Good Medicine, Hurt People Helping People, The Land on the Inside & MORE! (New Weekly Format)

I am back and I have a new camera and I have new glasses and I have a new show format. So I hope you're gonna love this new idea. What I've decided to do instead of the shorter clips every single day that just. How busy are you? Do you have time to watch it? I super appreciate the people that get caught up on my videos on the weekend, but the reality is that's asking a lot of you. And my mission, my goal, my dream, is to get the information to you to help you understand and get a little more comfy working with indigenous people so we can make this whole reconciliation thing a reality. So what I've decided to do is walk you through indigenous eyes. Now, were you really surprised I was going to say that probably not. But what I've done is, or what you may not realize I've done for years is during the course of the week, I will see something, I will hear something, I'll have a conversation with someone. I'll see something on the national news, and it stops me and gets me thinking. Now, you have heard me mention before that my mom taught that's how you build confidence and wisdom. It is never about blind faith. It's about, hmm, interesting. Does that fit my puzzle? Does that piece make sense to me? Does that fit with all the other teachings and knowledge I have? Is that that next level of awareness? And if it is, you take it and you keep it and you use it, and if it isn't, you dismiss it. It's not about becoming those Internet experts or Internet warriors that I keep seeming to run into. The people that read one article and suddenly have more knowledge than our experts that have studied in a field for years. That's just for years. That's just pure ego. That's not humility teaching at all. So I've been doing this forever and usually each one, or maybe a couple of them turn into a video. Well, now I'm going to be sharing 4 of those in every video. But the video comes out every Tuesday, once a week. So if you didn't get a chance to watch it, you can get caught up really quickly. I'm hoping that it'll help you understand an indigenous world world view, how our lens shows us things differently than your lens shows you. Let's just hope it brings us together. And sometimes it's going to be about something that's in the news. Some it might be something that I learned at seminar, whatever the case may be. So today is the first day of the new format where I'm sharing What I saw through Indigenous eyes. Let's talk about it. Hi, everybody. My name is Sandy Bouget. I'm Red Thunderbolt, woman of the Loon clan, a proud member of Seine River first nation in Treaty 3 territory in Northern Ontario. I am 60 years old. I've been doing this work my entire freaking adult life. I'm considered a traditional knowledge keeper. I am not an elder, not taking on that responsibility yet. So there's, there's me and what I wanted to share with you today. So the. I have several handy dandy index cards. The first one, what's my eyebrow doing? I don't know. Yes. Little bit of vanity there. I'll own that every now and then. Now, you may or may not know this, but in my career, I balance my feather, which means I'm working just as often with non indigenous entities as I am in First Nation communities. I am done with, with the colonized attitude that for us to be successful, the illness is on us, that the only people that need training are indigenous people. That's not, that's, that's that judgment, that's that mindset, that's that help save the poor little Indian bs. Training is needed on both sides. If you're working with a specific group, you should have training on how to support them so that they're successful. As I've said often, reconciliation benefits both sides. You don't mainstream doesn't need the, the expense of recruitment and then only to lose people because the environment, there's an issue in the environment that no one's pointed out to them. And of course indigenous people need training and understanding on how to operate in mainstream because it's definitely a different animal. But I swear my heart sings when I get to take part in an indigenous event, whether I'm emceeing, whether I'm a guest speaker, whatever the case may be. Because I always hear things that speak to my spirit, that speak to my soul. That just makes sense to me because I'm indigenous and another indigenous person spoke to it. And one of the first thing that came to me over the since we last chatted was the concept of good medicine. And I'd be willing to bet if you're indigenous and you're watching this, you just side. You know what I mean by good medicine. And I am not talking about a prescription from the doctor. I am talking about people that you're just. Your heart sings when you're around them. They just make you feel so good. They are good medicine. Or when we're sitting listening to an Elder or another knowledge keeper. And they just share something. Just. Just rings in our soul as true. That is good medicine. What else do I have on here? Good food. You know, you just have that great meal and you're sitting with good people and you're laughing, and