Category: Uncategorized

MMIWG ~ Chap 9: Wellnesss & Healing

The Introduction to Section Three: Healing Families, Communities, and Nations outlines core principles that increase the effectiveness of supports for healing.  These include: valuing wholeness – mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs interdisciplinary and systemic approach to services understanding the importance of cultural safety ongoing mandatory training to engage Indigenous communities in culturally safe ways, … Continue reading “MMIWG ~ Chap 9: Wellnesss & Healing”

MMIWG Section 3 ~ Healing Families, Communities, and Nations

Dear readers, We are finally ready to move into Volume 1b which focuses on Healing.  The first eight chapters (Volume 1a) are raw and shocking, exposing the systematic discrimination and oppression of Indigenous people in Canada since the time of colonization. Ongoing racism and sexism have resulted in high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous … Continue reading “MMIWG Section 3 ~ Healing Families, Communities, and Nations”

MMIWG Chap 8 ~ Right to Justice (3 of 3) Reinventing Relationship

Dear readers, Thank you for persevering with me during this journey of love to read and understand the final report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG. Chapter 8 has been intense, exploring Confronting Oppression ~Right to Justice from the perspectives of Pathways to Violence.  We have reached the fourth and final pathway: Denying Agency and … Continue reading “MMIWG Chap 8 ~ Right to Justice (3 of 3) Reinventing Relationship”

MMIWG Chap 8 ~ Right for Justice (2b of 3) Reforming Law Enforcement

Chapter 8, Confronting Oppression ~ Right for Justice, continues discussion of the third identified pathway to violence: Lack of Will and Insufficient Institutional Resources. To recap, the first two identified pathways to violence were (1) Intergenerational and Multigenerational Trauma and (2) Social and Economic Marginalization.  These are perhaps more self-explanatory.  Yet they are difficult to … Continue reading “MMIWG Chap 8 ~ Right for Justice (2b of 3) Reforming Law Enforcement”

MMIWG Chap 8 ~ Right to Justice (2a of 3) Sexual Exploitation

Part 2a of Chapter 8: Right to Justice looks at the third pathway to violence, identified at Lack of Will and Insufficient Institutional Resources.  Earlier, pathway Intergenerational and Multigenerational Trauma noted that under-reporting of violence by Indigenous women is related to racist and sexist stereotypes they face.  Pathway Social and Economic Marginalization noted that Indigenous … Continue reading “MMIWG Chap 8 ~ Right to Justice (2a of 3) Sexual Exploitation”

In Support of Arnold Viersen

Arnold Viersen is an Alberta man (born May 3, 1986) who was elected to Canadian parliament in 2015 and again in 2019 as the Conservative representative for Peace River – Westlock.  In 2016 he called for an examination of the public health effects of online violent and sexually degrading material.  He also emphasized that a … Continue reading “In Support of Arnold Viersen”

Gratitude for 2020

Reflections for 2020:  Last month I prepared a list of 20 things for which I am grateful.  Three weeks have passed without me finding time to post.  Here, without further ado, they are: I am grateful for my health.  I beat cancer 40 years ago and have been spared major ailments. I am grateful for … Continue reading “Gratitude for 2020”

Happy Birthday in Heaven

In the early morning hours of December 28, 1974, my beautiful daughter Caralyn Aubrey made her entrance into the world.  Almost too small to survive, and foreshadowing a future not yet known, she was whisked away before we had a chance to know each other. It’s hard to imagine that was 45 years ago already.  … Continue reading “Happy Birthday in Heaven”