A day for the woman’s soul
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY – A special Woman’s Wellness Day was recently offered to area women at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre.
Event organizers annually host the day to show women appreciation for the many different roles they play and work at. The day encompassed physical, emotional, spiritual, and the mental aspects of being a woman.
Annette Manuel, in charge of the Prenatal Nutrition Program, is one of the organizers.
“This year’s focus was on healing. We invited a survivor of the Indian residential school system to be a keynote speaker,” said Manuel. “It is important that others hear her story. Still to this day, there are many people unaware of what happened to Indigenous Peoples in the Indian Residential School System. It was a heartwarming experience for all in attendance.”
Indian Residential School Survivor Patricia Sutherland shared her story. “At the beginning of my talk I asked how many knew about residential schools. Not even half of the people knew about it. That made me feel emotional.”
“My mother went to residential schools. She had to work and translate. I was angry at her, thinking she put me there. But it wasn’t her. She was forced to be there because she was on orphan when she was young. I was only three years old when I was put into the residential school system. I was in an orphanage for a year because I wasn’t four years old.”
“My brother was separated from my sister and myself. We were not allowed to say we were a sister or associate with our siblings. It was hard. I hear, get over it. But you don’t get over stuff like that. We have to keep working at it. There is a ripple effect on future generations. We had to learn how to cry. We had to learn how to hug. We weren’t called by our names. We were numbers.”
“I want people to listen and really hear the stories. I hope people will help our survivors. Our future generations are our saviours. The creator gave me my seven children as in the Grandfather Teachings. But he took away two because he didn’t want to make it too easy for me. My last one is autistic and has taught me patience. I am so proud of him as he recently graduated from high school.”
When Sutherland finished with her words, the hundred women filling a full sized gymnasium released a flood of tears. The tears were honoured for the suffering and for the struggles experienced through healing.
Manuel said the importance of a teardrop has to be explored. “It can be overwhelming but it is a release. It’s important to let it out.”
A breast cancer survivor shared her story. Her beliefs and faith in her traditional culture helped her to overcome her challenges.
After the speakers, a Traditional Round Dancer demonstrated and then invited everyone to take part.
The afternoon continued with healing and pampering. After a hardy and delicious lunch, there was a fashion show sponsored by New To You to spark ‘cheap chic.’
A female artist sang and played guitar for a lovely accompaniment to the laughing and bustle.
Modern Hair Styling offered hair-dos and Mary Kay representatives offered skin treatments and make-up. The star treatments were captured in a professional photo shoot produced by Wolf Eye Productions.
The new executive director of the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre, Kathy Fortin, felt that having the focus on healing turned the day into a celebration of women’s unending strength.
“The funding is provided through the Public Health Agency of Canada through the Union of Indigenous Friendship Centres. It has really grown. This year’s event has the biggest attendance of over one hundred women.”
The celebration of cultural empowerment and self care in traditional ways with natural medicines created a joyous atmosphere where children where welcomed.
The Aboriginal Family Support Program, the Community Support Program, and the Healthy Babies Program of the Friendship Centre were all involved in making the Women’s Wellness Day a success.