Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Alberta
Year(s) Funded: 2019-2020
Topic Area: Traditional Medicine Title: Traditional Medicine Camp-Natawihowin-Askiw-Maskihikiy
Project Summary: Traditional Medicine Camp-Natawihowin-Askiw-Maskihikiy was designed to provide training to Traditional Medicine Apprentices (TMAs) and community members. More specifically TMAs and community members learned to identify plants and how to use them as medicine. They learned about food sustainability which included hunting, fishing, gathering, and transplanting. They also learned about language revitalization, prayers, and ceremony related to these activities. Learning the language, prayers and ceremonies are an integral part of food sustainability and harvesting medicinal plants. Breaking down the Cree language to show how their ancestors were able to connect the language to their surroundings (mother Earth), to the astrology, to the animals, and to many other aspects of living. Learning these skills built confidence and gave participants a renewed sense of belonging and control over community health. |