How to be a better helper: Indigenous Wholistic Practice

By Marci Becking

SAULT STE MARIE —  Dr. Kathy Absolon-King, the last speaker at the “Awakening the Nation – Renewing the Spirit” health conference shifted the energy in the room with her Indigenous Wholistic Practice presentation.

“We need to start with a song,” says Dr. Absolon-King and began weaving around tables as she drummed.  She then asked everyone to ground themselves taking the time to say hello to yourself, heart, mind and body.

She told the story of two friends:  Waubshizhii and Migize.   They learned things together.

“They felt a lot of despair about things they learned about oppression and colonization. They felt, sad, overwhelmed and angry,” says Absolon-King.  “They started to learn from their own culture – received teachings.  They learned about wholistic healing practices.”

Through storytelling, Absolon-King shows us how we can be learn from our medicines, Elders, and gifts the Creator gave us that we can use in our daily lives.  This is how we build our bundles.

“It tells the story of why we are doing what we’re doing — like my journey of learning again, being a better helper,” says Absolon-King.  “I carry a lot of wounds.  As indigenous peoples we all carry a lot of wounds and insecurities.  We’ve been living with policies that are trying to exterminate us.  I have been doing work on myself for a long time.”

She says that it take training and a lot of work to deal with insecurities to build confidence, courage and skill.

Dr. Kathy Absolon-King is the Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Aboriginal Field of Study at Wilfred Laurier University.