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14 until belonging happened. That’s true for youth and adults. Dr. Brokenleg added that if it was possible to make belonging happen, it was possible to make anything happen. Canada was in major danger, as Canadian families were coming apart -belonging was more necessary than anything else. In times of crisis, it was important to tell the person in crisis that nothing they could do would break their love for them. Belonging remained one of the greatest strengths that Aboriginal communities possessed. It was a gift that could be given to the world. Doing so would strengthen people and help see them through any crisis. Mastery was the second theme discussed, depicted by ravens. Dr. Brokenleg shared that ravens were an appropriate reference when considering the story of a hotel doorman who would toss acorns near the entrance to attract squirrels, which entertained the hotel guests. Ravens would pick up the acorns and drop them from high above so they would break open on the sidewalk. Dr. Brokenleg noted that many reserves gazed at problems and had forgotten what they could do. Instead they should glance at problems and gaze at solutions, to create resiliency. He spoke of a school where the kids were not getting an afternoon recess because they were taking too long to eat lunch. The kids were challenged to come up with a solution. They determined that if there were condiments on each table it would make lunch go faster. As such, they held a fundraiser and used the money earned to buy condiments for each table. The kids learned through this process that if they had a problem they could fix it. He explained that most arguments with a three year old were about whether or not they would be allowed to do something themselves. This was exactly what a 16 year old argued for, and the same thing that a nursing home resident wanted. There was a universal need for people to have mastery. Independence was the third theme that Dr. Brokenleg discussed, which was represented by the image of an eagle. Independence was not about being alone and self-sufficient, it was about being responsible for oneself - about empowerment. He shared the story of his son, who at the age of five had a fever and needed to take medication. While he took the first dose willingly, he had to be forced to take the second dose because of the terrible flavour. For the third dose, his father offered him the choice of taking the medication on a fancy spoon or a plain one. The child chose the fancy spoon and then willingly took the medicine. The story illustrated that providing choices was effective, although care was needed in considering the choices offered. Dr. Brokenleg shared that discipline was empowering as it taught people to be responsible at one level so they could go on to the next. He noted that empowerment was the experience of one’s own power, achieved through discipline and allowing a child more and more responsibility, similar to the old potlatch tradition of borrowing blankets and paying back one or two more than were borrowed. Dr. Brokenleg discussed the fourth theme of Generosity, which fulfilled the human need to know one’s own goodness and was represented by the wolf, who did not eat alone. He added that the first thing a person lost in a crisis was the sense of their own goodness. In conclusion, Dr. Brokenleg explained that the four themes depicted by the killer whale, wolf, eagle and raven, comprised the major First Nation crests. Addressing all four themes created a person whose strength was on the inside, so that they did not have to be controlled from the outside. Anyone could face life with these four themes. Dr. Brokenleg offered that the job of First Nations was to teach children to be strong on the inside, and to know that adults needed these experiences as well. In his first book “Dancing Healers”, Dr. Brokenleg wrote about coming from a non-native world to dealing with native clients. “Theft of the Spirit” was an account of caring about children. He emphasized that the Circle of Courage psychology would create strong youth, as it was the wisdom of First Nation ancestors, verified even by science as a best practice. Children were acknowledged as a reward and the promise of what was yet to come. II SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
FINAL WRAP-UP Dr. Evan Adams, Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor Dr. Adams expressed hope that participants recognized First Nation logic and their ways of feeling needed were the centre of First Nations work. Through participation at the 2 nd Annual Forum he felt energized and filled with wisdom to carry through to the next year. He hoped that the participants felt the same way. He referenced his admiration for the tripartite leadership who had spoken passionately and acknowledged the diversity of the teams that were working together and committing to each other to achieve change. Dr. Adams acknowledged the keen interest for there to be more opportunity to talk about governance at a community level, including determining how communities would organize themselves in order to have input and to lead a community driven process. methods to further discuss this interest were referenced, including through the upcoming regional caucuses in the summer and the possibility that a province-wide gathering on the subject of governance alone could be convened as early as the fall of 2008. Dr. Adams shared that he had attended a number of different workshops during the 2 nd Annual Forum, and appreciated the different approaches of presenters in their work. He concluded with acknowledgement of the contributions of presenters and thanked participants for opening their hearts, for their generous and kind attention and good work. 15 VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
Page 1: Second Annual Forum Vancouver, BC
Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTION On may 20 th - 21 st-
Page 7 and 8: THE REPORT ON THE 2008 FORUM This n
Page 9 and 10: Dr. Adams spoke of the importance o
Page 11 and 12: At the 1 st Annual Forum, a number
Page 13 and 14: spoke to the minimum standards for
Page 15 and 16: DAY TWO: THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008 OPE
Page 17: CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr. Martin
Page 21 and 22: APPENDIX A: BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSI
Page 23 and 24: any event/access (i.e., leisure acc
Page 25 and 26: HEALTH SERVICES The underlying goal
Page 27 and 28: Dental The First Nations Regional L
Page 29 and 30: • Develop our own research polici
Page 31 and 32: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Page 33 and 34: This interactive forum theatre faci
Page 35 and 36: # OF RESPONSES “Getting a sense o
Page 37 and 38: “The one thing I liked the best w
Page 39 and 40: “Experimental learning on getting
Page 41 and 42: Delegate Cross, Nicole Laxgalts'ap
Page 43 and 44: VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 200
Page 45 and 46: Delegate Rosal, Assunta Health and
Page 47 and 48: Note Taker Springinotic, Carla Acti
Page 49: II Second Annual Forum Vancouver, B

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