Nature, Community, Medicine
A 5-day plant medicine gathering on
Wapawekka Lake,Northern Saskatchewan.
Where clinical care meets indigenous wisdom.
What is it?
A 5-day plant medicine gathering on Wapawekka Lake, northern Saskatchewan — led by Jenelle McArthur (Chasing Bear), Licensed Clinical Therapist, Dakota, Nakota, and Plains Cree from Ocean Man First Nation. Two plant medicine ceremonies. Talking Circles. Medicine Wheel Teachings. A Flower Bath. Sound healing. Nourishing meals, a lodge on an island, and the kind of quiet the north does better than anywhere. All-inclusive. $1,899 CAD.
Why is it for me, right now?
Have you been searching — in therapy, in books, in silent moments you couldn’t quite hold onto — for something that goes deeper than insight. You are not broken. You are ready. This gathering is for those feeling called to pause, reflect, and reconnect. To release what no longer serves. To step gently into what’s next — held in community, in ceremony, in land that has always known how to hold people. Let the medicine find you!
What to do next?
Not register. Not pay. Talk to Jenelle. Every participant has an individual conversation with her before anything is confirmed — because this needs to be the right fit, and she takes that seriously. If you are feeling the pull, trust it.
Retreat Highlights
- 2 Plant Spirit Medicine Ceremonies
- Talking Circle Ceremonies
- Holistic Wellness Knowledge Sharing
- Sound Bowl Treatment
- Somatic Breathwork
- Medicine Wheel Teachings (applied and practical to customize your lifestyle
- Plant Technology Workshop
- Flower Bath
Meet Your Facilitators
Jenelle McArthur, LCSW
Lead Facilitator, Indigenous Social Worker, Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapist, Approved Mental Health Therapist
Hau,
câk nit ishinihkâson — my name is Jenelle McArthur.
My spirit name is Chasing Bear.
I am an Indigenous Social Worker, Psychedelic Integration Psychotherapist, and Approved Mental Health Therapist, rooted in Dakota, Nakota, and Plains Cree traditions from Ocean Man First Nation (Treaty 4 Territory).
My work lives at the intersection of clinical practice, Indigenous knowledge, and spiritual transformation.
I support individuals in navigating non-ordinary states of consciousness — including plant medicine journeys, dreams, and other deeply personal experiences — with care, respect, and grounded integration.
My therapeutic approach is psycho-spiritual, weaving together:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Somatic Experiencing
- Trauma-informed practice
- Mind-body-spirit integration
Alongside this, I am guided by Indigenous teachings, community healing models, and the belief that stories are medicine.
I do not work alone.
This retreat is supported by a circle of consultants — including medical professionals, mental health practitioners, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders — ensuring a container that is both safe and ethically held.
At the heart of my work is a simple vision:
Transformation is possible.
Like the caterpillar entering the chrysalis…
we each have the capacity to dissolve, reorganize, and emerge anew.” – Jenelle McArthur
Keiara Montgomery
Co-Facilitator, Holder of Space
Hello,
My name is Keiara.
I am a Michif (Métis) woman from Regina, Saskatchewan, and a mother of two.
My path into this work has been shaped through lived experience, deep personal healing, and a continual return to spirit.
I carry a strong intuitive connection and sensitivity to energy — something that has been with me since childhood. Through my own healing journey, I have learned how to listen, ground, and honour this connection in a good way.
Over the past decade, my life has been devoted to healing and reconnection — returning to relationship with myself, my body, my ancestors, and the spirit world.
Plant medicine became a doorway into this deeper understanding, beginning with psilocybin and expanding into ceremonial work guided by Elders. Through these experiences, I have developed a relationship with medicines such as ayahuasca and the teachings of Pachamama, always walking with humility, respect, and responsibility.
My background as a paramedic allows me to remain grounded and present in intense and vulnerable moments.
I am currently completing my Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work, with the intention of continuing into a Master’s program — walking in both clinical and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Ceremony is central to how I live and how I hold space.
I believe in creating safe, intentional environments where people can reconnect with themselves and access their own inner healing.
I do not come as someone who has all the answers,
but as someone who walks alongside others —
in presence, in growth, and in connection.
