D ecolonizing
P l ace
THE NANATAWIHOWIKAMIK HEALING LODGE
AND WELLNESS CLINIC
A new decolonized early career
counsellor-training clinic and
healing and wellness lodge
Drs. JoLee Sasakamoose and Angela Snowshoe
have worked countless hours since they began their
Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF)-
funded research into understanding the role of place in
determining the mental health and well-being of First
Nations youth. The project took over two years to complete,
and included the development of a Faculty-funded
decolonized clinic on the second floor of the Education
Building at the University of Regina.
Purpose: Effective Health Intervention
Sasakamoose says that consideration of historical context
is crucial when working with Indigenous peoples of Canada.
The legacies and trauma of colonization and of Indian
residential schools are embodied in the lives of Indigenous
peoples through direct experience and intergenerational
transmission. She says, "Healthcare professionals are
often not cognizant of the ways in which colonization
and intergenerational trauma translate into poor health
outcomes for Indigenous people. Despite positive intentions,
current mainstream health programs are not effectively
meeting the unique psychosocial and spiritual needs of
Indigenous peoples. Consequently, it is felt by many that
culturally based healing programs, rooted in the land and
traditional knowledge, spiritual values, and ceremonial
practices, would present a relevant approach for those
whose needs are not being met by mainstream programs."
"The Lodge was designed as a radical departure and
disruption of current academic strictures in order to
facilitate culturally responsive training and emerging forms
of research, particularly those guided by decolonizing
methodologies. The process required essential shifts in the
university culture," says Sasakamoose.
The Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (ICRT),
developed by Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan, was
used to design the Lodge. ICRT validates and supports
Indigenous histories and inherent rights, and reframes,
renames, reclaims, and restores Indigenous approaches to
health and well-being.
Three main concepts in the ICRT model guided their
understanding of the process: (a) restoration of Indigenous
community-based health and wellness systems; (b)
establishment of a "middle-ground" 1 for engagement
between mainstream and Indigenous systems and
worldviews to support a mutually beneficial co-existence
and foundation for reconciliation and respectful
engagement; and (c) transformation of mainstream
service delivery to become culturally responsive by guiding
research that continuously improves the health, education,
governance, and policies of Indigenous peoples. 2
Sasakamoose says, "Our space design seeks to implement
effective health intervention strategies following the ICRT
framework drawing on the strength and resilience of
Indigenous people and are inclusive of Indigenous ways of
promoting spiritual wellness and healing."
The space creates opportunities for training, healing, and
capacity rebuilding within communities.
Effective health intervention strategies following
the ICRT model draw on the strength and resilience
of Indigenous people and are inclusive of Indigenous
ways of promoting spiritual wellness and healing.
Planning a Decolonized Space
Decolonizing a space within a Western institution has
many unique factors that would not be encountered, for
Ermine, W. (2007). The ethical space of engagement. Indigenous Law Journal, 6(1), 193–203.
Sasakamoose, J., et al. (2017). Miýo-pimātisiwin developing Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (ICRT):
Improving Indigenous health and well-being.The International Indigenous Policy Journal 8(4).doi: 10.18584/
iipj.2017.8.4.1
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2
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