Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
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"Land and health are closely intertwined because land is the ultimate nurturer of people. It provides physical sustenance but also provides emotional and spiritual sustenance because it inspires you and provides beauty; it nurtures your soul."
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The fourth circle depicts the people that surround us and the places where we come from: Nations, Family, Community, and Land. You, the individual, need to build healthy relationships and responsibilities within these areas, which will provide the foundation for health and wellness.
Land: The land is what sustains us physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. We use the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering. The land is about where you come from, including your territory and is the basis of our identity. It is more than just the earth. It includes all living and non-living things such as: water, air, fire, food, medicines, animals, all plants and trees, the mountains, and our ancestors. We have a responsibility to care for the land and to share that knowledge with our people. Land and health are closely intertwined because land is the ultimate nurturer of people. It provides physical sustenance but also provides emotional and spiritual sustenance because it inspires you and provides beauty; it nurtures your soul. Community: Community represents the people where we live, where we come from, and where we work. There are many different ways to view community: community of place, community of knowledge, interest, experience, values, and it important to recognize that these all have a role in our health. Family: Our family is our support base, is where we come from, and includes our languages and culture. There are many different kinds of families that surround us, including our immediate and extended families, our ancestors, those who we care for and who care for us, our support system, or traditional systems in addition to or instead of simply blood lines. It is important to recognise the diversity that exists across BC, that there are many different family systems that exist, e.g. matrilineal. Nations: This Nation includes the broader community outside the immediate and extended family and community. In essence, Nation is an inclusive term representing the various Nations that comprise one’s world. [Hope, Help, and Healing: A Planning Toolkit for First Nations and Aboriginal Communities to Prevent and Respond to Suicide, 2015] >> Fifth Circle: Determinants of Wellness |