Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement Alberta Healing Journey Project

March 25 and 26, 2010

copyright © Leo Sawicki

I was recently privileged to attend a two day 'Meyowahkohtowin' Healing Gathering to honor Residential School Survivors and Intergenerational Impacted Families in the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement sponsored by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation AHF March 25 and 26, 2010.

The first day began with a panel of residential school survivors who told their stories of how they were treated by the nuns and priests. Their stories brought tears to the audience as they shared their horrendous memories and explained to the participants how acts of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as children shaped their relations with their families and community as adults.

After a break, the Intergenerational Impacted Residential School Families Panel shared their stories of what it was like being a child of a Residential School Survivor. Their testimonials shed light on why their parents acted the way they did and how alcohol and lack of parenting skills had a great influence in their upbringing. While it was difficult, and at some times impossible to continue speaking, the panel helped to shed light on understanding the effects and impacts of residential school including violence, poverty, low self esteem, alcohol and drug abuse and suicide.

As the first Presenter I began with a story of how one day a Oji-Cree Sister, Anjie Ice, and I were sitting around the warmth of a fire discussing traditional ways of teaching. Anjie shared a story of an old man who remembered her grandfather and told her that her people were Niiwahsaybitoon, a Oji-Cree word for 'bringers of the light'. We stopped and looked at each other as her story resonated at a physical level. Here she is, generations later, working in traditional ways with the people to help lift their Spirit. As Cultural Director at the Gearldton Friendship Centre, and a sweat lodge conductor, Anjie walks a path of well being that brings light to where there is darkness. As good friends often do, we made up a new word for people working within Aboriginal tradition and culture and called it, 'niiwahsaybitooning'.

I spoke on how the AHF came to be and drew upon the medicine wheel concept as an outline. I explained how the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) funding has provided a means for 'Niiwahsayabitooning' or bringing in the light at spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical levels. AHF funding has made it possible to reveal the darkness of lateral violence, begin the healing journey and to make change happen in a good way, by drawing on traditional knowledge and combining contemporary methods of delivery in helping people move beyond Residential School Syndrome.

As communities designed programs to strengthen an understanding of culture and to preserve language, the people's capacity to deal with issues as a result of the legacy of residential school grew. New systems, structures and programs to sustain healthy families and communities are being developed.

For example, the types of initiatives funded in Alberta that have begun creating programs and structures to address the cycle of abuse and improve people's capacity to sustain their own well being include:

• Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society created a safe environment for adults, youth and children to allow healing to take place, along with services, supports, and information for people to help themselves. Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement delivered the Balanced Lifestyle program designed to address issues resulting from the legacy of residential school survivors and to provide personal growth and development, support and referral.
• Cold Lake Native Friendship Centre Society combined access to services of a certified psychologist with culturally relevant workshops in their program designed to address underlying issues related to the legacy of physical and sexual abuse.
• East Prairie Metis Settlement's focus on youth, and intergenerationally impacted people, provided access to programs and services designed to address unhealthy lifestyles that are passed down from one generation to the next.
• Hinton Friendship Centre Society' objective to help people lead a healthy life without abuse, or fear of abuse, involved addressing all aspects of the individual including spiritual, emotional, mental and physical recovery programs designed to create awareness, treatment, healing, support, handle crisis and promote prevention. Morning Sky Health & Wellness Centre addressed healing needs of Survivors, and their descendants by providing personal and relationship development skills.
• Neechi Institute, Training, Research and Health Promotions provided professional, and culturally appropriate, clinically trained management support for three communities.
• St. Paul Treatment Centre addressed the healing needs of people drawing on a culturally holistic treatment program and philosophy.
• Stoney Tribal Administration supported initiatives that opened the door to secrecy, combining traditional and contemporary support systems.
• Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation provided traditional healing activities for the community, with a special focus on youth, to be prepared for life.

I went on to site how all of the initiatives have one thing in common. They address the individual, how the spirit of the individual is impacted, and how this in turn shapes and influences relations with self and others. Many have drawn upon the Medicine Wheel concept as a traditional tool in helping people move beyond the residential school syndrome. The medicine is in our way of thinking. Symbolism in the placement of stones on the medicine wheel concept serves as a map. I elaborated on our connection to all that is found in the centre of the wheel. Everything that surrounds us is called matter, or thought before it takes form. Matter connects to Energy and begins to take a Dimension or shape. With Time, thought is put into Motion. It connects to Spirit and comes to Life. All things evolve from this process.

For example, the people got together and thought about what could be done to address the legacy of Residential School syndrome. They identified all things that Matter to them.

Energy went into this thought. A commission was established, a department was set up, meetings and Conferences held, boards and committees created and the AHF came to be.

Dimension took shape by way of guiding principles, policies and guidelines that were developed.

This took Time as People in the communities came forward with proposals applying for funding. (A ten year initiative was extended in some cases to 12 years.)

Projects were put into Motion as Funding and support were provided.

Thoughts in Motion, connected to Spirit, (others, as we are all spirit ) and As a result, projects came to Life.

For the medicine to be strong, certain stones act as guides along the way.

On the Path of Experience To the West of the Wheel three stones are laid. The stone closest to the centre (between Motion and Spirit) is Experience. This is where the programs were delivered.

The second stone is Introspection. AHF projects were monitored and evaluated, studies and research was complied and reports submitted.

The third stone, Strength represents what the people learned and gained as a result.

On the Path of Enlightenment, To the East of the wheel are three stones. The stone of Communication rests closest to the centre of the wheel (between energy and dimension) In this case Communication took on many forms including an AHF web site, newsletter, research, monitoring, and Annual Reports.

Next to Communication is the stone of Wisdom. A place of sharing traditional teachings and developing gentle ways to move beyond lateral violence. Pages and pages of recommendations compiled by the AHF were shared.

The third stone is Illumination, or that moment when the lights go on and stay on. And so it is the AHF has helped to shed light on, and support ways to, help people move beyond residential school syndrome.

Three stones to the South serve as reminders. The first stone represents love or Respect. All things will break down in the absence of this. All things will flourish in its presence. AHF initiatives were chosen for their potential to have the greatest impact on community healing.

The second stone represents Growth. It is a fact that when there is respect there is growth. AHF has assisted in developing community-based Aboriginal directed healing initiatives which will help the people move forward and in the long term, benefits all people in the transfer of knowledge and skills.

The third stone represents Truth. The only way to journey to the centre is through truth, and this takes time. And so it is the AHF plays a supporting role in the work of truth and reconciliation.

To maintain this understanding, the stones to the North represent Cleansing, Purity and Renewal. These are personal guides.

Cleansing includes cleaning things up, letting go of things that no longer work, things that are broken or in need of repair. Things like lateral violence, suicide, depression, poverty, alcoholism, lack of parenting skills. AHF funding has helped the people address core issues.

Purity includes maintaining positive thought and the intent of the initiatives to create a safe environment for the healing process to continue.

Renewal, reminds us to move forward in a good way. The AHF has resources designed to give practical and direct assistance to healing activities. This includes amongst other things, manuals, teaching tools, and workshop aids to continue helping people to help themselves move beyond the Residential School Syndrome.

It is important to include the four directions in drawing upon the medicine wheel concept as a map, as they are doorways for new thought and energy to flow. On our way around the circle of life, the Stone in the East Doorway, amongst many things, reflects Spring, the time when a new seed is planted. In this case, it is the AHF that has helped in building systems, supporting structures and creating new programs. This took ten years.

What is planted grows in the South. Knowing it takes time for new ways to evolve, it could take another 10-15 years of reinforcing the programs, supports and services required to make change.

What grows in the South harvested in the West .... which may take another 10-15 years to maintain a new way of being.

What is harvested in the West is shared in the North. When you add up the numbers it may take an entire lifetime before community well-being is resolved.

To provide a tool to move beyond holding patterns I shared the Contemporary Wheel of Life and explained how attention to six basic areas will make a difference in their life. These areas include: Spiritual, Emotional, Intellectual, Physical, Relations and Finance. When one of these areas is out of balance, all other areas are affected.

I wrapped up the presentation by saying that since its establishment, March 31, 1998, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation has helped the people create programs and provided support in response to a need. It has opened a doorway in helping people move beyond the Residential School syndrome. In the 2009 AHF Annual Report, the message from the Board of Directors states "that the implementation of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement will very likely increase the need for healing work support, not decrease it."

As a result, there is still greater knowledge and capacity for understanding how we are all connected as individuals, families, communities and nations...and how this connection begins with the Spirit ..... of loving kindness.

Phil Auger, a Metis Elder from Peepeekisis First Nation, was the second presenter on day two. He spoke of Traditional Parenting skills and shared his story of how he was raised in his community. A traditional healer, Phil shared how he has learned about the medicines that plant life bring and how he is cataloguing and compiling information to help others on some part of their journey. Participants were able to ask questions and listened intently as Phil Auger responded. The overhead slide projection provided background information.

Amongst great food and a few health breaks the afternoon presenter on day two was Chief Clarence Louie from the Osoyoos Band in British Columbia. As Chief of a prosperous band for the past 22 years, Chief Louie is a straight shooting, no nonsense, multi-tasker who is passionate about what he does and shares the wisdom his mother imparted to him as a young boy. 'Go to School or Get a Job.' Economic development, Chief Louie believes, is a big solution to the social ills in First Nation Territory. Many of the participants were quick to nod their heads in agreement. The question remains how to get to that point with no jobs and poverty?

Conference Co-ordinator and Manager of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation program at the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Evelyn Willier, attention to detail made a successful gathering memorable. Master of Ceremonies, Joe Blayn, keep the two day gathering on track. Thanks to sound and video technician, Billy Sinclair.

And so the two day 'Meyowahkohtowin' Healing Gathering brought a close to delivery of the Balanced Lifestyle program in association with the Buffalo lake Metis Settlement Healing Journey Project.