Blog Archives

Retreats

8/22/2013

My friend Sheila, from Moose River Gifts and Tours, and I have formed a partnership to deliver retreats! This is an exciting adventure for me, one that I have wanted to do for a long time. I am privileged to be able to deliver these retreats with great people as partners.
The retreats can vary in time, they can be for one day or a weekend retreat, They are all customized to meet the needs of the group and their interest.
We have incorporated various learning tools within the acreage in Smith, Alberta. There are walking trails, scavenger hunts, games, labyrinths for introspection and problem solving, a medicine wheel for teaching traditional First Nation experiences including natural law.
I lead various sessions such as team building activities, learning activities for people who are helpers or caregiving that need a space to regenerate or rejuvenate. Families, couples and youth groups that want some learning and fun activities. I have always wanted to work with groups that were interested in being close to nature and building on their strengths and gifts.
I am so grateful to have this opportunity.
The poster below has a toll free number and our e-mail addresses if you would like to contact us. We provide quotes based on your needs.
Thank you.

0 Comments

Suicide Awareness Week Sept 8-14, 2013

8/19/2013

0 Comments

Many of you have read or heard about the young boy who suicided in Nunavut. It is such a tragedy that is becoming more and more prevalent. This boy's death stays in my mind and I think abut him now and then. I have to stop and pray for his spirit and pray for strength for his family and their community. I don't know them but I care. It is indeed becoming an "epidemic" across Canada.

"The suicide of an 11-year-old boy in Nunavut has renewed calls for the territory to do more to address the epidemic.

"The silence is deafening," Jack Anawak, former MP and Nunavut justice minister, told the Nunatsiaq News. "It's time people started saying: 'Let's talk about it,' rather than saying: 'If we don't talk about it, it will go away.'"

Piita Irniq, a former Northwest Territories MLA and Nunavut's first commissioner, echoed Anawak's statement, telling the paper: "We need to get our people and especially our Inuit leaders to start talking about it."

Mark Buell, former spokesman for the National Aboriginal Health Organization, said on Twitter that Canadians should be outraged.

"We are a nation with a limited ability for compassion. Indifference to children killing themselves is the worst thing I can imagine," he wrote.

According to Nunatsiaq News, a boy in Repulse Bay recently committed suicide just after his 11th birthday. The paper did not give further details about the death.

According to Statistics Canada, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 32. And that problem is magnified in Nunavut, where the suicide rate is 56.9 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 11.5.

A McGill University study released in June found that child abuse, substance abuse and mental distress in Nunavut create big risk factors for suicides.

The Government of Nunavut defended its response to the problem after a spate of suicides in Pangnirtung last May, noting that it has doubled its mental-health resources since 2003."

This year Suicide Awareness Week falls on September 8-14, 2013. Communities host some kind of awareness presentations or acknowledge the losses in their communities.
The Centre for Suicide Prevention based in Calgary, ALberta is offering some free training during that week and acknowledging "World Suicide Prevention Day" on September 10, 2013.
I have added a link button at the top of this blog that you can check what activities are being done nationally or activities you could choose to do personally to acknowledge that day.

The least that we, as parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, can do is talk to our family. Talk to our children about suicide but also build some protective factors. We are their educators too, we talk to them about alcohol, drugs, sex education, HIV and std's, we need to add suicide prevention to the list. Our children need to know and sincerely believe that they are loved. Tell them you love them, tell them they are special. Tell them what they mean to you. That's the foundation for their future.
Here's a song by Josh Groban that speaks to me about Suicide Prevention. The lyrics are below the video.
Thank you for listening. Hiy Hiy

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I, I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I, I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well, I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I, I'll be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I, I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well, I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up because you are loved
(You are loved)
You are loved
(You are loved)

Don't give up
(Don't give up)
It's just the weight of the world
(You are loved)

Don't give up
(Don't give up)
Everyone needs to be loved
(Don't give up)

You are loved
(You are loved)
(Don't give up)

0 Comments

An invitation

8/16/2013

0 Comments

I received an Announcement and Invitation letter from the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research (ACICR) and Alberta Health Services. This is an OPEN invitation to any Albertan who would like to participate on a Community of Practise (CoP) for Suicide Prevention in Alberta.
I have decided to participate because I have a strong interest in Suicide Prevention. I do workshops in this area but I have a personal investment too. I have lost people who I love who have died by suicide, I have people I love who have attempted suicide and survived. I know that suicide is 100 percent preventable. No-one should have to choose to end their pain through suicide.
The commitment looks like regular teleconferences but it could be more. For now there is an opportunity for our voices to be heard. I am attaching the letter to this post.
If this is of interest to you, I hope you decide to participate. If not, I will try, through this blog, to keep you updated on any developments.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Ghandi)

0 Comments

Summer Fun

8/14/2013

0 Comments

For the past four years or so, I have taken my grandson on a summer adventure. Sometimes his mom and sister join us but for the past two years we have gone by ourselves. For me, this is a precious time where I get to enjoy his company and witness him seeing things for the first time. It brings joy to my heart.
We went on our summer adventure last week. We decided to go to Jasper, Alberta again. We went last year and we had so much fun travelling on the gondola, climbing a mountain, soaking in the hot springs and walking around the Town of Jasper!
Our plan this year was to travel to the Columbia Ice fields and walk on a glacier!

