Healthy Lifestyle Challenge produces positive results for First Nations residents

A gala conclusion of the six-month-long challenge held on Saturday at the Mississauga First Nation brought together many of the participants in the challenge, each eager to share their success story. For many of the participants, the challenge became a life-changing event in a very positive way.
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Olympic torch stokes warm pride and fiery protest among aboriginals

His date with destiny is months away, but 65-year old Chief Wilton Littlechild has already started training for his 300-metre run with the Olympic torch. Undeterred by the prospect of carrying it into the January teeth of an Alberta winter, he couldn't be more pumped.
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Meeting Shirley Firth

Today I had the honour of having lunch with four-time Olympian Shirley Firth.


Shirley and her twin sister, Sharon, were integral to the first women's cross-country ski team that Canada ever sent to an Olympic Games. Between them, they won 79 medals at a variety of racing distances at national championships.

Shirley and her sister are Gwich’in First Nation and were born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories, though they grew up mostly in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Inuvik is also where the two athletes got on their first pair of skis.

It was an amazing and inspiring experience to learn about Shirley’s career and experiences competing on the national cross country ski team. She also spoke about the different aspects essential to optimal performance as a top level athlete such as dedication, training and nutrition.


I also learned that Shirley is very strict with limiting the amount of sugar in her diet. Actually, her advice on nutrition inspired me to take a good look at my own diet, and pinpoint the areas I could improve upon.

Conference wrap-up

With the poster presentations on display at the conference, there was quite a bit of traffic at the NAHO booth today. We were able to hand out a lot more resources before it was time to pack it in and take down the booth.

I met a lot of interesting new people at this conference, and even ran into a few that I had met at the Indigenous Child Health Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico last March. I must say that one of the highlights during our booth work was getting to meet and get my picture taken with Carolyn Tait, who edited Journal of Aboriginal Health Vol. 4, Issue 1 on women’s health.

Other highlights were receiving lots of feedback from delegates on NAHO products and publications, as well as helping to direct people to NAHO resources relevant to their line of work.

But our promotion of NAHO was not limited to the NAHO booth. Colleen Patterson and I visited the local frienship centre and women's centre to say 'hi' and drop off some of our relevant resources.

I also ran into a lot of friends and contacts that I knew through working as sports editor at News North. It was really rewarding to update everyone on my job with NAHO and all the great things going on at the organization.

On the Land Canoe Trip for Youth and Elders supporting mental health and wellness

After a morning working at the NAHO booth, I was able to take in a few sessions in the afternoon related to sport and recreation.

Wendy Lahey of the NWT Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA), a non profit organization that works with communities across the territory to promote healthy living through active recreation, presented on a project that united youth and Elders through recreation for mental health and healing.

The Mackenzie River Youth Leadership canoe trip was held for youth and elders of the Dehcho and Sahtu regions of the NWT. The sixteen-day canoe trip incorporated four components of an Indigenous model of mental health and healing: community, cultural identity, holistic approach and interdependence.

The project is an example of a holistic approach to programming, as the trip’s spiritual framework was intended to foster respect for the historical and sacred significance of the land, the waterway and its people.

Actually, while working as sports editor in the Northwest Territories, I remember covering this event in 2008. It was wonderful to see a project that involved so many youth, elders, and also many people from the receiving communities along the route. Communities held social events such as ceremonies, celebrations and feasts. Having the elders involved in the trip ensured elements of Dene cultural identity such as language, stories, Indigenous knowledge, land and nature. When I had interviewed some of the youth after the trip, they had remarked having had quite memorable, and sometimes life changing experiences they probably wouldn’t soon forget.

Traditional Healing - Pathways to Knowledge, Pathways to Health Workshop

Of the few sessions I was able to attend at the conference, I think the one on Traditional Healing with Bes’ha Blondin from Deline, Northwest Territories, Josie Augustine from Elsipogtog, New Brunswick and Ida Calmegane from Yukon Territory was definitely the most memorable.

I feel very privileged to have been able to listen to these speakers talk about Traditional Healing and its potential to work with Western medical practices.

It is always a very moving and sometimes emotional experience to listen to Elders share stories about their experience and knowledge. This session enlightened me to some new ideas about healing and the importance of health in both body and mind.

See CBC coverage of the session: Traditional medicine can help with swine flu: healer

Opening Reception with Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq

NAHO resources and swag were flying off the table in all directions during the Opening Reception to the International Congress on Circumpolar Health in Yellowknife. Delegates from Canada, the U.S., Russia, Greenland, and other European countries showed great interest in learning about and finding out what’s new at the National Aboriginal Health Organization.

It was really interesting to meet so many new people and find out what people are working on in terms of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health.

