Elders' Wisdom Series: Between Two Worlds

Summary

Reg Crow Shoe, from the Piikani First Nation, introduces the importance of smudging in Blackfoot culture, emphasizing it as a sacred ritual that formalizes storytelling. He highlights the oral tradition of sharing stories about relationships with nature, people, animals, and the universe. Reg also discusses the link between traditional teachings and modern health practices, drawing parallels between Indigenous perspectives on sickness and Western preventive health measures, particularly in relation to stress and conditions like Bell's palsy. His message underscores the value of integrating both Indigenous and Western knowledge for a balanced life.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Smudging is a vital practice in Blackfoot culture that sets a formal space for storytelling.
• 📜 Oral stories in the culture emphasize relationships between humans, nature, animals, and the universe.
• 🌿 Smudging rituals make the stories more formal, bringing them into a sacred context.
• 🌍 Blackfoot culture values stories because they preserve experiences and interactions between living and non-living entities.
• 👻 The concept of 'ghosts' in Blackfoot culture represents unseen forces like sicknesses, connecting spiritual belief with health.
• 💬 Emotions, such as fear and respect, are fundamental parts of the creation story and guide how people should live their lives.
• 🧘 The story of an elder who experienced paralysis (interpreted as Bell's palsy) teaches the importance of living a healthy, stress-free, and respectful life.
• 🗣️ Talking badly about others and living an unhealthy lifestyle are considered to invite 'ghosts,' leading to illness or imbalance in life.
• ⚖️ The traditional oral knowledge about ghosts and illness aligns with modern preventive health guidelines (stress reduction, healthy living, and positive behavior).
• 🔗 Bridging traditional knowledge with modern health practices can help young Indigenous people navigate between both cultural and scientific systems.

Q & A

Who is the speaker and what is their cultural background?

The speaker is Reg Crow Shoe from the Piikani First Nation, and his Blackfoot name is Alec I Seen, meaning 'dear chief.' He speaks the Blackfoot Piikani language and comes from an oral culture where storytelling is essential.

What is the significance of smudging in the speaker’s culture?

In the speaker's culture, smudging is an important ceremonial practice. It creates a formal setting for storytelling and is a way to connect with the Creator through the rising smoke. This makes the stories told in this context more formal and meaningful.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between storytelling and their culture?

The speaker emphasizes that storytelling in their culture is deeply connected to nature, human beings, animals, and the universe. These interactions create experiences and stories, which are passed down orally. Stories serve as a way to explain relationships and teach life lessons.

What role does emotion play in the speaker’s cultural stories about creation?

Emotion is central in the speaker’s creation stories. They believe that Creator first experienced emotion because of loneliness. This emotion was passed on to humans as part of creation, along with respect and disrespect, which guide how emotion should be used.

What cultural belief does the speaker mention regarding sickness?

The speaker’s culture views sickness as ghosts—unseen entities that affect people. For example, an elder in their community believed her face was paralyzed due to negative emotions, stress, and bad behavior like talking negatively about others. This was seen as a punishment from these 'ghosts.'

What preventive health practices does the speaker mention from their cultural teachings?

The speaker mentions three preventive practices from traditional teachings: living a stress-free life, exercising, and avoiding negative talk about others. These practices are believed to prevent sickness, which is viewed as being caused by 'ghosts.'

How does the speaker relate traditional knowledge to modern health practices?

The speaker connects traditional teachings about sickness to modern health guidelines. For instance, their traditional belief that negative emotions and stress can cause physical illness, like face paralysis, aligns with Western medical advice on preventing Bell’s palsy by reducing stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What example does the speaker give to explain how traditional and modern health beliefs can work together?

The speaker gives an example of Bell’s palsy. Traditional teachings about respecting emotions and avoiding negativity align with modern advice on managing stress to prevent Bell’s palsy. This shows that traditional and modern approaches can complement each other in health care.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of blending traditional and modern knowledge?

The speaker stresses that young Indigenous people can benefit from both traditional and modern knowledge. By integrating cultural teachings with modern health guidelines, individuals can find a balanced approach to living a healthy life.

What is the main message the speaker conveys about traditional stories and health?

The speaker’s main message is that traditional stories about health and well-being are valuable and align with modern health practices. By respecting both oral traditions and written medical advice, individuals can lead healthier lives, rooted in both their culture and contemporary science.