– Keiara Montgomery
Amber Arkana
Co-Facilitator, Holder of Space
Hi,
My name is Amber RoseMary Willis, also known as Amber Arkana.
I am an artist, healer, and space holder, born and raised in Alberta, Canada, with a life shaped by travel, creativity, and a deep commitment to healing.
My work lives at the intersection of art, ceremony, and transformation.
For over 15 years, I have worked as a professional tattoo artist, approaching my craft as both creative expression and sacred practice. Alongside this, I have spent more than a decade devoted to plant medicine and healing work — learning through mentorship, ceremony, and my own deep inner process.
My approach is integrative and intuitive, weaving together:
- Parts work (IFS)
- Somatic practices and breath work
- Sound healing
- Energy work, including Reiki
Art as a pathway for healing and expression
I have supported and coordinated ceremonies and retreats, held space for individuals and groups, and worked in integration support — always with a focus on care, presence, and respect for the process.
My path has been deeply influenced by Indigenous teachings and ceremony, particularly through relationships with Cree, Ojibwe, and Dakota/Lakota communities. I continue to walk in learning, honoring both these teachings and my own Cree/Métis ancestry.
In recent years, I have been studying within the Shipibo lineage of the Amazon, guided by teachers who carry ancestral knowledge of plant medicine traditions.
At the heart of my work is lived experience.
I have walked through my own darkness, my own transformation — and through that, I have come to understand both suffering and the possibility of liberation.
This work is not something I do.
It is something I live.
I walk with humility, respect, and devotion — in service of healing, connection, and the remembrance that joy is our birthright.
– Amber Arkana
Matthew "Wayne" McArthur
Co-Facilitator, Common Man
Hau,
My name is Matthew “Wayne” McArthur.
I am an Ikce Wicasa — a Common Man — from Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation.
I was raised with the teachings of my people, where we are taught to take care of one another and to live in a good way. These values were passed down to me by those who guided me in this life.
I carry the teachings of the late William McArthur, Henry Skywater, Armond McArthur, Gary Silk, and Peter Bigstone. Through them, I learned the Nakota way of life — and it is my responsibility to continue that way.
I am a singer and a teacher of traditional songs.
I share songs through the Red Iron Drumming Group, including Kahomni, Traditional Wakes and Funeral songs, Pow Wow songs, and Sweat Lodge songs. These songs carry history, spirit, and connection, and I pass them on to the younger generations so they are not lost.
I am also a hunter.
Each season, I hunt elk, moose, and deer, and I share that food with my community and surrounding families. This is part of how I was taught — to provide, to give, and to make sure no one goes without.
Family is at the center of my life.
I am a father, a grandfather, and a partner, and I do my best each day to live in a way that honors those roles.
I do not see myself as above anyone.
I walk as a Common Man — living the teachings, sharing what was given to me, and doing my part for the people and the generations to come.
– Matthew “Wayne” McArthur
Why Insight Alone Has Not Been Enough
You have likely done the work. Therapy. Perhaps medication. Meditation retreats, books, workshops, the long slow labor of trying to understand yourself. And in many ways, it has helped. You are not where you were. But there is still something — a layer underneath the insight, a pattern that returns, a feeling you cannot quite reach with your thinking mind — that has not shifted.
This is not a failure of effort or intelligence. It is a feature of how healing actually works.
The mind can understand a wound completely and still be held by it. Conventional therapy works at the level of narrative — what happened, what it meant, how to think about it differently. This is genuinely valuable. But it does not always reach the places where the body has stored what the mind has learned to manage. It does not always touch the part of you that learned, very early, to survive instead of live.
What is missing is not more understanding. It is a different kind of contact — with the body, with community, with the intelligence of something older and quieter than thought. Plant medicine, held in the right container, with the right guidance, reaches those places. Not because it is magic. Because it temporarily interrupts the mental patterns that have been protecting you from your own depth — and in that opening, real movement becomes possible.
The problem is not you. The problem is that you have been trying to unlock a door with the wrong key.
