The 8th Canadian Immunization Conference

More than 1,200 immunization experts gathered at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Ontario from November 30 to December 3, 2008.

This conference brought together non-governmental organizations, vaccine manufacturers, provincial and territorial immunization policy and program planners, as well as professionals from the many disciplines involved in the immunization field.

I attended this conference to gain a broader understanding of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). While I have a strong background in health promotion, additional skills building in the areas of HPV epidemiology and vaccine developments was a valuable tool for me to acquire.

I found the plenary sessions, special lectures, the exhibit hall and the posters from Grade 6 students who expressed their ideas about immunization and healthy children to be very informative.

I even had the opportunity to participate in a lunchtime workshop about best practices on “How to Pack a Vaccine Cooler Bag” during mass immunization clinics and appropriate tools for vaccine transportation.

During a walk through the exhibit hall during lunch, I also met Gerri the Giraffe (pictured above) who promotes immunization in Ottawa.

Canadian Aboriginal Festival

Promoting the Journal of Aboriginal Health during the Canadian Aboriginal Festival at the Roger's Centre in Toronto, ON is one of my many tasks working the NAHO booth this weekend.

Also featured is NAHO's new pop-up banner.

Click here for more info on the Journal of Aboriginal Health

River of the Sacred Fire

As I prepare to leave for the airport, I reflect on the week gone by. Looking outside, I fully understand the meaning of the word Elsipogtog - River of the Sacred Fire. I am told it refers to "the red blazing reflection of the setting sun which appears seemingly like fire". I cannot help but wonder though if it also refers to the sunrise?

Women's Teachings

When women gather together great things can happen. When a safe space is created for sharing and healing, stories begin to emerge. Today it was stories of child birth, puberty rights, moon teachings and menopause. Concerns and realities that we all share, yet often push aside to address more pressing issues, became the focal point of conversation.

It is in these all women spaces that the knowledge and stories often emerge. Each woman in the room bonded to the other by virtue of the fact that women were given the gift to be able to birth life. So much of the teachings that women share co-exist with this fact.

As we close the circle, if there is one fundamental lesson to take away, it is the importance of respecting yourself and your body.

NAHO's Journal of Aboriginal Health March 2008 Volume 4, Issue 1 is focused on Aboriginal Women's Health. To view a copy click here.

Prophecies

This afternoon as I sat in a teepee close to the fire, I could feel my cheeks heating up from the flames. As I listened to the prophecies being shared with me I understood that the future is deeply rooted in the past. Many of the ways of our traditional Elders are based on living a life free of chemical additives and substances that are destructive to our very being and environment.

The advice being put forward to us is to make decisions not from a place of fear but a place of well-being. We were being asked to breathe in a sense of calmness and really think about the information being presented to us. If we don’t like it, then maybe it is not meant for us. If it applies to us and is useable then we have benefitted from their messages and wisdom.

There are many ways to know if a certain path is right for us. We can dream it, someone could encourage us to develop our strengths or we could just know. Much of what this week had to offer is a place to be quiet in our noisy world and just listen and reflect.

We were told many times this week to listen to our heart and believe in its truth.

To review The Haudenosaunee Code of Behaviour for Traditional Medicine Healers click here

Medicine Walk

The women go gathering. This afternoon’s walk was based on the belief that if you know what to look for and how to use it, you can make your own medicines.

Today, I joined about 20 women (all of us wearing our customary long skirts), to hike down a path not often travelled. The purpose of this walk was to gather medicines in preparation of the ceremony that will be held on this traditional territory during the next full moon.

As we were guided through the woods, the Elder women led the way. Us younger city girls, stumbled along behind, swatting at mosquitoes while pushing tree branches out of our way and trying to not accidently let them swing back into our companions faces.

We stopped often to hear descriptions of the plants we were seeking and explanations of their healing potentials. I watched the Elder women kneeling down as their expert hands searched through the mud for the root of the items they were seeking. It was a timeless moment. A moment that has occurred countless times over the generations and yet it was new and foreign to many of those present.

For more info on Traditional Medicine in Contemporary Contexts click here

For info on the Handbook and Resource Guide to the Convention on Biological Diversity click here

Grandmother Teachings

In my experience, the lessons and teachings of the grandmothers are always very powerful. The words spoken come from a very personal place and as a result the knowledge shared stays with me. While it would be incredibly inappropriate for me to tell the story of another women’s traditional journey, I will say her words were inspiring to me.

Her words were familiar lessons that I have heard from Elders before but her story was of course unique to her. I was reminded of the path one embarks on when choosing to lead a life of service for others. The exchange that can happen between an Elder and her apprentice when they decide to go on a traditional journey together. I was especially aware of the knowledge that can come to you when you listen to the words of another with an open mind and an open heart. Today was a reminder of all these gifts.

