1. Ethnostress: The Disruption of the Aboriginal Spirit A SMARTRISK Learning Series Presentation November 27, Prepared by: Diane Hill - Aboriginal Education Consultant - First Nations Technical Institute

2. Ethnostress: The Disruption of the Aboriginal Spirit
Aboriginal Ethnicity & Its Associated Stress
Stemming From The Disruption Of The Cultural Beliefs That Foster A Positive Native Identity
Ethnostress Is The Result Of Oppressive Conditions Forced Upon A People In Their Own Environment

3. The Residential School Era

4. Report of Royal Commission On Aboriginal Peoples, 1996
The Constitution Act of 1867 – Indians And Lands Reserved For Indians
Canadian Government Adopted A Policy Of Assimilation
To move all Aboriginal Peoples from Their Helpless “Savage” State To One of Self-Reliant Civilization

5. It [civilizing] required a concerted attack on the ontology, on the basic cultural patterning of the children and on their world view.
They had to be taught to see and understand the world as a European place within which only European values and beliefs had meaning: thus, the wisdom of their cultures would seem to them only savage superstition.
A wedge had to be driven not only physically between parent and child, but also culturally and spiritually. (p. 341)

6. Oppression Creates Oppressive Behaviour Patterns
Human Beings remember what they did to survive their pain.
A similar stressful or painful experience will cause the memory or internal tape recording to go off.
Human beings then react to new situations with old behaviour.

7. Ethnostress As The Underlying Problem/Issue:
Disruption in the transmission of Aboriginal Cultural philosophy due to impact of Residential School
Internalization of oppressive messages about being a Native person has impaired the psychological & social development of Aboriginal people

8. The Behaviours of Ethnostress
Contradiction in Values/Beliefs
Frozen Needs
Internalized Stereotypes
Loss of Faith & Belief in One’s Culture
Internal Factionalism

9. The Behaviours of Ethnostress
The Narrowing of Culture
Culture Under Glass
Adoption of Survivalist Behaviours

10. The Aboriginal Community Context:
Requires Healing and A Move towards Whole Person Development through the teaching/re-learning of Aboriginal cultural philosophy that can be used to help Native adult learners transform their perception of themselves, others and the world more broadly.

11. An Aboriginal Approach to Whole Person Development
BODY
MIND
SPIRIT
EMOTION

12. An Aboriginal Approach to Whole Person Development
PHYSICAL
MENTAL
INTUITIVE
EMOTIONAL
RELATIONAL

13. An Aboriginal Approach to Whole Person Development
PRESERVATION
AWARENESS
BUILDING
STUGGLE

14. An Aboriginal Approach to Whole Person Development
Acting on it
DOING
Seeing it
VISIONING
Knowing it
UNDERSTANDING
Relating to it
FEELING

15. Holistic Healing: Requires A Decolonizing Methodology
The dismantling of these old behaviours or “distress patterns” in order to break the hold that they have on a person’s thinking, creativity and ability to sustain healthy and functional relationships with one’s self and others.
A reclaiming and relearning of one’s Aboriginal cultural philosophy, traditions and customs to promote a positive Native identity.

16. Creating Partnerships and Services for Aboriginal People Often Means The Promotion of Aboriginal Cultural Beliefs and Practices
Aboriginal Approach to Holistic Healing & Health Promotion: Requires a learning/teaching methodology or a service delivery method or a program design that emphasizes whole person development for the purposes of personal and social transformation.

17. Whole Person Development to Combat the Ethnostress
Is Accomplished by Aboriginal People Via:
Sweat Lodge Ceremonies
Fasting Rites
Personal Medicine Societies
Healing Circles
Storytelling: For the Purpose of Reviewing Life Experiences and their Impact on the Person/People

18. Nia:wen Kowa!
Great Thanks!