What Makes This Container Different
Most people who have heard of psilocybin retreats imagine the medicine as the thing — the experience, the vision, the breakthrough. And the medicine is powerful. The research from Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, and institutions across the world is clear: psilocybin, in the right conditions, produces lasting positive change in ways that decades of conventional treatment sometimes cannot.
But the medicine is not the container. And the container is everything.
What Jenelle brings — and what very few facilitators in the world can offer — is the convergence of two forms of knowing that are almost never found in the same person. She is a Licensed Clinical Therapist, trained in trauma-informed practice, with a team of medical and mental health professionals behind every ceremony. She is also Dakota, Nakota, and Plains Cree — and the Talking Circles, the Medicine Wheel Teachings, the Flower Bath and the rhythms of this gathering are not borrowed from her culture. They are her culture. They have been held by her people for generations. She carries them with the authority of inheritance, not the enthusiasm of adoption.
This matters for one precise reason: the medicine opens you. What you are opened into determines what you bring home.
In a container without roots — without ceremony, without clinical accountability, without the specific intelligence of Indigenous healing frameworks — the opening can be disorienting. People return from retreats with powerful experiences they cannot integrate, insights that fade, or emotions they were not supported to process. This is the most common failure mode in this space.
In Jenelle’s container, the medicine is one part of a complete sequence. Individual preparation before you arrive. Two ceremonies, intentionally spaced. Talking Circles that give language to what the medicine surfaced. Medicine Wheel Teachings that give you a framework — not a spiritual concept, but a practical, living tool — for understanding what is happening in you and what to do with it. Integration support after you leave.
The missing piece was never more willpower, more insight, or a more powerful experience. It was a complete container, held by someone who was born to hold it.
A Daily Rhythm You Can Trust
You will not need to manage anything here. That is not a small thing.
Day 1 - Arrival & Gentle Landing
Dinner welcomes you home with warmth and grounding.
After the journey, your body is met with nourishing, familiar food—inviting you to soften, to settle, to arrive.
This is your exhale.
A crossing from the noise of everyday life into the quiet rhythm of the lodge.
The evening unfolds gently—through connection, intention setting, and a grounded opening circle. Within a trauma-informed, carefully held space, you’ll be introduced to the container that will guide the days ahead—drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic awareness, and mind-body-spirit integration. Gentle practices, shared agreements, and a simple opening ceremony invite you to arrive not just physically, but internally—supported by community and the quiet of the northern sky.
Day 2 - Opening & Creating Space
Breakfast begins the day softly—nourishing but not heavy.
Lunch is clean and balanced, supporting steady energy and clarity.
Dinner becomes slightly lighter, allowing the body to feel more spacious and at ease.
As the day unfolds, you may notice a subtle shift—more presence, more openness, less noise.
Guided processes invite you inward—gently connecting with different parts of yourself through IFS-informed exploration, while somatic practices help you listen to the language of the body. Time in the forest, optional movement, and moments on the water support regulation, grounding, and reconnection. Facilitated circles and experiential practices open space for insight, while community begins to form around shared humanity and respect for each person’s path.
Day 3 - Ceremony & Light
Breakfast is simple and light.
Lunch is intentionally minimal and served earlier in the day.
By evening, the focus has shifted inward.
Food steps back so your experience can come forward.
The body is left clear, supported, and unobstructed—ready to let go.
This is a day of deepening. Through carefully guided, trauma-informed facilitation, you are supported in moving at your own pace—allowing awareness, release, and insight to arise organically. Somatic experiencing practices help you stay connected to your body as a resource, while ceremonial space, held with respect and intention, invites a deeper encounter with self. Nature remains a steady presence—quiet, spacious, and grounding.
Day 4 - Integration & Grounding and Rebuilding
Breakfast feels comforting and steady—a return to the body.
Lunch offers deeper nourishment, helping you reconnect and restore.
Dinner is warm, grounding, and supportive without being heavy.
This is a tender day.
Food becomes an anchor—something you can rely on as you begin to make meaning of your experience.
Integration unfolds through gentle, embodied practices and supported sharing. You’ll be invited to notice what is shifting within—what feels clearer, softer, or more true. IFS-informed reflection, somatic grounding, and time in nature help you begin to weave insight into your everyday awareness. Community continues to hold the process, alongside simple rituals that honor what has been experienced and what is still unfolding.