at the end you're thinking, yeah, Yep, that was good medicine. Good words spoken by whoever, often by youth or children. Just those that truth that the way win. Good medicine. Absolutely. Good medicine. I meant to grab it. I don't have it nearby. Years ago. Is it on my shelf behind me? Years ago, my daughter, as I believe it, was a Christmas gift, might have been a Mother's Day gift. Oh, maybe even a birthday gift. I don't know. But it was an amazing gift in that she gave me a vase. And of course, there's a hair in my lip gloss. Huh. I'm doing a video. Of course. In the vase was a whole bunch of pieces of paper. And I was like, what the? What the? I came to understand pretty quickly that each one of those pieces of paper she had written on it a memory of her and I. And the idea was that every single day, I pull one of these out and I just get to cherish that memory. Now she knows me. I got the gift home. I dumped the whole thing out and just read it because. Dying of curiosity. And then I put them all back in and went back to reading one a day. But. And some made me laugh out loud. Someone just nodded. Some made me want to cry in a good way. The entire memory jar was good medicine. And then, because our family is definitely a creative family, a couple years later, I took every piece of the phrase that was on every piece of paper in that memory jar, and I turned it into a book. And at the top of each page was the phrase from the memory jar. And then I filled in in the space underneath. What was going on in my world at that. Excuse me. At that time. So was I struggling? Was I happy? Was I just so incredibly proud of her? You know what? She didn't know because she was a child at the time, and I was the adult. And. And my daughter is the only one that has a copy of that book and the only one that ever will. But that memory book is good medicine. So hugs. Hugs from someone you haven't seen in a long time or someone you really love or someone you know just cares about you so much. That's good medicine. And you know what else is really good medicine? This is an Anishna. I think a lot of indigenous nations feel the same Way I'm not going to say all that's not my place. Humility teaching. And I'd be willing to bet there's other cultures like this. There's also some that kind of look at as funny for this. That's okay. That's your side of the veddler, not mine. I'm good. The loud, honest, authentic belly laugh, like the tip your head back and, and like I have, excuse me, a very distinctive laugh. But I always tell people, you know it's real because no one would fake my laugh. But just that that was funny, that was, that made my heart sing. That is good medicine. So why am I sharing Be Good Medicine this week, Please do your best. You can do it, I know you can. For everyone you come across, just do your best. Be Good medicine. Next. Okay, this next one again. I did some work, quite a bit of work with our First Nation agencies over the last little while. And you've all heard the phrase hurt people. Hurt people. And that is true, absolutely true. Whether it is in the lashing out or in the not being able to participate because of their own, you know, wounds, their own lack of healing, whatever the case may be. But what I came to realize is in Anishinaabe territory, in indigenous territories, hurt people are trying to help people, right? That's the people working in the band offices and in our programs. These are not people that were afforded the luxury of doing all this amazing healing and they've now come so far, many of them are educated. That is different than having healed. So what happens, and I see it time and time again, is these people have so much empathy and compassion and time and, and just put so much effort into supporting their clients. It is beautiful. They give to other people what they often never received for themselves. It is, it is unreal to see these people give so much and have nothing left for their co workers because they put so much out and they haven't done their healing and they don't have their self care practices. Self care is not just a blow your money on a fancy spa date. That's, that doesn't fill your cup often enough or I'm not even sure it really does. You know, time in the bush, sitting with an elder, getting that stuff out, crying, that's refilling your cup. So what happens is that's the lateral violence in our agencies. These people are lashing out against each other and, and then because we're just going to add a whole other layer to this dynamic in so many cases because we still have allies who want to help the poor indigenous because it's easier than doing the work on their side of the feather. Yes, I'm calling those people out. The problematic people we're trying to survive are on your side of the feather. Maybe do that work. Just saying. Or at least half the time balance the feather. But anyways, they come into our communities, they come into our agencies and they start working. Now, these are non indigenous people that have not endured. I'm not saying they haven't endured trauma. They haven't endured generational trauma. They haven't endured trauma inflicted