Day two of our Medicine Peoples Gathering is underway. The day started with a pipe ceremony, prayers, and opening songs. #MKONorth 
The opening songs for Manitoba Maskiki-Ininiwak Mamowewin were sung by Ed Azure, Theresa Yetman, Mervin McKay, and Sharon McKay. #MKONorth
The first panel of today is called “Expecting Miracles.” There are three Traditional Healers/Indigenous Knowledge Keepers who are sharing some of their stories, experiences, and jokes. #MKONorth
A common thread that keeps coming up at the Medicine Peoples Gathering is that laughter is medicine. There is a lot of laughing and joking going on at the gathering, even though many health issues being discussed are often a matter of life and death. #MKONorth
David Blacksmith (middle) is from Pimicikamak Cree Nation. He spoke of the importance of youth and Elder gatherings. He says Elders passed him so much knowledge and teachings as a young person, they influenced him in a way that he never tried alcohol once in his life.
Jeff Wastesicoot is the next Traditional Healer on the panel. He speaks about the importance of knowing the difference between spirituality and religion. He also speaks about how knowing their culture helps children feel a sense of belonging. #MKONorth
He raised the issue of CFS. He says that when CFS removes children from their communities they don’t learn their culture, and this means they don’t feel a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is important to a child’s health, wellness, and identity.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the client. Do we have time for that in our busy schedules? We have to make time for that,” says Kevin Kapay, the next Traditional Healer on the panel. He says that once you work with a client, you become a student and they become the teacher.
“I see doctors here really willing to reach out,” says Kevin Kapay of the Medicine Peoples Gathering currently underway. He says it’s fascinating to think about how Physicians can work with Traditional Healers. #MKONorth
The next panel for our Medicine Peoples Gathering is now underway. The topic is pediatric health and screening and the presenters are pediatric nephrologist Dr. Allison Dart and pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Brandy Wicklow. #MKONorth
Dr. Dart is a nephrologist, which is also known as a kidney doctor. She is discussing the fact that chronic kidney disease is more prevalent amongst Indigenous peoples. #MKONorth.
Dr. Brandy Wicklow works with the Diabetes Education Resource for Children and Adolescents in #Manitoba. She says we have the highest rates of diabetes in children/youth in Canada.
There is also a lack of early prevention efforts across the board. Dr. Dart is now sharing information about “The Finished Project,” which brought point-of-care testing to 11 First Nations. The project was able to screen 350 children in these 11 communities. #MKONorth
The results of screening 350 children in the FINISHED project. The screening was looking at the kidney function/risk for chronic kidney disease amongst First Nations children in #Manitoba:
The doctors work with children who are at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or who already have CKD. The doctors are informed by a Patient Advisory Group made up of children. #MKONorth
The Patient Advisory Group made up of children identified themes that are important to them in respect to their health. These include blame and shame, stress/mental health, self care, supports, and systematic issues. #MKONorth
“Look past the stigma.”
The doctors are now showing a video the children in their Patient Advisory Group wanted to create to address the issue of shame and stigma that are connected to living with Type 2 diabetes. #MKONorth
The doctors are now showing a video the children in their Patient Advisory Group wanted to create to address the issue of shame and stigma that are connected to living with Type 2 diabetes. #MKONorth
You can watch the full video about stigma and diabetes in children on YouTube here: #MKONorth
The next panel discussion at our Medicine Peoples Gathering is called “Anti-Racist Health Care Practices.” The presenters are sisters Dr. Courtney Leary and Kali Leary. They are both from Norway House Cree Nation. #MKONorth
“We all walk around with our own prejudices and stereotypes,” says Kali Leary. She says it’s important we acknowledge that we have these. #MKONorth
Kali says it’s important to not assume what people need.
When you are helping people it’s best to ask, “What do I need to know about you?” This will give you information about how you can properly help them.
When you are helping people it’s best to ask, “What do I need to know about you?” This will give you information about how you can properly help them.
