Roots & Resilience
A Community Gathering by X Helping Hands
About the Event
On May 9–10, 2026, X Helping Hands hosted Roots & Resilience, a two-day free community gathering in Debert, Nova Scotia, on the unceded, ancestral territory of the Mi'kmaq People. What began in 2022 as a small storytelling platform at StFX has grown into a movement supporting BIPOC members, newcomers, and equity-deserving communities across rural Nova Scotia — reaching over 5,200 community members, with 87% identifying as racialized or newcomers, across 25+ cultures and 11 programmes. This gathering, described by founder Tavneet Kaur as "the room I wish I'd walked into," was the organization's biggest invitation yet: a weekend built around belonging, shared stories, and collective resilience, bringing together 20 people for two days of connection.
The weekend itself wove together land acknowledgment, creative workshops, and wellness practices — from a beaded pin workshop led by Ojibwe artist Kaitlin Cullen and a climate resilience session with the Clean Foundation, to yoga and meditation with Chère Jones, along with fire chat and reflective land-based practice guided by environmental educator Mariana Nardy. Sessions blended play, healing, and hands-on craft with deeper conversations about identity, home, and community care, closing each day with circle and reflection. The event closed with gratitude for everyone who showed up "exactly as you are," inviting attendees to stay connected as part of X Helping Hands' ongoing story of building rooted, resilient communities across Mi'kma'ki.
Event Details
Date
May 9-10 2026
Location
Debert hospitality centre
Hosted by
X Helping Hands
Focus
Youth leadership, land-based learning, storytelling, reconciliation, and community connection
Who it was for
Community members from rural Nova Scotia, with a focus on BIPOC participants
Stay Connected with X Helping Hands
Want to be part of future land-based gatherings and community events like this? Stay connected with X Helping Hands to hear about upcoming programs, workshops, and youth leadership opportunities
Community Partners
This gathering was made possible through the guidance of Elders Joe and Terry, and the support of Fireloch, who opened their space for shared meals, stories, and connection.