For information on Cultural Competency and Safety click here

Traditional Foods

During lunch today, I began to notice that a dialogue about traditional medicines had opened up among the local Elders and those who had travelled great distances to be here. They had come to a realization that many of the medicines in this traditional territory were some of the same from other regions of Canada. This began a sampling of the different tastes and textures of the various roots, stems and leaves that could be used for healing.



I observed how each of these Elders held a special knowledge that is often under-valued in western society.

I watched as individuals became excited at the notion they would be able to go out on the land to gather medicines for their teas.

While a man from the community went to get a shovel and a knife, I handed the women some NAHO promotional bags so they would have something to put their freshly gathered medicines in.

When these Elder women returned, I was invited into the kitchen with them while they told stories and prepared their medicine tea.

Later, I helped to serve the tea to a room full of workshop participants who participated in the Traditional Foods workshop.

This session offered a wide range of valuable information including the damaging effects of salt and sugar, traditional techniques for preserving foods for the winter and beliefs around the importance of feeding spirits and spirit plates.

For An Overview Of Traditional Knowledge And Medicine And Public Health In Canada click here

Joy, Knowledge and Love

During the opening ceremonies this morning we received a warm welcome from the Elsipogtog Chief and Council and the staff of the Elsipogtog Health and Wellness Centre.

As we were familiarized with the schedule of the week’s agenda we were asked to be open to the key themes of Joy, Knowledge and Love.

As we gathered in the Healing Lodge of the Wellness Centre, we were reminded that each of us must take responsibility for our own wellness. To overcome any hurt or abuse that has been a part of our lives, we must first make the decision to heal.

During the week these same sentiments would be spoken again and again.
•We were reminded of how important it is to love each other, respect each other and love the children.
•We were reminded to be patient and gentle with ourselves and others while on our healing journeys.
•We were reminded to breathe and to eat those same foods of the earth that were provided to our ancestors.

Setting the Tone

It is a clear afternoon as the flight I am on arrives in the Atlantic region. Some of my colleagues have already been here for a few days taking part in some pre-gathering workshops. Since this event is both regional and national in scope, youth and Elders from across the country have been brought here to meet with the local traditional people and community members.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to be outside and on the land. It has been some time since I have attended an event of this nature. While I know this work requires much energy, both physically and emotionally, as spiritual work tends to be, I am at ease with how this is an appropriate venue in which to have knowledge pass from Elders to youth and youth to Elders.

I cannot know what lessons I will be reminded of and what information will come my way, but I trust the process to guide me. One teaching, I have often heard to contextualize events such as this is to take what information is shared with you that is useful and relevant and leave the rest behind for someone else. If at some time in your life you need that knowledge it will be there waiting for you.

To view the document Winds of Change: A Strategy of Health Policy Research and Analysis click here.

Protectng Traditional Knowledge

The role of a media liaison person at an event traditional in nature can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. It involves balancing the organization's need to promote its key messages while ensuring a reporter understands that not all traditional knowledge is meant for public consumption.

To better ensure the media we engage are sensitive to traditional practices and protocols, NAHO has developed guidelines for Interviewing Elders. Copies of these guidelines will be available (in English and French) at the Gegenoatatoltimg: Sharing the Knowledge gathering.

How does my background connect me to this event?

As a woman of Algonquin and mixed heritage, much of my work and volunteer history has been dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Aboriginal individuals, families and communities.

I have spent many years committed:

• To empowering Aboriginal youth to stand up and speak out for the health of their people.
  
• To taking on communications initiatives that help to improve the quality of life for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

The foundational lessons that motivate me to do this work are the result of the four years I spent as an apprentice to a Micmac Elder who carried a Sioux Thunder Pipe. Traditional teachings and interactions with Aboriginal Elders and leaders have made me aware of my spiritual and cultural background and of the political issues that Aboriginal people face.

This traditional journey led me to Trent University where I enrolled in Native Studies and then to Simon Fraser University where I earned a degree in Communications and First Nations Studies.

Gegenoatatoltimg: Sharing the Knowledge

Gegenoatatoltimg: Sharing the Knowledge is a joint initiative between the First Nations Centre of NAHO and the Elsipogtog (pronounced Elzi’buktuk) Health and Wellness Centre. This is a traditional gathering to bring people together to share traditional knowledge, medicine and healing.




From September 8-14, 2008, I will be on the traditional territory of of the Mi’kmaq people at the Elsipogtog First Nation (formerly called the Big Cove Band) in New Brunswick.

The purpose of my attendance is to be a NAHO resource person promoting the organization’s resources and to be a key media liaison person for the event.

The First Nations Centre of NAHO has two key resources on Traditional Knowledge. They are the Traditional Knowledge Toolkit and a report on the Traditional Healing Circle of Elders.