Day 5 - Closing & Connection
Everything That Is Included
- 2 Guided Plant Medicine Ceremonies (psilocybin) held by a licensed LCSW and her team
- Talking Circle Ceremonies — held in the Indigenous tradition Jenelle carries
- Medicine Wheel Teachings — practical, applicable, yours to keep
- Holistic Wellness Knowledge Sharing
- Plant Technology Workshop
- Sound Bowl Treatment
- Individual preparation and integration session(s) — included, not optional
- All meals, prepared fresh and intentionally for each stage of the journey
- Accommodation at Northern Echo Lodge
- Boat transport from landing to the lodge
- A team of experienced medical professionals, psychologists, knowledge keepers, and elders
$1,899 CAD · All-inclusive ·
August 26–30, 2026 · 12–16 participants
Glenna Barber
Host, Retreat & Rest
“Glenna does not just host retreats — she runs them. Which means when you bring your group to Northern Echo Lodge, you are supported by someone who understands your work from the inside.”
What Others Have Found Here
“Hey Glenna!
We had such a great time with y’all!! Long way home with many delays and layovers. We did not get home till Monday night almost midnight. We were so impressed with all your cooking and creations. You sure have an amazing talent! Hope the fires are under control and that y’all have a great summer! We’re in the 90’s here with heat index in the 100’s! 🥵.
Take care!”
Sharon Malone
Arkansas
“Thank you for inviting me and giving me this opportunity to experience this community. Big hugs.”
Caleigh
Saskatoon
“Thank you for everything, Glenna! My higher power was looking out for me when I met you”
Chandra
Saskatoon
“Glenna
thank you again for making this retreat so magical – literally in every way!. I felt I was on a true sabbatical….discovering more about myself and the world all at once!You are a healer and a true connector! Your food alone warms our bellies and souls! Thank you for working so hard and making it so very perfect!I love you beyond words and cannot wait until the next one.
Glenna — you’ve introduced me to such a richness that makes you you! Thank you, not just for all the food and hospitality, but for enriching my life on what it means to be from Saskatchewan! I cannot wait to return!
I❤️you! “
Sarah
Virginia
“Glenna,
You are the essence of Welcome. Thankyou for the authentic invitation to this retreat – I felt it and responded. It was a gift to be here. Thank you.
Dearest, dear Glenna,
As I sit to write this, I feel that words are insufficient to describe my gratitude to you. Your welcome that night on Zoom touched my soul. I am someone who questions every “large purchase” I make… and I never questioned this.
That was you. You attended my soul and held me in your embrace. I felt it before I arrived, and know to your mat as I stepped off one plane.
Our time together has been beautiful. You are so attentive — to words, to non-words, to spirit, to dance…
You created sacred space and — even while attending to all of the logistics and feeding us this manna from heaven 🙂 — also managed to be truly present and loving, living, being.
I love that I have this connection with you now and always… and look forward to our continued years to come.
With love + gratitude,”
Christine
Virginia
“Thank you, Glenna. I love you! “
Anna
Saskatoon
“Thank you.. I made huge steps on this trip. “
Chris
Saskatoon
“Northern Echo Escapes – A Soulful Retreat for Rest and Connection
Northern Echo Escapes is a hidden gem for anyone seeking peace, reflection, and a deep breath away from the noise of everyday life. While many guests came for the fishing, I came to refresh—and I found exactly what my spirit needed.
The scenery is stunning: quiet woods, a shimmering lake, and cozy cabins that feel like a warm hug. I spent mornings journaling on the deck, watching the light dance through the trees, and sipping tea by the wood stove as the fire crackled. Even sitting by the kitchen window offered a calming view of nature’s rhythm.
The hosts were exceptional—not just welcoming, but genuinely engaging. Brock was easy to talk to, Kelly kept the mood light with his great sense of humor, and Glenna’s cooking was unforgettable. Every meal—from appetizers to dessert—was like a comforting feast, made with love and care.
