Salish ancestral beliefs centered on the importance of guardian spirits, medicine men/women, and nature, with rituals like the winter guardian spirit dance fostering connection to the spirit world and burnings—feeding the spirits. A deep reverence for nature, particularly salmon, shaped their worldview, emphasizing reciprocity and living in balance. The transmission of stories and knowledge through oral tradition was vital, and their understanding of good medicine encompassed all living beings and the interconnectedness of the ecosystem, promoting harmonious relationships within their communities.
Coast Salish Good Medicine (Eyhh slaxin) is a holistic concept meaning everything—people, plants, land, water, and spirit—is medicine, and that individuals must actively choose daily to be a positive force for themselves and their community through kindness, respect, and cultural connection, contrasting with bad medicine (anger, violence). It emphasizes interconnectedness (Nuts a maht, “we are one”), nurturing spiritual and physical health through traditional practices, sharing knowledge, and supporting intergenerational resilience for collective well-being and cultural revitalization.
Good Medicine emphasizes that people, by their actions, can choose to be good medicine for others and the environment, fostering a culture of gratitude and sharing. For the Salish peoples, Good Medicine encompasses traditional plant use, such as Cedar, and a holistic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Medicine is connected to spiritual practices, the interconnectedness of all life, and respect for nature, which is a deep reverence for the natural world as a foundational principle in their approach to health and wellness.