentic and meaningful to your life and work. Those who complete the 6-week post-retreat course, in combination with the 7 day retreat, receive a Certificate in Embodied & Land-Based Resilience Practices.

This certificate recognizes students crossing a threshold of advanced training in somatic movement, embodied resilience, relational attunement, land-based learning, and decolonial awareness. The coursework is designed to support participants in integrating somatic movement practices into their own educational, therapeutic or community-based settings. Many participants are able to submit these hours toward continuing education or professional development requirements, depending on their licensing or institutional context. Documentation of completed hours and learning outcomes is provided.

Those who wish to deepen their practice may apply to the in-depth 250 hour Radiant Resilience program. We are in the process of having the program approved through ISMETA, the international certifying body of dance somatic movement professionals. All classes feature teachings of a certified somatic movement therapist so that after completion of this process you can become an Associate Somatic Movement Professional (ASMP) and a Registered Somatic Dance Educator (RSDE).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I am not a professional yoga teacher or dancer. Is this program still for me?

Participants with varying levels and types of experiences are welcome. You don’t need to be a professional to learn these methods. I choreograph options for different levels and movement abilities. The emphasis of the daily movement classes is meditative, deepening, and about releasing stresses, both past and present. We all need movement practices that help us to have more awareness of our bodies, practices of self-regulation, and co-regulation with our natural world.

If these ideas speak to you, then it’s worth following up and having a conversation with me (Seónagh) 1:1 to see if it’s of interest. Reach out: seonagh@seonagh.com

In what way is “somatic movement” part of this retreat?

The somatic training explored as a part of the Radiant Resilience method is perceptual; allowing you to see more, refine your abilities, detect nuances of your embodied experience, and to develop ways of modulating energy from the sensed safety of an inner and outer kinesphere. These combined skills contribute to a metaskill of this work, the inner witness, and to learned skills of emotional agility.

A powerful healing comes from awareness of this deepest, nonlinear body knowledge. The somatic dance movement I offer is anatomically designed to elicit specific pathways of awareness. You may start to sense connections in the body, sense a calming of the nervous system, understand connectivity pathways in the fascia, hone proprioceptive and interoceptive awarenesses, and find more sensitivity to a kinesthetic attunement to other beings.

How are indigenous teachings and history approached in this retreat?

Teachings from the Elders play an important role in shaping the conversation about our collective interests. Daniel and Kathi describe how each one of us brings sacred gifts and has a unique way of contributing to society. Teachings about cultural safety centres the histories, needs and voices of indigenous people at the retreat, and the spirit of these teachings is about how to support one another, to question and break down the belief systems we might not have agreed to but that we have inherited, or that we have tacitly agreed to that are not working for us. This type of honesty and forward thinking is how we will create something new together.

The Elders guide us to create a new culture of belonging. We all belong on this planet, and we are linked by our shared humanity and shared legacies of generations past. By listening to nature, witnessing one another, understanding our interconnectivity, and by following the Elders’ examples, we begin to investigate and respond to our world as one mind, one heart, and one being.

How will this workshop help me take action in my community?

What connects with you most will likely be a result of your relationship to yourself, your community, and your work. Here are just a few examples of the learnings you might take home:

Skills to develop new practices for your own nervous system regulation.
Experience creating a culture of belonging in a diverse community of peers and teachers.
Methods for self-awareness that can be used to create a more fully-developed presence.
A deeper understanding of working with the fluids of the body, and other systems in the context of our connections to ancestry and ecology.
Increased awareness of the role of fascia, and skills to unblock and release old pain, and increase a sense of glide, and fluidity in your body.
Skills in deep observation and deep witnessing other beings and nature.

How can I prepare myself for the retreat?

The Elders ask us to come with an openness on our faces. This is a safe environment for people of diverse backgrounds, ages, life paths, and identities.

At the 7-Day retreat, participants will be asked to set an intention. It is not required that you arrive with your intention defined, but it may be worthwhile to consider what it means to have an intention. Consider: what are the questions that you are asking yourself when you think about intention-setting?

This process also suggests to us that it helps to be more present, and for this workshop specifically, you may feel supported by becoming aware of the cycles of nature that you see and live in. This is not a formal practice and is not required, but it is a way to become less alienated from your world, and is a pathway to be present with yourself.

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