There were some great speakers to open the start of the conference at the reception, including Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq. It was interesting to find out that Ms. Aglukkaq had actually been a student of Sir John high school, the school in which the reception was held, as was Northwest Territories Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sandy Lee, who also spoke during the reception.

NAHO booth set-up

It was a strange feeling to return to Sir John Franklin high school gym for the NAHO booth set-up. Up to a year ago, I had attended this gymnasium on a regular basis to cover soccer, volleyball, badminton, and basketball tournaments galore. Again, it was very nostalgic, especially seeing the banners on the walls for the championship tournaments I had attended.

What made the experience even more strange is that as I reconnected with and met new people during set-up, I had trouble remembering if I had known them in Yellowknife or from the previous conferences I have attended on behalf of NAHO.

Regardless, it was great to see all NAHO’s latest resources and publications spread out on our table and ready for distribution. It was also nice to distribute our products to delegates at other displays and trade for new swag.

Tour around town

Spare time is often very limited during work travel, so I took the opportunity to give my colleague Colleen Patterson a quick tour of Yellowknife before heading over to the conference to set up the NAHO booth in the afternoon.

As we drove around town, I pointed out the many venues where I used to cover sports events, such as schools, arenas, tennis courts, recreation centres, etc. When I first came to Yellowknife to work as sports editor, I remember being quite impressed by the high level of sport and recreation opportunities for a town with a population of 18,700. Unfortunately, opportunities for sport and recreation are much more limited in smaller, more isolated communities in the Northwest Territories. Even so, it was always inspiring to see the creative ways people around Northwest Territories and Nunavut stayed active year-round. I myself can claim to have gone running outdoors in -40C, but not before learning about safety precautions such as wearing warm, dry and wind-resistant clothing.

We eventually found ourselves in Old Town, a section that gives a lot of character to the city. Residentially, you can find anything from shacks with no running water to half a million dollar homes on the same street. Float planes and multicoloured houseboats line the edges of Old Town, which is surrounded by Great Slave Lake. Great Slave Lake is the second largest lake in the Northwest Territories, the deepest lake in North America, and the ninth largest lake in the world.

Adding to the character of Old Town is a very Down to Earth local arts scene. There is no lack of galleries, artist workshops and studios. I myself spent a lot of time in the area to practice photography and get ideas for paintings, activities that helped balance my well-being while working at the newspaper. It’s not surprising the arts community seems to be centered in this part of the city. With all the unique sights and sounds, you can’t help but feel inspired.

14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health

Time flies when you are having fun. Unfortunately, time doesn’t always fly when you are flying, and I could not arrive in Yellowknife soon enough.

I was very lucky and grateful to get the chance to travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories for the 11th International Congress on Circumpolar Health (ICCH), just over a year after having moved from there to Ottawa.

Before starting with NAHO, I lived in Yellowknife for two years where I worked as sports editor for three newspapers including Yellowknifer, News North and News North Nunavut.

Yes, it felt like I was coming home when I walked down the steps of the plane and into the airport where a friend and ex-colleague waited to greet me beside a display of a polar bear hunting a seal.

I could not go to the hotel without first paying a quick visit to the newsroom to say hello to old friends and visit my old desk that was once lined with coffee cups and piles of sports results, media releases, old newspapers, and notepads.

Fully immersed in a state of nostalgia, it was difficult to wind down from the excitement of being back in the city that played a big part in advancing my post-university career as well as in my journey to find myself in my early twenties. However, I could only fight the tiredness of a long flight so long before it was time to check into the hotel, eat and get to bed.

Luckily, there will be some time to show my colleagues around town tomorrow before heading over to ICCH to set up the NAHO booth.

Time to fly

It was difficult to leave the beautiful city of Albuquerque, New Mexico without having time to fully explore its sights and surroundings. I guess the volcanoes, skiing, and visit to the nearby historic town of San Juan will have to wait until next time.

But I have to say my positive experiences at the conference far overshadowed to lack of spare time. I think my first time promoting NAHO at a conference was very successful, and I am very grateful I had the opportunity to do so. Another rewarding experience was meeting so many wonderful people who worked in similar fields.

Although I may not return to Albuquerque any time soon, I will take forward valuable knowledge from various sessions I attended, and use feedback from delegates across Canada and the U.S. as additional motivation to work towards the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis individual, families, and communities.

Adolescent health

I have to admit leading a session on adolescent health with a table of Canadians and Americans with various backgrounds in epidemiology, research, public health, and recreation was not an easy task. Fortunately, that’s where my background in journalism and communications came into play.