on entire communities and nations. So they come in and often very quickly they fall into judgment. Well, why are they behaving that way? Why the gossiping? Why the bullying? This is an unhealthy environment. Duh. So I always use Thanksgiving just passed so we can use this analogy. You need the good ingredients to make the great dish that becomes the great feast. Ingredients. Dish. Feast. We're demanding healthy work environments, but we don't have healthy teams because we don't have healthy people yet. It starts with each and every one of us. It starts with getting our staff support so they can do the healing they've never been allowed the time and space to do. And that does not mean a scheduled appointment with a counselor. That might mean a weekly visit with an elder or a priest. Their choice to just sit and have tea. And the healing will come eventually as they feel comfortable. This is not mandated. You have six months to do this. This is building self care and healing into the job description. Because we need the healthy ingredients to make the healthy teams to make our healthy communities and agencies okay. Does that make sense? Remember way back when Josephine Mondawman, who was one of my elders and a dear, dear friend, she used to say that what happens to Mother Earth happens to equate to indigenous women. That this raping and pillaging of the resources and the taking and not caring about the damage to Mother Earth is exactly what's happening to our indigenous women. And we're seeing that's happening to all indigenous, that we're all feeling that. And we can't. Our healing cannot be dependent on the actions of the abuser. Our healing cannot be dependent on Canada getting it together and giving us enough supports to do this. It has to become our priority. It has to be something that we do. I'm a 10 year domestic abuse survivor. There was a time I couldn't have attended a conference, let alone been the keynote speaker. I couldn't have sat at a table at lunchtime and had a Conversation. Because I was convinced I was too stupid to do that. And look at what I do for a living now. Not because I'm all that in a bag of chips. Not because I don't make mistakes. Of course I do. I'm human. I make mistakes every, every day. You know what I learned, Grace? Forgiveness. I am not stupid. That does not mean I don't make mistakes. And guess what? When I make a mistake, I own it. I apologize for it without excuse. Intent is not needed to harm people. It doesn't matter if I didn't mean to hurt someone. If I did, an apology is needed. And then a conversation so we can talk about how to work together. Does that make sense? So hurt people are trying to help people in our communities. Let's get them the help they need so they can continue helping to a better degree, to a longer degree. These people are amazing. They need our love and support. Next. Oh, this one is amazing. Okay, so I had the opportunity to emcee the new JAMA wing. Sokote Guying Ontario Health team leadership session. Frontline service provider knowledge session. It was amazing. Basically, they brought together everyone in the indigenous healthcare field to come together to share resources. It was phenomenal. And every year, well, I guess twice a year now they do this event. This was the third one we just did. I've had the opportunity to emcee them all. I love it. And they. The keynote this year was Dr. Lana Potts. So she is CCFP. She's a medical doctor, family physician. She has over 20 years experience, experience in indigenous health care provision. She's phenomenal. Just did such an amazing presentation and she was talking. Now I can't remember what kind of surgery she had to have, but she realized that, oh, I know what it was. I think she donated a kidney. That's. That's what it was. She donated the kidney. Maybe H. That might be Michelle I'm talking about. But anyways, she was talking and she was talking about the land on the inside is the phrase she used. And I stopped dead in my tracks and I just realized Michelle was talking about the exact same thing. Michelle derogeer, another beautiful. She did donate a kidney. And she was talking about the land on the inside too. Interesting how that came together. That was obviously a message I needed to hear. But what they both pointed out is we are a lot better at defending Mother Earth and taking care of the waters and the lands and the trees, but we're still falling short on taking care of the land on the inside. You know, how's your Liver doing? I know there were many, many years I abused that one. How's your kidneys doing? You're eating well. Your brain, your heart, right? Like how your tummy? How's the land on the inside doing? Self care is self respect. And I believe we have been taught not to respect ourselves, that we weren't worthy of respect. And now many indigenous get really irate if someone else disrespects them them. Yet mom would be the first to say we teach other people how to treat us. We don't respect ourselves. How can we expect anyone else to? If we're not kind to ourselves, why are we expecting them to be? If we don't respect our own boundaries, why should anyone