Indigenous Medicine Stories: Anishinaabe mshkiki nwii-dbaaddaan

This episode features Jerry Fontaine, an esteemed Anishinaabe scholar, author, and community leader from the Sagkeeng First Nation. Known for his dedication to Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice, Jerry has spent decades working to protect Indigenous rights, traditional lands, and cultural heritage. His work centres on reclaiming and revitalizing Anishinaabe knowledge systems, blending academic rigour with ancestral wisdom to advocate for Indigenous rights.

As an author, Jerry has published significant works that explore Indigenous governance, intergenerational resilience, and the teachings of the Anishinaabe people. His commitment to empowering Indigenous youth, preserving language, and advancing community well-being reflects his vision for a future rooted in self-determination and respect for the land. A powerful speaker and advocate, Jerry's voice resonates as a beacon of knowledge, healing, and inspiration for communities locally and globally.

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This episode features Randy Trudeau. Randy Trudeau is a hunter, trapper, fisher, artist, and traditional medicine harvester from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, located in Northeastern Ontario. Deeply connected to the land and its teachings, Randy's life revolves around Indigenous practices and traditional ways of living. As a skilled hunter and trapper, he has extensive knowledge of the land's resources and cycles, which he combines with expertise in fishing and traditional medicine harvesting. Randy's art draws inspiration from the natural world and his deep-rooted cultural heritage. His work reflects the beauty and wisdom of his community's traditions. Through his various crafts, Randy continues to share and preserve the stories and teachings of his ancestors, ensuring that these vital practices remain strong in the present and for future generations.

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Welcome to part two of this two-part special, co-hosted with Dr. Karen Hill of the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and host of Two Row Medicine podcast.

Two Row Medicine is a new podcast navigating relationships from a traditional Indigenous perspective in the 21st century.

On June 8th and 9th, 2024, Indigenous healers, elders, health administrators, and physicians gathered at the Six Nations of the Grand River in Southern Ontario to discuss strategies for addressing the growing demand for Indigenous healers. It was the third gathering, with the previous two taking place on Manitoulin Island and in Rama in 2022. This gathering brought together healers and Indigenous physicians in meaningful dialogue to explore ways of collaborating on health issues, such as addiction.

We invited participants to provide their perspectives on collaboration in this episode:

• Kevin Deer – Lead Cultural Advisor at First Nations Technical Institute
• Terri Debassige – M'Chigeeng First Nation
• Randy Trudeau – Artist, designer, and educator
• Dr. Annelind Wakegijig – Lead Physician at the Baawaating Family Health Team

We would like to acknowledge the financial contributions to this podcast made by the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and AMS Healthcare.

Listen to the Two Row Medicine podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

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Welcome to part one of this two-part special, co-hosted with Dr. Karen Hill of the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and host of Two Row Medicine podcast.

Two Row Medicine is a new podcast navigating relationships from a traditional Indigenous perspective in the 21st century.

On June 8th and 9th, 2024, Indigenous healers, elders, health administrators, and physicians gathered at the Six Nations of the Grand River in Southern Ontario to discuss strategies for addressing the growing demand for Indigenous healers. It was the third gathering, with the previous two taking place on Manitoulin Island and in Rama in 2022. This gathering brought together healers and Indigenous physicians in meaningful dialogue to explore ways of collaborating on health issues, such as addiction.

We invited participants to share their perspectives on collaboration. This episode features:

• Heather McIntyre – Regional Indigenous Cultural Safety Coordinator, Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Team, BANAC
• Mike Bisson – Cultural Coordinator, Nogdawindamin Treatment Centre, and Koognaasewin Child Well-being Law
• Brandon Waindubence – Sheshegwaning First Nation
• Troy Monague – Traditional Healing Coordinator, Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Team, BANAC
• Esstin McLeod – Healer and medicine practitioner in Northern Ontario
• Dr. Ojistoh Kahnawahere Horn – Family Physician in the Kahnawake and Akwesasne communities
• Dr. Karen Hill – Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, and host of the Two Row Medicine podcast

We would like to acknowledge the financial contributions to this podcast made by the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and AMS Healthcare.

Listen to the Two Row Medicine podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

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This episode features Dr. Marlene Pierre and Jeordi Pierre of S.O.I.L. - The School for Indigenous Learning in Neebing, Ontario.

Dr. Marlene Pierre is a respected Elder and community leader from Thunder Bay, deeply rooted in her Anishinaabe heritage. With decades of experience in education, healthcare, and cultural preservation, Dr. Pierre has dedicated her life to revitalizing Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

Jeordi Pierre, son of Dr. Marlene Pierre, is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous education and cultural preservation. Raised in Thunder Bay, Jeordi has been immersed in the teachings of his Anishinaabe heritage from a young age. He co-founded the School of Indigenous Learning alongside his mother to ensure that future generations have access to the wisdom of their ancestors.

