kîwêtinohk maskwa

What does lateral wellness mean to you? Lateral kindness stems from our traditional teachings, it’s in our hearts and blood memory. Think of your grandparents or great grandparents kindness when you speak today, and notice any shifts you may make in how you speak, think and feel. As a First Nations person how many of you have been to lateral violence training? Many many of your hands go up. We are mindful that many of us have gone to the training yet the issue of lateral violence is perhaps at a ongoing and epidemic level. At kiwetinohk maskwa, we like to support our collective wellness. In that frame, we have been doing many posts on lateral kindness. Our frame needs to shift to Lateral Wellness, and tangible steps to move to our old teachings, our traditions and actions. Perhaps we recall the things our great grandparents said or did and the depth of their care, their teachings and how many of them walked in wellness. 100 years ago we were still very connected to our language, and traditions. We can be again. Have a kind day. Walk in wellness.

Holistic Wellness & Balance In many First Nations traditions and teachings, we know that true wellness comes from balancing the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of our being. Take time today to reflect on how you are caring for each of these parts of yourself. Remember, we are connected to all living things—let nature be your guide in finding balance. 🌎 #WellnessJourney #BalanceInLife #IndigenousHealing

Do you go to counselling? On World Mental Health Day, I’m mindful of this question, frequently asked by fellow counsellors and the people I walk with on their wellness journeys. My answer is always a resounding "yes!" I openly share with colleagues, students, and those I am privileged to walk beside on their wellness journeys the significance of attending counselling and participating in ceremonies in my own life. I also emphasize the importance of interconnection. But what do we mean by interconnection? As First Nation peoples, we view and frame mental health through the lens of wellness. Our traditional teachings, including life cycle and medicine wheel teachings, provide us with a strong foundation for lifelong wellness. The interconnection between ourselves, one another, the earth, and all living beings as our relatives offers a profound sense of balance. Walking in wellness means walking with respect for everything around us and everything we interact with—starting, of course, with ourselves. I often share a story about a tree I knew as a child. I could climb to the top and be hidden in its branches, which almost cradled me. I spoke to it and always acknowledged it when coming and going from the yard. I spent much of my childhood with this tree, through moments of both happiness and sadness. It was part of my wellness circle. Like many of us, I grew up and moved away. After being gone for a year, I returned home and immediately noticed that my tree was gone. It had died the year I went away. Each time I tell this story, I still feel tears welling up—I loved that tree. The interconnection and relationship I had with it were foundational to my childhood wellness. These connections are an integral part of our collective wellness on Mother Earth. Today, and every day, take time for yourself. Make friends with a tree and let it teach you about yourself and your wellness—or yes, go to counselling. We all need to work together to break the stigma around mental health so we can walk together on our wellness journeys.

Have a kind day. Consider ways to support and promote actions of kindness in your family, your workplace and your community.

Consider shifting from lateral violence to actively supporting lateral kindness. The final stage of colonization is sometimes said to be the point where the colonizers do not need to be present anymore because the colonized group takes one another down. Love yourself. Be kind to everyone, regardless.

https://lnkd.in/dv2t8fAc

Important considerations in a time of a needed focus of wellness.

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