This year, one of the first things that happened was getting lost! We drove past Jasper and ended up on the road to BC. So we were in British Columbia for about 10 minutes. We stopped to acknowledge it, because Kaiden said it was the first time he has been out of Alberta. A special moment for him.

I love the mountains so much. I go to the mountains to pray and express my gratitude for the life I have. I am so blessed. Yes, there are always issues that have to be dealt with, but that's life. I would prefer to deal with my life in a positive way. There is so much joy to be a part of.

Here's our first view of the mountains with the glaciers on them. They are called the Columbia Icefields. There are five glaciers situated in the same area. They have been there for thousands of years. They are melting every year, the only accessible one for tourists is the Athabasca Glacier.

Visitors can park near the Glacier and walk up but we decided to take the tour. Once we have purchased our tickets, we wait in line for a bit, take an 8 minute tour bus ride close to the glacier. We then move to one of these vehicles. They cost about a million dollars each and are the Ice Explorers.

Once we get to the glacier, we head out to explore! Kaiden makes snow balls and throws them into the water. He sure enjoyed himself.

This is the melted glacier water coming down from the mountains. It is blue because of the minerals in it. The minerals are actually black and you can see them along the sides of the glacier. The water is drinkable. It is cold and tastes so good.

Here's the view looking down the glacier. The area is so beautiful.

Here's my grandson standing next to the Ice Explorer just before we were heading back down the glacier.

Here's where you go to purchase tickets and start the journey up the glacier and back down. There are some nice pictures there. Our summer adventure was so much fun. I hope you get an opportunity to see new things especially through the eyes of a child or grandchild. Hiy Hiy.

0 Comments

August Pow wow's

8/6/2013

0 Comments

The Lesser Slave Lake area, in North Western Alberta, is the traditional home of the Woodland Cree Nation. We were once one tribe nomadically living along the shores of the Lesser Slave Lake. In 1899, Treaty Eight was signed. This event took place close of the community of Grouard, Alberta. After the signing of the treaty, many of the Cree people continued to travel between areas along the shore and stayed for various lengths of time. This was confusing to the government so they divided the area into five First Nations so they could "allot" food, treaty money, etc. These First Nation are known as Kapaweno, Sucker Creek, Driftpile, Swan River and Sawridge First Nation.
Back in the day, our people used to have gatherings for social activities, these are called the Tea Dances, Round Dances and Pow Wow and other events. Once the Residential Schools were established, by the Government and the Catholic Religion, these activities were outlawed and considered the "devil's work". First Nations and Metis people learned to be ashamed of who they were and where they came from. They were not allowed to speak their language and they were not allowed to practise their traditional spiritual beliefs.
As time passed, some people continued to practise the old ways and passed them on to our children. We are starting to see the results of the passing along through our Oral tradition of learning.
I am pleased to attend the Driftpile First Nation Pow wow held every year. It has grown stable and is a great experience. This year, the Sucker Creek First Nation will host their first annual Pow wow. This fills me with excitement and joy. Our leaders are committing themselves to bringing back healthy gatherings and this is important to our people.
We need to look to our leaders, our events, our way of life and be proud of our identity. There are important issues that can keep us strong. These give us a sense of belonging and a sense of identity. Not just to the first generation survivors of residential schools, but to those of us who are second generation survivors and now we have third generation survivors and fourth generation survivors. We have the opportunity to say that we are no long survivors but are in our rightful place as warriors and keepers of our Mother Earth.
Also wanted to say that the gatherings are not just for Aboriginal people but for ALL people. If you have an opportunity to attend an event, please take it, you may learn something that will give you a new appreciation of the history of First Nation and Metis people.
I am grateful! Hiy Hiy.

0 Comments

Summer

8/5/2013

1 Comment

A something in a summer's Day
by Emily Dickinson

A something in a summer's Day
As slow her flambeaux burn away
Which solemnizes me.

A something in a summer's noon --
A depth -- an Azure -- a perfume --
Transcending ecstasy.

And still within a summer's night
A something so transporting bright
I clap my hands to see --

Then veil my too inspecting face
Lets such a subtle -- shimmering grace
Flutter too far for me --

The wizard fingers never rest --
The purple brook within the breast
Still chafes it narrow bed --

Still rears the East her amber Flag --
Guides still the sun along the Crag
His Caravan of Red --

So looking on -- the night -- the morn
Conclude the wonder gay --
And I meet, coming thro' the dews
Another summer's Day

Well July is done and time for August, the days have been short for me, I have been busy travelling. Contract work can be very slow in the summer but this year it has been so busy. Most of the time has been spent with First Nations but more work mentoring with the Centre for Suicide Prevention. I did manage to get some family time in, so here's a quick snapshot.
I am looking forward to the summer days in August, I hope you are blessed with sunshine, family and joy!

1 Comment

Retreats

Suicide Awareness Week Sept 8-14, 2013

An invitation

Summer Fun

August Pow wow's

Summer

Priscilla Lalonde

Categories

Archives