else? Again, I guess the message of this, the overarching message of this video is it starts with you. So I don't know, how good are you at taking care of the land on the inside? One more. Next. Oh, okay. So this one is just one of those. I love to let my mind wander. I believe like in your dreams, if I just let my mind wander, it creator will show me what I need to see or what I need to consider. Contrary to mainstream who thinks you must control your mind and stay focused. Decolonized on that one. So the question. There's that hair again. The question would be, where would you be? So to give you a little backstory here, this is years ago. Our kids were just babies. And my kids are in their middle to late 30s now. Give you an idea. And here. There. Finally. Got it. Yay. Here in the city of Thunder Bay, where I live there is the Fort William Historical park, or to us who have lived here forever, the old fort. It's Fort William. So fur trade days, Fort William. And on this day, me and my girlfriend Amy had gone out to the fort. We wanted to go see it. And it's impressive you were ever in the area. I highly suggest you check it out. So outside the fort is the indigenous encampment. And then you walk through the gates of the fort and then there's the whole community built within the fort. So we had checked out the indigenous encampment and the things outside, and we were just about to walk into the fort and. And she looked at me and said, you know what? It's so cool. Just imagine where would we be? Like if we lived in this time, where in the fort would we be? And of course, me being me and total smart, I kind of laughed and was like, girlfriend, out by the teepees, we're not going to be in the Fort we're out there. And she just laughed like reality set in. So that led me to believe where would you be? Or led me to ask where would you be solely based on your spirit, where would you be if you could wave that magic wand? And I'm not talking about in a five star resort on a beach that like man made much. I'm talking about what is your spirit need now? For example, some people like small spaces. They want cozy, they want comfy, they want under a blanket in their bed. They want, you know, in a small little cabin in the middle of the bush, they like that small and cozy. And there's nothing wrong with that. The only challenge I would say to that is make sure that's really what your spirit wants and not a reaction that what's happened to your body and being on your journey. Is it an escape? Like is it based in fear or based in spirit? Is I guess, the best way to put it. Now, for me, I don't think any of you are going to be surprised by this answer. For me, I was like, give me space, give me space. I am like so big and so okay with that. Finally, after a life of trying to fit into someone else's little box and definition of who I am, I finally found a career that was big enough. I need a whole flip and stage to handle my personality. I need a YouTube channel to handle my personality. So for me, my spirit, I would be sleeping under the stars in the middle, preferably on the shore of a lake with the trees and just staring at the stars with all the room in the world to dream. And I have to admit that when I thought that there was a tiny little piece of me that went, that's kind of scary because there's no protection. And I realized that tiny little voice is still the reaction to what has happened to my being and body. And it's not my spirit. Now, I'm not condemning it. I'm holding that, I'm comforting that. I'm telling that piece of me, you're okay now. You don't need to be scared. But my spirit needs big spaces. My last home was 2500 square feet and it's me and two cats. This one is beautiful. It's 1500 square feet. But it comes with a killer backyard. So I have made the compromise. So where would you be? Forget the pain and the fear. Set that down. Go before who you were, before the others came. Where would your spirit want to be? I would love to hear. Put it in the comments, let me know what you know what you think of the new format. Let me know what you think of the new glasses. I have so many. Maybe I'll debut them over the next couple of weeks. So there you have it for the week of. I think October 15th is when this is coming out. I will see you next Tuesday. I have something different to offer. My daily emails that go out to my list. Some practical advice going out to them each day. I'm looking forward to it. I'd love to hear what you think. Talk to you soon. Take care of you. By the way. Don't. I don't mind you sharing what you see through your eyes over the upcoming week. Don't make it a negative. Don't. I don't want to see the comments that are attacking someone. I'm going to delete those. It's not about what the world is doing to you. It's about what you're learning from the world. And that is never a negative. Don't react. Learn. Why am I here? Why did I need to learn this? Do I need to make different decisions? Everything has power and significance if you just let it. Until tomorrow. I love you. Take care. Bye bye. Not till tomorrow. No, no. Until next week. I love you. Take care. Bye bye.