Though I didn’t come to fish, I found joy in casting from the dock, canoeing with a dear friend, and simply being present. I connected with other guests over meals and meaningful conversations. One of the most special moments was a fall solstice ceremony under the stars—a beautiful way to honor the season and the stillness.
Northern Echo Escapes is more than a destination—it’s a place to recharge your body, clear your mind, and rest your spirit. Whether you’re fishing or simply finding peace, this retreat offers something truly special”
Betty N
Saskatoon
Is This For Me?
This gathering is not for everyone. It is for those who are ready — not certain, not fearless, but genuinely ready — to meet something in themselves that ordinary life keeps just out of reach.
It is for those who have done the work and know that there is still more. For those who feel the pull of something they cannot quite name. For those who are willing to get in a boat, cross to an island in the northern wilderness, and trust — carefully, with full clinical and ceremonial support — the intelligence of Grandmother Mushroom and the woman who has given her life to holding this kind of space.
Jenelle speaks individually with every participant before registration is confirmed. Not as a formality. Because this needs to be the right fit — for you and for the group you will journey with. That conversation is free, it is without obligation, and it is the most important step you can take right now.
If you’re feeling the pull… trust it.
August 26–30, 2026 · Wapawekka Lake, Northern Saskatchewan
$1,899 CAD all-inclusive · 12–16 participants maximum
Spots are limited not as a marketing tactic, but because the container only holds so much. If you are feeling called, the time to begin the conversation is now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is psilocybin legal in Canada?
Jenelle holds the appropriate clinical credentials and operates within the current regulatory framework for supervised psilocybin use in Canada. This is discussed directly in your intake conversation, where Jenelle can address your specific situation and location.
Is this safe?
Safety is the foundation of everything Jenelle does. Every participant completes an individual intake consultation and medical screening before registration is confirmed. Jenelle’s team includes experienced medical and mental health professionals, psychologists, knowledge keepers, and elders. The group size is intentionally small — 12 to 16 participants — so that every person is genuinely seen and supported throughout. If you have a history of certain mental health conditions or are on psychiatric medication, this is discussed openly in your intake call.
What if I have never done psilocybin before?
Many participants come with no previous experience. The preparation session is designed precisely for this — to help you understand the medicine, set your intentions, and arrive at ceremony grounded and informed. You will not be thrown into the deep end.
What about medication interactions?
This is one of the most important things discussed in your individual intake consultation. Certain medications — particularly SSRIs and other psychiatric medications — can interact with psilocybin. Jenelle needs to know your full medication history before registration is confirmed. Do not stop any medication before speaking with her.
What if I have a difficult experience during ceremony?
A difficult experience is not the same as a dangerous one. Jenelle and her team are present throughout every ceremony, and the container — the Talking Circles, the Medicine Wheel framework, the integration support — is specifically designed to help you work with whatever arises, not around it. You will not be left alone with anything that comes up.
Do I need to be Indigenous or have a connection to Indigenous culture to attend?
No. Jenelle’s ceremonies and teachings are rooted in her own Dakota, Nakota, and Plains Cree heritage — and they are offered openly, with the understanding that healing in community is not exclusive. You are welcomed as you are.
Can I attend alone?
Yes. Many participants come on their own. In fact, arriving without a companion often allows for deeper personal focus. The Talking Circles naturally create connection and community with the group.
What are the accommodations like?
Northern Echo Lodge is rustic elegance — cozy, lake-facing, warm. Shared and limited private rooms. Think wood interiors, quiet mornings, the sound of water. It is not a luxury hotel. It is something better: a place that feels held.
How do I get there?
Guests travel to a designated meeting point and then continue by boat to the lodge on Wapawekka Lake. Detailed travel instructions are provided upon registration. Glenna’s team helps coordinate arrivals.
What activities are available outside of workshops?
Depending on the season:
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Forest bathing
- Stargazing
- Quiet rest and reflection time
There is always space for both activity and deep rest.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation policies vary by retreat. Details are provided at the time of registration. We recommend reviewing these carefully before booking.
Retreat Details
Dates
August 26–30, 2026
Duration
5 days, 4 nights
Group Size
16 participants maximum
Price
$1,899 CAD + tax
(transportation from the Landing, lodging, meals, and facilitation all included)
