D$ning'l'raclitivnl I Iulittl
Traditional Healers say that much of what they do involves sorting out jumble of disorder that they find in and around the patient. The disorder many causes, but primarily it is caused by not living life in a good way, -job of the Healer, simply put, is to help reorder the elements of the per-
Defi ning Traditional Healing Gloria Lee
and ro explain why and how disorder occurred. The Healer then explains
to ensure that the illness does not return.
The Approach of
taditional
Iramilies turned to a Healer when they determined that an illness was an
Healingr
ian' illness:
The four elemenrs of the person are the spiritual, emotional, physical, arr.l mental. Disease or bodily ailment is traditionally viewed as the physical marr i , festation of a weakness-a symptom of something deeper. Th. *"rkr"..
When people discuss a particular case of illness, identifying the probable cause was often a central topic. Indeed, when the cause of a particular illness was not readily apparer't, individuals would
may come from the spiritual, emorional, or psychological aspects of a persorr. when a person is affiicted with a disease, the tradition al view is that rhc
commonly note that the illness'-just didnt occur for no reason." In
disease exists ro offer the individual a reaching. The teaching
conversations about serious or complex cases, several difi[erent expla-
will ultimatcly be about onesel{, but the person may choose to deal only with the physi.,,r manifestation of rhe v7s2kns55-ghe symprom-and not ad.dress its roor, ll
nations may be discussed.2
the person chooses to rrear only the symprom and ignores the teachi,g th:rr is being offered, then the disease will return. Physical manifestatiorls nr.r), conrinue ro appear until the individual acceprs rhe teaching.
L)nderstanding the cause of an illness or some observable behavior was
The weakness is caused by our being our of balance or out of cenrcr, ;r rr t I there can be many reasons for being out of balance. These reasons *ray irr
"
lndian" illnesses are those which can be explained by reference to
ir
potentially observable event. These include such things
volve,
for
example, working too much in one area, overworking
being too greedy, or wanting too
o,
thc-j.,1,,
much-in
other words, not rn r r,,, "tte.rding many parrs of ourselves, our lives, and our families in a balanced w:ry. I f' rv,, do not pay amention to all these aspects, then we will become unbalrrr,.,,,l,
That is when an illness may appear to remind us thar we areoverlo.kirrl, some area. we may also become out of balance when we do not reccivt. r lr, appropriare teachings from our Elders. This happens when a Firsr N;rri.rr':, culture has been hidden to prorecr it from total loss. There are traditional ways of dealing with illnesses. With thc sLr[)l)()r.r ( ]l Elders and rhe assisrance of Healers and Elder appre nticcs, wc c:ur lirr.l r1,,. right healing for an illness and an explanation for why ir h:rpl.rcnccl irr r lr.. lr r r.r If we ignore this explanation and contirrr-rc with thc s:rrrrc l.,clr:rvi,,r.,,, activity that is said to have causecl tl.rc illrrcss, thcrr rlrc illrrcss will 1cllr.rr 1,,, calrsc w" conrinu.c to bc our of b:rlarrcc, Ilcirrq otrt o['[r:rlryr..t. lr;r1r1rt.r11; \,11,.1s cvcr wc lr:rvc rrot livc.l :r'i-;rrtlirl" lile. place,
nt in finding the appropriate treatment:
I il,'t t,r I tt
colds,
posure to excessive cold, or to being overheated and catching a chill;
iurd stomach aches or diarrhea that come from overeatingl'3
A Healer can determine if these physical manifestations rr
are actually due
spirimal or emotional imbalance; this is part of the diagnosis.
L,lrrtlerstanding healing begins with the Elders and what they have to
which comes from the Creator. Because tradidonal healing is within us, we are all capable of healing ourselves. Sometimes, though, we rlrc hcll', and supporr of orhers, such as Elders, Healers, and helpers. lrcgir-rs with one's own center, For this reason, we are ultimately refor our own well-being.a
t,l
tr',rrlit iorr;rl :r[)[]11)'lch ro hc,rling is reflected in Aboriginal discussions I
lr,'
rr
r,':r rr irrq
ol' ju srii'c. Ilor cx:rrnlrlc, thc Reporf
rr/ A lrlttlo/rrl sl.rt t s: )l{
as
Itvers, and respiratory infections, like bronchitis, attributed to ex-
o-f
the
AboriginalJustice
()()