Traditional Healing.. What is it? What Happend? Bringing it Back?

There was a time in my life where I had experienced a large amount of pain. Not only physical pain, but emotional, and spiritual pain. I had lost a loved one in my nuclear family, my grandfather had passed away. The amount of grief I experienced was overwhelming. I had difficulty breathing, lots of confusion, and could not eat properly. I was amazed at my physical reactions during this process. Mentally, I was clouded. It felt like I was stuck in a negative state, and could not move forward. Emotionally, it felt as if the pain was unbearable at times. Spiritually, I was disconnected and I began to blame my higher power for my loss. I began to ask, “Why is this happening to me?”
A good friend of mine explained that I was grieving. She advised me to approach a Traditional Healer and ask for a Cedar Bath. I was desperate to overcome my grief, so I followed her direction and began a journey I will never forget. This ceremony was the most incredible healing experience that I have ever received. Following the ceremony, I felt that I was reconnected with Mother Earth, my higher power, and most importantly, myself.
Traditional Healing provides a balance of mind, body, and spirit. It also recognizes healing for families and communities at risk. It provides a foundation to form a way of living and to approach life. These traditions cannot be learned in a classroom. It is necessary for indigenous people to be in touch with their Elders and healers. First Nation’s healing ceremonies are in direct opposition to Western Health concepts. We must find a way to use a holistic approach when assisting in Indigenous communities. All medicines can be discovered within Mother Earth; roots, tobacco, sage, sweet grass are some products that are used in healing ceremonies.
Other Healing Practices include smudging, sweat lodges, healing circles, potlatchs, and pipe ceremonies. Each of these practices contains a specific tradition in the way that the ceremony is preformed. Another practice is the Sundance, also called, rain dance, thirst dance, and medicine dance. These rituals involve drumming, singing, and dancing. It is an opportunity for man to dedicate himself to spiritual nature. The government suppressed these rituals in the 1880's and today there is a resurgence of these traditions.
In 1884 The Indian Act banned all traditional ceremonies and practices. If First Nations were discovered practicing, they were imprisoned. The act banned the Sundance and Potlachs. During that time laws were also enacted that required all First Nations children to attend residential schools. Assimilation began in earnest.
Duncan Cambell Scott served as Deputy Superintendant of the Department of Indian Affairs. On December 15th, 1921 he wrote a letter to his Indian Agents stating,
"it is observed with alarm that the holding of dances [healing ceremonies] by the


Indians on their reserves is on the increase, and that these practices tend to disorganize the efforts with the Department is putting forth to make them self-supporting” (Robins & Dewar, n.d. p. 4 ). This was one of the concerns that the Indian Act was enacted to address. When First Nations communities were allowed to practice their traditions they were more empowered and thus not as easily controlled by the government who hoped to assimilate these peoples. This ban was not lifted until 1951.
First Nations people are working extremely hard to keep their traditions alive and to discover more information they may have lost. There are several strategies to promote Traditional Healing: support and recognize Traditional Healers, recognize that misuse of First Nations traditions can be hurtful and is disrespectful, and to learn and respect the traditional tools that are used by Healers.
There are several strategies that can be used to maintain professionalism. Allow people to discover their own way in order to participate in a healing ceremony. In many instances Traditional healing can help in a way that no “pill” ever can.


Heather
    
Reference List:

Aboriginal Traditional Healing.Vancouver Coastal Health. Retrieved from
http://www.culturalcompetency.ca/downloads/aboriginal-traditional-medicine.pdf

Native Woman's Association of Canada.Aboriginal Woman And Traditional Healing.(2007). Retrieved from http://www.laa.gov.nl.ca/laa/naws/pdf/nwac_traditional_healing-jun1607.pdf

Ottawa University.(2009). Aborignal Medicine and Healing Practices. Retrieved from
http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Aboriginal_Medicine_e.htm

Robbins,J., & Dewar,J. traditional International Indigenous Approaches to Healing and modern welfare of Traditional Knowlege, Spirituality and Lands: A critical reflection on practices and policies taken from the Canadian Indigenous Example, Volume 2. Retrieved from http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/iipj/vol2/iss4/2