By Michael Joel-Hansen

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples

P.A. hosts wellness and awareness conference

Jan 31, 2019 | 10:00 AM

The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) has been talking about missing and murdered Indigenous peoples this week.

The organization has been hosting a conference in Prince Albert, focusing on a variety of issues ranging from health, to spiritual and traditional healing to safety.

Violet Naytowhow works with the PAGC on health and social development and has been attending the conference all week at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre. She said it presents a unique opportunity for people who are interested in traditional healing practices.

“It’s very rare that you get this many healers together, with the pipe ceremony and the presenters, it’s like a best variety of people,” she said.

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Naytowhow, who lives in P.A., said connecting with culture can help people dealing with trauma, such as those with missing or murdered loved ones or those living with the effects of residential schools.

Naytowhow herself has turned to traditional ways to help deal with past traumas.

“I’ve healed in this way through the culture processes, and elders and sweats,” she said.

Along with talking about traditional forms of healing, a speaker from Alberta spoke about what parents can do to protect their children.

Speakers also recommended getting pictures of physical locations. Naytowhow felt this specific speaker had a very clear message.

“More communication, of what they’re doing and how they’re feeling and what’s going on with them,” she said.

During lunch there was a chance to hear from Colleen Whitedeer. She spoke about her experience of being the sister of a missing Indigenous man and the importance of not forgetting there are many such missing people, and that also affects communities.

The conference brought out a diverse crowd from many communities.

“I know there’s people from James Smith, people from Little Red, Sturgeon Lake, Wahpeton, people from P.A. too,” Naytowhow said.

The conference started on Monday and will be wrapping up today.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn