A7 Aboriginal Health Center   March 27, 2002
Greetings once again from the Traditional Healing Program
Ske:kon, skennen ko:wa ken? Is an old traditional Mohawk greeting which asks "Are you with peace?" Since our Okwehonweh constitution, The Great Law, was formulated on the concept of peace, it is only fitting that we ask ourselves this question from time to time. Are we as individuals at peace and what does it mean to have peace and if we don't have it, how do we go about achieving it?
   Most of us at some point in our lives experience a turning point in which we ask ourselves the question, "Is there a better way of handling my life?" The feelings of unhappiness, chaos, fear, anger, we experience as we're asking ourselves this question is usually the result of a collection of traumas and losses we've experienced during our life span. Often times these events can be traced as far back as early childhood and other times they are events that are unfolding before us at that moment. The dysfunction that results from these feelings are usually manifested in our relationships that we have with other people throughout our lifetime. The collected feelings of tear and chaos block the flow of love within us that prevents us from having successful relationships with the very people we profess to love, such as our partners, parents, siblings, friends or coworkers. Most times we don't even acknowledge the pain we are in and continue to go about our day-to-day business in denial of our dysfunctional behaviors as we push the pain further and further inside of us. Then as if we really didn't know we were doing this we find ourselves asking, "when will these feelings go away?" Unfortunately there is no magic that will come and reach inside of us and pull the pain and suffering out and send them on their way. Most of us usually reach a saturation point or hit rock bottom before we seek peace.
   So what does it mean to have peace? How do we begin to heal and where do we begin? One of the last great mystics of our people, Sioux medicine man, Fools Crow, states that "Healing is purely spiritual and has to do with helping a person to be right with Wakan-Takan (Creator). Then when death comes the person can die peacefully and not be angry or resentful about it. He learns to think in terms of quality of life rather than the quantity. Healing is a priceless gift that can be given to anyone who will accept it." (Fools Crow Wisdom and Power - Council Oaks Books, 1991)		    This pain, anger and our grievances are often hidden under what appears to be smooth and peaceful waters. As our dysfunctions go unrecognized we become slaves to the ego by holding onto these fears and grievances. We have this great desire to make things better, to give our lives more meaning, to have peace of mind but we become stalled in the process because healing means work. It means rehashing and bringing up the past where all our pain is and it means making a commitment to be vigilant in our efforts. When we harbor pain and resentment we are allowing these obstacles to block the flow of incoming love and it is these blockages that prevents us from experiencing a sacred peace, a real paradise. They become like obstacles and these obstacles prevent us from establishing new relationships. People sense that we are not a safe harbor so they move onto others who may offer a safer place.
   To let go and release our pain we need to be willing to forgive. To forgive ourselves, other people and the ills of the world and if we look deep and hard enough inside ourselves, this forgiveness can be found in our hearts, on the other side of our pain. We should no longer rely on our outer teachers to find our spiritual identity, rather strive to find it within. We shouldn't look for happiness in other or relationships where there are boundaries and one person makes decisions for the other. If we are to be true to ourselves, we shouldn't allow anyone else to be an authority for us, nor should we become an authority for anyone else. Our whole journey is about the healing of our minds because it is only our thoughts that cause us pain. Therefore let us begin the healing journeys not by looking to blame, but by taking responsibility and with the understanding that all conflict must be settled within our own consciousness. That our conflicts are not with someone or a particular circumstance but rather a misunderstood concept about someone or circumstance. Let us realize that the correction must be made within us rather than attempting to change anyone or anything outside of us.
   Another revered Sioux spiritual leader; Black Elk says "Peace comes within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells Wakan-Takan (Creator), and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."
 		  &nbs;pOur teachings as well as most of the spiritual teachings of the world, say that we are created out of love by the Creator (God), that we are an extension of that love and therefore an extension of him. We tend to see ourselves as separate from him with an identity in the form of a body and unaware of our true identity which is spiritually whole, forgiving and full of unconditional love, Love is the opposite of fear so if we can let go of our fears and learn how to forgive and be free of judgment we can know love and be loved. We can become that safe place for nurturing healthy and balanced relationships and relationships are really what life is all about.
   The Peacemaker, Deganawida was sent by Sonkwiantiso, Creator, to heal five warring nations of turmoil, hatred and fear and thus unite them. He was able to restore peace and harmony utilizing the Good Mind. If he could heal nations utilizing the Good Mind, think of what we could do for ourselves and mankind if we put that Good Mind to work for us in our daily lives. Not only would we have the ability to heal our minds, but we could help heal the minds of other nations of the world and restore peace and love globally.
   As Black Elk says, "let us realize our relationship, our openness with the universe. "It is that concept of love and peace through oneness of mankind in which we were created. Let us too remember that the Creator is a spark in every one of us and that we should look for that spark in each other. And when we find it in another, it is because we have found it within ourselves

May we all find our own peace,

Janet Hill, Traditional Healing Program Coordinator
Certificate Healing Journey Program
Below are the 18 graduates from our 2001 year program that ran from February to November 2002. Over 50 people had registered for the sessions.
HAMILTON:
1) Beverly Ans
2) Elize Hartley
3) Kathy Reed
4) Lisa Guigue
5) Gail McKeegan
6) Angela Whitewell
7) Sturart Jackson
8) Carole Leclair
9) Ross Wilde
10) Crystal Gold
11) Candace Malott
12) Lisa Guigue
13) Taunya Laslo

BRANTFORD:
1) Della Chenier
2) Doug Doolittle
3) Yvonne Martin-Cowhig
4) Ron Obedia
5) Steve Koptie

There are 20 Healing Circles in 2002. Following is a list of those yet to come.

Spiritual Wellness - April 8, April 15
Emotional/Social Wellness - April 22 - April 25 (Thurs)
Physical Wellness - May 6 - May 13
Mental Wellness - May 21 (Tues) - May 27
Stress Management - Self, home and work - June 3 - June 10
Time Management - June 17 - June 24
Affects of the Residential School system - July 8 - July 15
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) -- July 22 - July 29
Seven Grandfather Teachings - Aug. 12 - Aug. 20(Tues) (preparing for a sweat)
Value Systems between First Nations & Canadians - Aug. 26 - Sept. 3 (Tues)
Relationship / connectedness with Mother Earth - Sept. 9 - Sept. 16
Open to topic -- Sept. 30 - Oct. 7
Open to topic -- Oct. 21 - Oct. 28
Open to topic -- Nov. 12 - Nov. 18
Open to topic -- Nov. 25 - Dec. 2
Graduation Ceremonies - Dec. 9, 2002


Participant(s) must complete 13 of the above subjects to quality for a certificate.

I da wa da di Project

   Last September, De dwa da dehs nye>s Traditional Healing Program had the opportunity to partner with
I da wa da di Project. The project is a traditional based program to help Native women heal from the legacy of physical and sexual abuse experienced at residential schools and to find healing practices which will help them (as well as the caregivers who work with survivors), to recover from the intergenerational impacts that those experiences have had on families and communities.
   The Project is spread out over a three year period and is being coordinated by Jan Longboat and the Earth Herb Healing Gardens & Retreat Centre.
   The Program Activities include the following:

Circle of Healing Program: three 8 week sessions utilizing counseling, sharing and ceremonies.

Fasting Retreats: six 3 day retreats, 3 day juice fasting retreats held once monthly.

Residential Healing Retreats: six 4 day retreats, offering lodging, nutritious meals, counseling.

Training Workshops for Caregivers: five 3 day workshops, 3 day training workshops for Native women working with survivors utilizing alternative healing methods.

Three Day Gathering: with traditional healing and counseling providing an opportunity to learn and share with one another.

   There is no cost to participate in any of the program activities or services offered by the project. All supplies and material will be provided. The only cost maybe for individual travel expense.

For More Info call (519) 445-0846