Bizhiki Cultural Services
Bizhiki Cultural Services Overview
Health and social services across Canada are utilizing Indigenous knowledges, ways of knowing and cultural practices which contribute to culturally safe and effective programs that meet Indigenous peoples’ wholistic health needs. “Culture as intervention” is now a critical component of mental health and addictions evidence-based programs and services in community.
Culture is Healing
To understand the use of Indigenous wise practices and traditional medicines in treating mental health and substance use issues, the historical and cultural reasons for the high rates of health issues in First Nations communities must also be understood. Evidence shows when a person reconnects to his or her culture, it creates an increased sense of meaning and this is proven to lower the risk of mental health and addiction issues. When traditional healing practices and ceremony are used in communities as part of a broader program, these can help reestablish a sense of traditional society and cultural pride (Thunderbird Partnership Foundation).
Bizhiki education and healing services develops awareness, self-esteem and a sense of identity through cultural reclamation. Relationship with the land has forever been a core aspect of health and healing in Indigenous communities and being on the land is therefore key to restoring one’s connection with traditional health and knowledge and ultimately finding means to heal.
Land-based healing is a foundational aspect of the Bizhiki cultural services. When First Nations youth, adults and families return or reconnect to the land while utilizing supports to relearn traditional wellness practices – healing and transformation can be achieved.
Guiding Principles of Land-based teachings
- Focuses on culturally safe models of care
- Views First Nations languages as foundational
- Improves the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities
- Honours local strengths and resources, building the expertise at home
- Targets multiple determinants of health such as self-determination, language acquisition, cultural values, life skills, human-nature relations, ethics, and social connection
- Is viewed as an essential element of a quality health system
- Fosters connection to our traditional territories and land-based values
Bizhiki Land-based Services and Programs
- Culture camps
- Family Education peer support, groups and counselling
- Traditional food teachings with education around nutrition and wellness while supporting community berry picking, fishing, hunting, trapping, etc.
- Cultural activities for people struggling with substance use and addiction, helping them to spend time on the land doing the above activities
- Programs for Elder and youth knowledge transfer of traditional land uses such as the revitalization of ceremonial practices, rites-of-passage activities, reconnection to land/history/teachings, traditional medicine gathering, Sundance
- Teaching traditional parenting practices
- Utilizing local Indigenous healers for existing land-based activities
- Reclamation of local Indigenous ceremonies and celebrations on the land
- Four Direction teachings
- Sweat lodge ceremonies
- Spirit naming ceremonies
- Rites of passage ceremonies
- Feasts, Drumming, sharing and healing circles
- Grief and Loss ceremonies
- Mental Wellness promotion
- Recovery and Addiction supports
- One on One counselling
The Bizhiki approach is based on both traditional First Nations mental wellness values and recovery principles informed by personal lived experience and Indigenous wise practices passed down from First Nations elders and community knowledge keepers.
A holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural approach helps to see each person individually as well as the impacts of their history and environment and connection to the collective. Valuing the natural connections and supports possible within kinship, family and community is a key teaching and a strengths-based approach to health, wellness and healing.