In my former job reporting community sports in Northwest Territories and Nunavut, a good part of my event coverage revolved around high school athletes. I have heard countless stories about the health concerns facing today’s youth, and the positive influence sports can have to help them make healthy choices.

I’d also like to think I’m not that far away from my own adolescence to feel that I can still understand and relate to the health issues of this demographic today.

It was easy to pinpoint the big health issues that Aboriginal teenagers face. Health concerns such as physical inactivity, diabetes, substance abuse, and mental health were resonant in the various communities we worked in. It was great to be able to speak to NAHO’s various research, publications and programs that addressed many of these concerns, including the Healthy Living Web site and the Honouring Life Network.

What was also inspiring, however, was that for every health concern we talked about, everyone could speak to a different initiative they or their community was actively involved in. Whether it was health education sessions in schools, recreation programs that integrated traditional activities, or specific health promotion activities, it is obvious that there are a lot of good people doing good things for their communities.

In fact, this was one of the things that inspired me in my job as sports editor up North. For as many athletes I interviewed, I probably interviewed just as many recreation coordinators, tournament organizers, coaches, volunteers, etc. who gave countless hours to benefit our youth. This conference brought a similar feeling as I was surrounded by so many people who dedicated their lives to the health of our children.

And that’s good news. With the growing rate of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth population, these kinds of roles are as important as ever to address the health of our children.

An evening of Indigenous culture

After leading sessions, meeting conference delegates and promoting NAHO’s various resources, it was great to relax for dinner and a demonstration of traditional Native American dances. A Navaho Elder shared stories, drummed and sang as his grandchildren performed a series of traditional dances including Butterfly Dance, Eagle Dance, Hoop Dance, Swan Dance, and more.

It was an amazing experience, as well as a privilege to get a glimpse of another culture’s traditions. It was also endearing to see children with such a keen interest in learning and performing skilled cultural dances.

It is these kinds of opportunities that allow children to not only spend invaluable time with their Elders, but give them a chance to carry forward important traditions and culture to their own children.

Traditional healer panel

Today I had an opportunity to moderate my first conference session. A Traditional Health Panel was held three amazing speakers: Dr Karen Hill, Alexandra Darnay and Louise McDonald.

Dr. Karen Hill is a Mohawk Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Canada. She works as Lead Physician with the Six Nations Family Health Team, and Director of the Aboriginal Students Health Science Office at McMaster University.

Alexandra Darnay is a member of Garden River First Nation, Ontario in Canada. She is Program Director for the Aboriginal Health Research Networks Secretariat and a Sessional Instructor at McMaster University. She is a published author and worked as a research assistance for three documentaries, including Jidwa:doh – Let’s Become Again, Onkwanistenhsera – Mothers of our Nation, and Dish with One Spoon.

Louise McDonald is from the Kaniekehaka Nation at Akwesasne upstate New York. She advocates for native women’s voice and has restored coming of age ceremonies on her reservation for youth. She is also an Intervention/Prevention Councillor in local schools.

It was truly a privilege to moderate this session and listen to these passionate speakers share their knowledge and experiences in traditional healing practices and midwifery. They made very strong cases for retaining local indigenous knowledge and revival of healthy traditional practices of health, and demonstrated the importance to educate health care workers and provide traditional teaching on maternal child health.

Getting to know you

It was a good thing I took an hour to walk through Albuquerque’s Old Town just before dinner yesterday. I had a feeling it would be my only spare time until my departure on Sunday.

Today was incredibly busy, but equally rewarding. The Indigenous Child Health conference coincided with the final day of the Indigenous Women’s Health conference, held in the same location. This made for a lot of traffic in the main area around NAHO’s booth.

There are so many interesting people at this conference. It was amazing to see how well-known the organization is across the border, though there are many Canadians at the conference as well. NAHO products and publications literally flew off the table, and it didn’t take long before I had to restock the table with more copies of the Journal of Aboriginal Health, Our Healthy Journey, midwifery resources, and other post cards and pamphlets.

Many voices into one song

As my plane hovered above Albuquerque, New Mexico just before landing, I could not help but draw a comparison to flying in Canada’s Arctic region. While both very different geographic landscapes of sand versus tundra, the feeling of isolation in midst of a large desert was very reminiscent to my days of living up North.

Today I landed on the traditional territories of Albuquerque’s sovereign nations to attend the 3rd International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health: Many Voices Into One Song March 6-8. Approximately 300 child health providers and researchers who work with indigenous children and families have gathered to take part in professional development and meet colleagues in a similar field.

During the conference, I will be promoting the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s resources and publications. I will also be the moderator for a Tradition Healer Panel and a session on Healthy Communities, and lead a roundtable discussion on Adolescent Health.