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Living a good life: the wellbeing of Indigenous people Thirteenth Edition of the Nomadic University- DIALOG Network

Cree Nation of Chisasibi Mitchuap Centre

This one-week intensive course explores Indigenous concepts and practices of living a good life. Whether termed, Buen Vivir, Miyupimaatisiiun, or Mino Madji8in, Indigenous understand-ings of wellness share some common elements such as the centrality of land, spirit, whole-ness, culture and identity. Manifestations of Indigenous wellness have multiplied in the public space through various forms of culture integration in the health and social service systems, but also in other social domains such as housing and education. More often than not, these manifestations are rooted in movements of political and cultural affirmation inspired by both Indigenous leaders and Indigenous civil society. Territorial, legal, linguistic and cultural claims are now increasingly expressed through concrete changes in the way that care is designed, developed, delivered and assessed in Indigenous contexts, be they in the north or in the city. DIALOG’s 2017 Nomadic University brings together Indigenous care-givers, community knowledge holders and academics to explore the characteristics, challenges and impact of this push to Indigenize care-giving systems.

ORGANIZING COMMITEE

Ioana Radu, Postdoctoral Fellow DIALOG/INRS

Laurence Desmarais, MA, Art History, Université du Québec à Montréal

Carole Lévesque, Professor, Institut national de la recherche scientifique

Lawrence House, Coordinator Chisasibi Mental Wellness Team

Beverly Cox, Program Administrator, Chisasibi Cultural and Heritage Center

DIALOG GUEST SPEAKERS

Haze White, Te Whānau O Waipareira

Oscar Kistabish, Centre d’amitié autochtone de Val d’Or

Dominique Raby, Centro de Estudios Antropológicos, El Colegio de Michoacán, Mexico

Dr. Brenda Restoule, co-chair FNMWC Implementation Team

CREE NATION OF CHISASIBI GUEST SPEAKERS

Davey Bobbish, Chief Cree Nation of Chisasibi

Drummers group & Residential School Survivors

Matthew Mukash, Whapmagoostui

Gabriel Snowboy, Chisasibi Food Security coordinator, CBSC

CBHSSJB GUEST SPEAKERS

Abraham Bearskin, PPRO, Nishiyuu Miyupimaatisiiun Department

Juliana Matoush, Mental Health Department

Virginia Wabano, Women Shelter

Monday – July 3 Tuesday– July 4 Wednesday– July 5 Thursday– July 5 Friday– July 6

Themes Historical and

contemporary aspects Indigenous perspectives on wellness History of Fort George Care giving practices and the health of

Indigenous women Culture as Foundation

9:00 - 10:30

History of CHB & the JBNQA including the first SRP - Bertie Wapachee

(CBSC, Former Chair of CBHSSJB)

The Gladue Principle: Creating a culturally safe sentencing process -

Jean Leclair (UdeM)

Visit at Chisasibi Cultural and

Heritage Center

Lunch on site at the center

Keynote - Sarah Pash

(Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural

Institute)

Cultural Safety: Background, Experience and Practice - Carole

Lévesque (INRS)

Working together towards wellness: local collaboration matters - Roger

Orr

Break Break

10:45 - 12:15

Buen Vivir: A Latin American Perspective – Dominique Raby

(Colegio de Michoacan)

Rites of passage and Cree Cosmology - Abraham Bearskin (CHB)

Attikamekw women and resource development: implication for wellbeing

Suzy Basile, (UQAT)

Virtual Forum on Violence Against Indigenous Women in the Americas -

Stéphane Guimont Marceau (Concordia)

Chez Willie: providing cultural safe services in Val d'Or– Ioana Comat

(INRS)

Wrap-up and thanks

Lunch

Visit to Island of Fort George 1:30 PM – 4:30PM

Organized by Survivors group Guided tour with Reggie

Tomatuk, Public Health CHB

Lunch

1:30 - 3:15

Welcome & thanks Ioana Radu & Larry

House

Chief Davey Bobbish

The DIALOG network - Carole Lévesque (INRS)

Miyupmaatissiun in Eeyou Istchee – Elders panel

Robin's Nest: Women Shelters in Eeyou Istchee - Virginia Wabano (CHB)

Nishiiyuu Department Birthing Projet - TBA

Lunch & leave - Charter at 14:50 (arrive at airport at 2:00)

Break Break

3:30 - 5:00

Keynote Culture as Intervention –

Dr. Brenda Restoule

Maori health and wellness - Haze White, (Te Whānau O Waipareira)

CHB Mental wellness framework -

Juliana Matoush (CHB)

Gougoumnouch Project - Deborah Matoush and Irene House (CWEIA)

7:00 - 9:00PM Supper & check ins

Keynote Journey of Nishiiyuu Documentary &

hydrodevelopment impact on wellness - Matthew Mukash

Rebuilding Job's garden Feast

Panel with elders + Gabriel Snowboy (CBSC)

Free evening

Acknowledgements

This event was made possible with the support of the Cree Board of Health and Social

Services James Bay, the Cree School Board, the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, Chisasibi

Mental Wellness Team and the Chisasibi Heritage and Cultural Center.

We extent our gratitude especially to: Henry Gull (JBEEYOU), Davey Bobbish (CNC),

Daniel St-Amour, Marie-Eve Trudel, Virginie Hamel of CBHSSJB.