Hase' — Breath of Life
Land-Based Culturally Rooted Approach to Healing Trauma & Addictions
MISSION STATEMENT
Empower Indigenous people to heal from the impacts of colonization by responding to addiction and mental health struggles through breath, embodiment, Ancestral Language & Cultural Reclamation practices.
DESCRIPTION
This initiative explores Land-Based Culturally Rooted approaches to healing addictions and trauma. We will learn about trauma theory and explore the importance of creating safety in relationships. In this work we see addiction as a response to trauma, which for us as Indigenous people stems from 500+ years of attempted and ongoing colonial genocide
We utilize Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw land-based Culturally rooted practices, our breath and bodies as tools for self regulation. This work also explores harm reduction as an act of resistance to the opioid epidemic.
SCOPE
This initiative, curriculum, workbook, and toolkit will equip facilitators, Elders, and mental health professionals to lead workshops, which address the ongoing impact of drug poisoning and loss of life in our communities. This program uses ancestral knowledge and land-based, culturally rooted healing methodologies to address the pervasive and on-going impacts of colonization, namely the critical rate of overdose amongst Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people. By developing a framework that can be used by diverse nations, our aim is to address the systemic reality of overdose in Indigenous communities in a way that respects the local, land-based ancestral laws that govern our way of life as Indigenous People. This framework leaves room for these protocols to be embedded so that folks are receiving addictions and trauma healing teachings in a culturally relevant way.
APPROACH
In this work we move away from programming that looks at addiction as a disease, to a non-pathologizing approach that sees addiction as a response to trauma and an attempt to regulate our nervous system. Trauma for Indigenous peoples stems from colonization and ongoing genocide.
The work of Dr. Stephen Porges on polyvagal theory offers a deeper understanding of the impacts of trauma, the window of tolerance, and the power of co-regulation for trauma recovery. Dr. Michael Yellowbird’s work on neurodecolonization is shared to highlight the physiological healing that happens when we are engaged in our culture. We bring in the work of Kelsey Black Blackwell around Decolonizing the body, to support healing from the wounds of colonization.
DELIVERY OPTIONS
The program was developed as a 12 week program that meets for 3 hours per day, once per week, ove the span of 12 weeks. The program can be delivered in a variety of formats :
- 1 day
- 3 day
- 5 day
- 12 week
12 Week Program Outline
- Week 1: Creating a Culture of Belonging & Cedar Brushing Ceremony
- Week 2: Addictions as a Response to Trauma & Drumming & Singing as Medicine
- Week 3: Healing the wounds of colonization & Reclaiming our Indigenous Gifts
- Week 4: Creating Safety in Relationships (Polyvagal Theory) & Ancestral Identity Reclamation
- Week 5: Neurodecolonization & Trauma-informed Yoga
- Week 6: Embodiment Practices on the Land
- Week 7: The Power of Noticing, Decolonizing the Body & Energy Medicine Techniques
- Week 8: Identifying Our Activators & Dancing as Medicine
- Weeks 9: Weaving for Our Wellness & Developing Our Solidarity Team
- Week 10: Transforming Toxic Shame to Self-compassion & Boxing
- Week 11: Harm Reduction as an Act of Resistance
- Week 12: Cold Water Cleanse Ceremony