“As a physician, I get lied to a lot,” says Dr. Leary when speaking about the first time she meets a new patient. She says that is okay because she knows that sometimes telling the truth can put people at more risk. People will handle their lives in the way that they can.
Kali Leary is now going through tips about cultural safety along with barriers to accessing culturally safe care. These can include language, exclusion of families, personal racial discrimination, etc. #MKONorth
“In the process of enhancing our cultural competence it is important to recognize the type of power that surrounds our privilege.” #MKONorth
The presenters are now speaking about the importance of allies. They say that it’s good for allies of Indigenous people to pass on their knowledge to others who might not know as much as you do. #MKONorth
Dr. Leary shared a story about advocating for an Inuk person in an ER waiting room. She ended the story by saying it can be exhausting for Indigenous peoples to always be the ones advocating for Indigenous patients; that is why we need allies who are *also* willing to speak up.
It’s important for all of us to consider that we are the products of our circumstances.
“Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is defined to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do.”
“Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is defined to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do.”
“Our parents had a house for us and there was food in the fridge. That’s privilege,” says Dr. Leary, sharing information about her own upbringing and how she was born into some privilege due to her life/family circumstances. #MKONorth
Dr. Leary also speaks about the intergenerational trauma that is common amongst Indigenous people.
It is important for health care providers to be aware of the intergenerational effects of residential schools and colonialism and how these impact Indigenous peoples. #MKONorth
It is important for health care providers to be aware of the intergenerational effects of residential schools and colonialism and how these impact Indigenous peoples. #MKONorth
It is important to create a safe, non-judgemental environment where people can share their truths. This kind of environment will help create a safe space for patients to disclose their truths to their health care providers.
“It is alright to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest to say to a bootlegs man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.”
~This quote exemplifies why it’s important for health care providers to learn how to listen to their patients.
~This quote exemplifies why it’s important for health care providers to learn how to listen to their patients.
The presenters explain that sometimes patients can be labelled as “non-compliant” because they are not taking their medications. They explain that sometimes the simple truth is those patients want to comply but they cannot afford the medications. #MKONorth
Advice from presenters:
~Don’t make the patient feel obligated to tell you their past trauma during the 1st meeting, take time to build the relationship
~Don’t say “Aboriginals,” “natives,” or “Indians,” or really any term pluralized ~Don’t try to relate unless you actually can
~Don’t make the patient feel obligated to tell you their past trauma during the 1st meeting, take time to build the relationship
~Don’t say “Aboriginals,” “natives,” or “Indians,” or really any term pluralized ~Don’t try to relate unless you actually can
More advice for health care providers from presenters Dr. Courtney Leary and Kali Leary on working with Indigenous patients:
The next panel at our Medicine Peoples Gathering is called “Accessing Traditional Healers.”
The panelists are Mervin McKay, Sheryl Blacksmith, and Jonas Gabriel Cook. These people are all recognized as Traditional Healers/Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. #MKONorth
The panelists are Mervin McKay, Sheryl Blacksmith, and Jonas Gabriel Cook. These people are all recognized as Traditional Healers/Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. #MKONorth
“Doctors and nurses have a set shift. We don’t have that. It’s 24 hours a day,” says Traditional Healer Sheryl Blacksmith. She says healers must be invited in by people.
“We have to start working together and having an open mind.” #MKONorth
“We have to start working together and having an open mind.” #MKONorth
“Whatever we give, it’s going to come back,” says Ms. Blacksmith. She said her father told her to think of herself as rich & she didn’t always understand that but now she is older she does.
“You have to connect with the communities you are in... go & sit in those ceremonies.”
“You have to connect with the communities you are in... go & sit in those ceremonies.”
“The longest journey you are ever going to make is from here to here,” says Sheryl Blacksmith, motioning from her head to her heart. She says many of us get stuck in our head.
She encourages health care providers to ask to sit in ceremonies in the communities they serve.
She encourages health care providers to ask to sit in ceremonies in the communities they serve.
