During a class in Indigenous Perspective of Health and Healing at Cape Breton University (http://www.cbu.ca)we had a guest speaker Ken Paul, Ken is the Director of Fisheries, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation’s Chiefs. He spoke with us about his beliefs, how he keeps his life in balance and what it means to him to living well. He used a common theme in many belief systems especially in First Nations people; a circle this is said to be used because a circle has no end. The circle then has a cross in the middle dividing the circle into 4 equal parts; North, East, South, and West.
The Circle is important to many indigenous people because “the power of the World works in circle”(Black Elk Speaks, pp. 198-200). “Each of the four directions represents a particular way of perceiving things, but none is considered superior or more significant than the other. The emphasis is always placed on the need to seek and explore each of the four great ways in order to gain a thorough understanding of one’s own nature in relation to the surrounding world” (RCMP Aboriginal Policing Services). http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/abo-aut/spirit-spiritualite-eng.htm
In Ken’s personal approach to living well each section focuses on a different area of healing, North is the mental aspects of ourselves this allows us to think. East is spiritual aspect of ourselves this allows us to see/envision, South is the emotional aspects of ourselves this is our heart and it allows us to feel, and the last section West is the physical aspects of ourselves this is our body and it allows us to do things. Ken believes that to have your life balanced each section has to be balanced.
This discussion really caught my attention as I am a nursing student and health and healing from all cultures is important. This circle spoke to me and brought on a new way of thinking reinforcing that to be the happiest and healthiest you, all parts of your life should be in balance and healthy. For example if someone presents with a mental illness this can take over their whole life causing the physical well being of that person to be compromised.
Having someone speak about all areas of ones life and the importance of each area was extremely interesting. I hope to take this information with me to my practice as a nurse this will allow me not to just focus on the physical illness of our clients but to look at the whole person. also providing me with the chance to better understand the indigenous Medicine Wheel. Although Ken spoke about his personal way of life and how he as an individual relates the Medicine Wheel to his life, it opens my eyes to asking the questions to other indigenous people how they become the healthiest version of themselves and what they put into practice in their own lives.
Two-Eyed Seeing for Health 