Wellness Almanac posed the question “Vitality. Where do you find it?” At breakfast I asked the same question to our family and visitors: a sculptor, a social worker, two teenagers, an 8 year old, and a couple of office workers. Here is what they said: In art. Watch this video of the artist Chihuly from … Continue reading The Vitality Project: Sheldon Tetreault
The Recognition Awards were born out of a desire to recognize the individuals and organizations that work tirelessly – and often behind the scenes – making our communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient. This is our 4th year doing this and each year we are amazed by the commitment, passion, and contribution of so … Continue reading 2013Winds of Change Recognition Award Winners
“Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools” is an online exhibit of photographs largely from public and church archival collections, compiled in the hope that it will bring healing and restore balance in Aboriginal communities by encouraging children to ask, and parents to answer, important questions about their family histories. How … Continue reading Exhibit: Where Are the Children?
Residential schools are a dark period in Canadian history that continue to cast a long shadow over our country. It is a difficult subject for aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians alike – albeit for different reasons. For aboriginal people the experience created a well of anger, pain, tragedy, and sadness. The well is so deep that … Continue reading Book Review: They Called Me Number One
Ursula Carus is an aboriginal woman from the Siksika First Nation in Alberta. She is currently a Counselor and Mental Health Team Lead at the Pqusnalhcw Health Centre in Mount Currie. We asked her to share insight into the impact of Indian Residential Schools as part of a special awareness raising effort for Reconciliation Week. … Continue reading On the frontlines: Q+A with Counselor Ursula Carus
The Lil’wat World of Charlie Mack by Dorothy Kennedy and Randy Bouchard is a must read for anyone living in the Pemberton Valley. For me it’s in the same category as Pemberton: History of a Settlement by Frances Decker, Margaret Fougberg, and Mary Ronayne. These books can really fill in your perspective and appreciation for … Continue reading Book Review: The Lil’wat World of Charlie Mack
Big shout out to Vancouver Coastal Health and Pqusnalhcw Health Centre for hosting a cultural awareness event at Ullus in Mount Currie yesterday. It was a really nice way for people to sit together, hear some Lil’wat stories, learn about traditional ways and language, hear the drums, and share a fabulous meal. Many of the … Continue reading Shout Out: Vancouver Coastal Health and Pqusnalhcw Health Centre
“Think before you let them drink” is the slogan of a North Shore campaign targeted at parents this high school graduation season. As our children become young adults we face difficult choices – especially with regards to alcohol. I was reminded of this minefield recently when the CBC noon hour show BC Almanac hosted a … Continue reading Think Before You Let Them Drink
A recent article shared by the Partnership at Drugfree.org, a national nonprofit that helps the parents of teens, talks about the consequences of teenage experimentation with drugs and alcohol... Some interesting facts to pause and ponder: Did you know that 90% of addictions START during the teenage years? Nine out of ten people who meet the … Continue reading Wellness and Addiction: 90% of Addictions Start during the Teenage Years
On nomination night in Mount Currie I wrote about some of the idiosyncrasies of the Indian Act which governs elections for most First Nations in Canada. By "idiosyncracies", I meant things like 2 year election cycle, no requirement to be Lil’wat to run for Chief, and candidates holding both the Chief and Councilor positions. The … Continue reading Getting out of the Indian Act: One Step at a Time
The Wellness Almanac 