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 Traditionally, the Aboriginal Peoples took a holistic
approach to health and wellness. In addition to the physical
aspect of an individual or community’s well-being, total health
also took into consideration the spiritual, emotional, and
social. The key to wellness was balance. People strove for
balance within their environment and with others, but most
importantly, they maintained a balance within themselves. Their
body, mind, and spirit functioned together as one interconnected
system.
Alberta’s First Peoples lived a very healthy lifestyle, free
of sicknesses such as influenza, tuberculosis, or syphilis,
which threatened their existence in the years following contact
with Europeans. Their lifestyles were based on the cycles of
nature, which led them through the vast lands of the prairies
and kept them fit and strong. The land was also a source of
sustenance, supplying the peoples with food for energy and
nutrition. Communities functioned like large families, offering
support to all members. People generally lived in harmony with
the world around them.
Of course, life on the land did not come without injury or
illness. People could suffer from a number of maladies,
including cuts and scratches, toothaches, burns, headaches,
upset stomachs, or chronic pain. Women needed assistance during
pregnancy and with the birth of children. For times like these,
communities relied on their healers, Elders, and midwives to
prescribe the right remedies. These medicine men and women were
extremely skilled in the art of traditional healing, a talent
that took many years of practice and an incredibly rich and
precise knowledge of the land to master. Most importantly, they
possessed the ability to connect their peoples to nature and to
the Creator. They knew the secrets of the land, and served as
‘translators’, helping their community to better connect with
the resources around them.
To pass on this traditional knowledge and to ensure the
survival of their peoples, healers shared their expertise with
younger apprentices, who would assume responsibility for the
health and well-being of the community after the healer passed
on. There was much for an apprentice to learn. A healer had to
be learned in the spiritual aspects of health, including how to
conduct healing ceremonies. He or she had to know when and where
to gather herbs and medicines and how to store them. Most
importantly, it was imperative that he or she understood how to
use the remedies, as some were poisonous if not prepared
correctly or given in the right dose, at the right time.
Plant life differed from area to area, and traditional
healing remedies depended on available resources. However, the
remedies were known for their effectiveness. Aromatic herbs,
fruit, tree bark, roots and leaves were used in an assortment of
ways to bring out different healing properties.
In Alberta, hundreds of different medicines were used to
treat a large variety of ills. Sage was known for its
anti-bacterial, astringent and antioxidant properties. Apart
from being used in purification rituals, it served as a
disinfectant for wounds, an anti-irritant for skin conditions,
and could be boiled as tea to relieve digestive problems,
headaches, or colds. Fireweed was another popular healing plant.
Almost all of its parts could be harvested to cure many types of
ailments, including digestive tract troubles. It was also used
to heal burns, and offered protection from the effects of cold
when applied to the hands and face in wintertime. Another
frequently-used plant was the dandelion, which was well-known
for its ability to treat heartburn, rheumatism, and skin
conditions such as eczema, scurvy, or jaundice. Burdock, cattail
and arrowroot contained edible roots which were used in a
variety of ways. Burdock was especially known as an antidote to
take after the accidental ingestion of poisonous plants,
including certain mushrooms, oak, and ivy. Other plants known
for their healing properties included mint and blueberries. The
bark, leaves and buds of trees were also harvested for their
healing properties. Poplar buds, for example, could be mixed
with oil to make a balm that relieved pain, coughs, and skin
problems. The bark scrapings of the poplar, aspen, or birch tree
could be boiled to make a nutritious and aromatic tea.
Today, though Aboriginal Peoples have moved away from the
lifestyles of their ancestors, many still rely on the
traditional healing practices to restore them in times of
weakened health. The traditional remedies mastered by Elders,
healers, and midwives over hundreds of generations continue to
act effectively against a variety of human ills.
Sources:
http://www.wrc.net
http://www.galileo.org
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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