Mervin McKay is next up on the panel. He shares about the difficulties he had as a younger man and he becomes emotional when speaking about how traditional healing has helped him heal and live a good life. #MKONorth
This panel is about accessing Traditional Healers. One of the recurring themes that has come up at the Medicine Peoples Gathering is the fact that health insurance doesn’t cover traditional medicine. Mervin McKay says any payment healers receive is all by donation.
The final panelist on the topic of Accessing Traditional Healers is Jonas Gabriel Cook.
He has some of his medicines with him and is sharing stories about how he uses them with people to address addictions to prescription and other drugs, such as cocaine. #MKONorth
He has some of his medicines with him and is sharing stories about how he uses them with people to address addictions to prescription and other drugs, such as cocaine. #MKONorth
Mr. Cook speaks about how walking the red road is the hardest road you will ever walk. He says the first time he went to a sweat lodge he was scared. The conductor put him near the door of the lodge & helped him get through the swear lodge. He is now talking about meth addiction.
“All I can do is what I know,” says Jonas Gabriel Cook. “We have come through so much trauma... something we are doing is working because we are still here.”
“I can’t tell you how to do your job but I can help you to make it better.”
“I can’t tell you how to do your job but I can help you to make it better.”
The crowd of people gathered for this Traditional Healers panel has been extremely quiet, listening intently to the stories being shared by Jonas Gabriel Cook. It is clear that he has a deep understanding of how to address addictions through Traditional Healing. #MKONorth
MKO staff member Joni Wilson is now providing a presentation about Jordan’s Principle. She provided a brief history about Jordan River Anderson along with the work done to bring Jordan’s Principle to life. #MKONorth #JordansPrinciple
Ms. Wilson is providing information on the wide range of staff positions that are filled through Jordan’s Principle funding on reserves. These include case managers, child development workers, education assistants, rehab assistants, youth mentors, and more.
The next presenter is Headman Floyd North who is from Sherridon First Nation in Northern Manitoba. He is from a family of Traditional Healers and is sharing about his experience working with the Jordan’s Principle Initiative. #MKONorth
Mr. North helped run an award-winning program where he taught 24 First Nations youth about traditional medicines. He took them on medicine walks and taught the youth how to use the medicines. #MKONorth
The program for youth was run for seven First Nations and was developed in partnership with private industry. #MKONorth
The final session of the Medicine Peoples Gathering is “Neso Kamatowin,” which translates roughly to “We are working together.”
This session will conclude our gathering that has brought together Traditional Healers and practitioners of Western medicine. #MKONorth
This session will conclude our gathering that has brought together Traditional Healers and practitioners of Western medicine. #MKONorth
The presenter for the final session is Ed Azure.
He says, “I wondered why, in my formative years, we wore our hair in braids of three strands.”
He says he could have asked an Elder but instead he travelled across the country and he listened.
He says, “I wondered why, in my formative years, we wore our hair in braids of three strands.”
He says he could have asked an Elder but instead he travelled across the country and he listened.
“Everywhere I went, I heard Elders talk about 3 things: The Creator, Mother Earth, and human beings,” says Ed Azure.
He also says he noticed references to the mind, body, and spirit. He thought about these thing in relation to the braids.
He also says he noticed references to the mind, body, and spirit. He thought about these thing in relation to the braids.
Mr. Azure says Indigenous peoples aren’t the only people who were given braids. People from all backgrounds have them.
He is telling stories about why our people live and behave in the manner we do. He says each of us have 128 ancestor spirits standing behind us. #MKONorth
He is telling stories about why our people live and behave in the manner we do. He says each of us have 128 ancestor spirits standing behind us. #MKONorth
“We are here today in the hope that we can find our way forward,” says Ed Azure after sharing a moving story about how prayer helped a young boy recover from a major medical trauma.
He says although we travel forward in different canoes we need to reach out to one another.
He says although we travel forward in different canoes we need to reach out to one another.
MKO would like to thank everyone who attended our first ever Medicine Peoples Gathering.
We have created a photo album for the event here: facebook.com/16521422650772… #MKONorth
We have created a photo album for the event here: facebook.com/16521422650772… #MKONorth
