Indigenous Ways of Healing
This Saturday, we present Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society staff for an Open Minded Chats session. The intention is to share wisdom and explain the impact of Indigenous ways of healing to our community.
The shelter has been around since 1986, when “Ruth Scalp Lock and a group of concerned individuals wanted to create a shelter where Aboriginal women and children could seek refuge from family violence and all forms of abuse in a uniquely Aboriginal atmosphere. The shelter’s mission would be to provide a traditional wholistic and spiritual approach to help Aboriginal women and their children through the healing process with the support of their community.”
Since then, it has expanded into more than a women’s shelter, becoming a place of safety and hub for community. Their programs run weekly out of their offices in Calgary, with options available for youth, families, women, and men, to address the immediate and long-term needs of individuals affected by domestic abuse. You’ll find the most current information and updates through their Facebook page.
What are Indigenous ways of healing when addressing victims of family violence? Why would there need to be a safe space to preserve these approaches for Indigenous families? Perhaps because trauma-informed practices are more effective when taking generational trauma into consideration, as well as relevant types of trauma. We’ve noted this gap before, when considering there are specific factors that immigrant, newcomer, and refugee populations are exposed to through the preparatory, transition, and acclimation processes. For Indigenous individuals, they are faced with re-learning skills around relations that they would not have had access to from the start, as as culture was taken from people’s way of life.
“By offering a unique atmosphere where the traditional wholistic and spiritual teachings of Indigenous peoples are practiced, Awo Taan provides a culturally responsive and highly effective environment for families to move beyond trauma”.
We’re recognizing teachings and principles from Indigenous ways of being in more infrastructure every day. From Calgary Foundation’s Indigenous Ally Toolkit, to Calgary Arts Development’s adoption in their latest strategic framework, to Alberta Recreation & Park’s Association’s Oral Knowledge Hub, to Indigenous-led research such as Elder Kerrie Moore MSW, RSW, Metis/Cree’s The epigenetics /Blood memory of relational science. Who we are as Indigenous people and what happened. These are a few examples of meaningful partnerships that progress conversations for all, that evolve the role of and communicate the intrinsic value of our Indigenous peoples. Calgary is home to amazing organizations that are taking this to inspiring levels, such as the Centre for Sexuality, CUPS Calgary, The Alex, and Elbow River Healing Lodge.
Still, there is much to learn and understand, if we are to build bridges that will stand the test of time. For example, when we started working with Hollow Bone Healing Lodge, we presented Wade Maude in conversation around the timely issue of Survivors of the Residential School System at the Calgary Public Library. We all felt his anger and frustration. After connecting him and his wife to as many partners as we could, the most growth and understanding of ceremony and their ways of healing, came from participating in a sweat lodge last year. Similarly, we work with Elders to offer blessings at our events, yet we feel most blessed when we receive calls to say hello and share family news. When we’re invited to provide brain development and mental health literacy games for youth at Indigenous events, we take care to focus the conversation on reflecting their values and traditions. Our designs for the festivals have been intentionally designed to showcase ceremonies like Sharing Circles in conjunction with Indigenous research demonstrations (through our partnership with Branch Out Neurological Foundation).
What resources (beyond those linked above) would be helpful for those curious about where to start? Well, we’ve highlighted a few resources that are key to intentially creating more meaningful collaborations:
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - Indigenous Research
Research excellence includes the strengthening of Indigenous self-determination, leadership and capacity in research and research training, and respecting the value of Indigenous Knowledge systems. SSHRC has long been committed to supporting research by and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. SSHRC’s Indigenous Advisory Circle—formed in 2014—provides guidance to senior management to support and promote Indigenous research and talent development.
First Nations Health Authority Research Resources
These resources aim to help community researchers with conventional research practices and empower them to lead research projects in their own communities. These resources include tools and templates for designing research plans and protocols and finding and applying for funding sources.
Indigenous Health Researchers Database
A comprehensive listing of researchers who are affiliated with a Canadian university and have a wide range of expertise related to the health of Indigenous peoples. These researchers have undertaken some form of research related to the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis peoples, ranging from one study to a lifetime of work in a particular area.
Remarkable Indigenous Scientists and Researchers in Canada
Indigenous scientists and researchers in Canada have helped to advance their respective professional fields by posing new questions to seek better ways of thinking, healing and understanding. This article lists some of the most accomplished Indigenous individuals in Canada who have excelled in the areas of science, research and related fields.
Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
They remove barriers and empower our urban community through cultural reconnection, programs, services and access to resources that address the social and economic realities of our people. Programs and services currently offered at Friendship Centres include: Culture, Family, Youth, Sports and Recreation, Language, Justice, Housing, Health, Education, Employment, Economic Development and a variety of miscellaneous projects ranging from social activities to community building initiatives and special events.
This MWJ framework may be applied by Indigenous mental health practitioners as self-care for their own personal development. The main intent of
MWJ is to support the help and healing of the Indigenous people and communities they serve. Medicine Wheel Journey as an Indigenous-centered helping framework has allowed meto say I am Métis and this is my story.
Paper: The Impact of the Sweat Lodge Ceremony on Dimensions of Well-Being
The results of a pilot study that measured the impact of the sweat lodge ceremony on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual domains of individual participants indicated that an increase in spiritual and emotional well-being of participants was directly attributable to the ceremony.
AHS’ Indigenous Mental Health Information for Health Professionals
Alberta Health Services is committed to promoting the well-being of the mind, body, spirit and emotions of Indigenous peoples and communities through Indigenous culturally appropriate programs and services. Indigenous Mental Health provides accessible, culturally appropriate services for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Alberta.
Article: Indigenous-led mental health services are crucial, experts and First peoples say
Intergenerational trauma, colonization and the residential school system all play a role in the mental health of Indigenous peoples. However, these aren’t the only factors. Indigenous mental health is a complex subject matter with many nuanced components.
This review will explore and highlight some important spiritual domains and characteristics of Aboriginal life that are significant factors in both the prevention of and recovery from various mental health issues afflicting the Canadian Aboriginal population today.
This research paper articulates a largely undefined cultural concept within mental health promotion and intervention, described as ‘land-based’ healing, which has been understood and taught for millennia by Indigenous knowledge holders.
In this project, a holistic approach was utilized which places an emphasis on leadership development, curriculum, teaching and learning, local Indigenous pedagogies, and mental health support. The confluence of approaches in this project have challenged standard approaches to school transformation by placing an emphasis on the local context and knowledge systems that already place the community in a position of strength.
Paper: Knowledge Exchange as a Vehicle to Improve the Health of Aboriginal Communities
Chronic disease, post neonatal mortality, accidental death, and mental health illness are more prevalent in Aboriginal reserve communities than in other Canadian communities (Health Canada, 2003, Smylie, 200 , Smylie et al., 2003). For instance, in 999 the suicide rate of Aboriginal people living on reserve was more than twice that of the general Canadian population.
Ideally this list inspires you to connect, learn, and explore in conjunction with your Indigenous peers. If you’re interested in joining our Open Minded Chats session this Saturday, please register here for this free virtual event. We’ll see you soon.