The School of Indigenous Learning offers a cultural environment rooted in Anishinaabeg traditional knowledge and land-based survival skills, embracing the "old way" of life. It is a place where individuals can grow and learn from within, fostering empowerment, self-reliance, and self-confidence. By reconnecting with Mother Earth, who provides everything we need to survive, we can walk the path of a good life in harmony with nature.

indlearning.ca

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This episode features Ernie and Charlotte Kwandibens. They are esteemed Indigenous elders and community leaders, renowned for their unwavering dedication to cultural preservation, education, and environmental stewardship. Born and raised within their traditional lands, Ernie a member of Whitesand First Nation, and Charlotte a member of the Waswanabe First Nation, have committed their lives to advocating for the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples.

With a wealth of knowledge passed down through generations, Ernie and Charlotte serve as vital bridges between the past and the present. Together, they share stories of resilience, survival, and the profound wisdom of their ancestors, offering guidance and hope to younger generations. Their work in healing the traumas of residential schools has been particularly impactful, as they lead initiatives to foster understanding and reconciliation.

Both Ernie and Charlotte are passionate advocates for environmental conservation, emphasizing the sacred relationship between Indigenous peoples and the earth. They collaborate with various organizations to promote sustainable practices and protect natural resources for future generations.

Through their storytelling, mentorship, and activism, Ernie and Charlotte Kwandibens continue to inspire and empower their community, ensuring that the voices of Indigenous peoples are heard and respected.

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This episode features Esstin McLeod. Esstin (Niganobe), an Anishinaabe Kwe from the Mississaugi First Nations in Mid-Northern Ontario, is a Healer and Medicine Practitioner. She offers spiritual consultations and remedies to Native healthcare centers in Northern Ontario.

In her role as a Medicine Practitioner, Esstin provides plant-based remedies and instructional guidance. As a Healer, she works with spiritual energies, drawing on ceremonial practices and the teachings of Anishinaabe Elders.

With 30 years of study and experience, Esstin has developed a workshop series called "Anishinaabe Wisdom Healing." She also leads Anishinaabe women's retreats and healing workshops, utilizing the Medicine Wheel for a holistic approach to health and healing.

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This episode features Dr. Karen Hill. Karenna'onwe (Gaw-law-naw-oo-way) – Dr. Karen Hill is Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She is the mother of two sons and step-mother to five daughters. She currently has 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons. She completed medical school in 2003 and Family Medicine Residency in 2005 - both from McMaster University. Prior to her medical career Karen worked to write curriculum and develop post-secondary programming at Six Nations Polytechnic, an Indigenous led post-secondary institution in her home community.

Karen's passion is to see Traditional Indigenous Knowledge return to the centre of life for Indigenous people across Canada for the purpose of invoking healing. The fulfillment of this vision is foundational to her ongoing work in medicine, curriculum writing, teaching, co-creating spaces where Indigenous knowledge is brought into parallel with mainstream knowledge in education and health.

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This episode features Renee Linklater, a PhD who is a member of Rainy River First Nations in Northwestern Ontario. She has over 25 years of experience working with Indigenous healing agencies and First Nation communities. Renee has worked across the health and education sectors as a frontline worker, program evaluator, curriculum developer, educator/trainer, and researcher. She is an international speaker on trauma and healing and is the author of Decolonizing trauma work: Indigenous stories and strategies and editor of Connected in Creation: A Collection of Lived Experience through Cultural Expression. Renee is the Senior Director of Shkaabe Makwa - Centre for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Wellness at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and is actively involved in several system level initiatives across the province.

Renee's Book:

Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies

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This episode features Isaac Murdoch, also known by his Ojibwe name Manzinapkinegego'anaabe / Bombgiizhik, who hails from the Fish Clan and belongs to the Serpent River First Nation. Raised in the traditional lifestyle of hunting, fishing, and trapping, he dedicated many years to learning from Elders in the northern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Isaac is highly regarded as a storyteller and custodian of traditional knowledge.

Over the years, he has taken a leading role in organizing workshops and cultural camps, with a particular focus on passing down wisdom to the younger generation. His expertise extends to various areas, including traditional Ojibwe paint, imagery and symbolism, harvesting, medicine walks, ceremonial knowledge, cultural camps, Anishinaabeg oral history, birch bark canoe making, birch bark scrolls, and facilitating Youth & Elders workshops. Isaac has devoted his life to preserving Anishinaabe cultural practices, investing significant time in direct learning from Elders.

https://isaacmurdoch.com/

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