Abstract
In this article, the authors highlight Indigenous helper Vicky Boldo/kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew’s (Gentle Wind Woman) approach to healing knowledges. kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew’s background of Cree, Coast Salish and Métis ancestry, in addition to living a scarring experience as a trans-racial adoptee, created a ground of insight and self-care that sparked her awareness and reliance on Mother Earth as part of her survival. This chapter documents kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew’s insights into the sacred and inseparable relationship to Earth and all beings as crucial to overall wellbeing. The authors discuss kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew’s teachings about connection, embodiment and utilizing inner resources to move through the pain and trauma of separation from the self and sacred. Ultimately, kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew exemplifies the need to centre the ways in which people respond to hurt assisted by positive social environments that challenge and stop structures of abuse. This understanding gained as a “wounded healer” in turn creates spaces for individual learnings extending into intergenerational teachings on healing and dignity.
Highlights
IntroductionPractices of connection can be considered a form of resistance and healing, for those who have been targeted by acts of violence (Richardson and Wade 2008; Wade 1997)
We introduce to readers a woman and Cree–Métis healer/helper who enacts these dignifying, holding and supportive practices in her everyday life
This article is based on Vicky Boldo/kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew’s transcribed teachings conceptualized through an interview conducted by Zeina Allouche as part of the Indigenous Healing Knowledges project led by Catherine Richardson at Concordia University in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, Northern Turtle Island
Summary
Practices of connection can be considered a form of resistance and healing, for those who have been targeted by acts of violence (Richardson and Wade 2008; Wade 1997). For Indigenous Peoples, the process of moving back towards one’s culture, ancestry and community can be fragile and requires support and displays of caring or ‘holding’ In this regard, we introduce to readers a woman and Cree–Métis healer/helper who enacts these dignifying, holding and supportive practices in her everyday life. Cree–Métis ancestry and a father of Salish and Métis ancestry, was raised as Vicky Lynne by her adoptive family on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
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