Traditional healer says it comes down to unresolved emotional issues

While traditional healing has always been a key part of Aboriginal culture, Camille Pablo Russell believes it is becoming more widely accepted by Western medicine.

“It has always been there, but not at the level it is now accepted by Western medicine, and it has given the Aboriginal population the access to use it and in the past it wasn’t there for them unless they went to reservations,” said Russell, who was born on the Blood Reserve.

Photo credit: Jannie Nikola

Russell has written The Path of the Buffalo Medicine Wheel, a transcription of the contents of his lectures and workshops. He works days as a spiritual counselor at the Elbow River Healing Lodge, a unique health care facility dedicated to Aboriginal people, that focusses on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual approach to health care. Evenings, Russell works as Native coordinator at the Calgary Remand Centre. 

Usually, Russell’s clients are referred to the Elbow River Healing Lodge by a doctor for help with spiritual or emotional matters.

“They explain what they are going through and how they are feeling,” said Russell. “I decide how I can assist with what they need and smudge. Through the smudge I get messages as to how to help them individually and do a prayer.”

Russell gives herbs and instructions how to use them, offering spiritual support. He recommends herbs such as sage, sweetgrass, yarrow, rosehip roots that come from nature as an alternative or with medication to enhance well-being.

“I never give herbs that will contradict medication that was given by doctors,” said Russell. 

There is a protocol to picking the herbs which involves ceremony and prayer. “I ask permission to pick with positive thoughts and prayers,” he said.

Given permission from his teachers to practice traditional medicine, Russell studied under them for 13 years.  “You have to have the proper rights and education. If you don’t, the herbs will react to some medications.”

Whether healers are from Africa, South America, or Australia, they always seem to have the same way of healing, using different herbs, said Russell, who for several years now, has won the representation of Canada at an International Healers Congress in Munich.

“The system is the same,” he said. “Traditional healing is holistic. The spiritual, mental, emotional and physical are all connected. If they are not working properly, they will affect each other and result in a physical problem. If the problem is not traced back to its roots, which are usually emotional, it will come back.” Often origins are traced to stress, death and unresolved family issues.

Following his own vision quests, Russell spent 18 years in Europe before he came back home to help his people in a variety of roles including support worker for the Indian Residential School, an IRS Elder, and an IRS support worker with Treaty 7 Management Corporation. 

“All healing, all thanks goes to the Creator. He doctors,” said Russell. 

Russell has received much recognition for his work, including a commendation from the government for helping 32,000 people in one year. He is also a recipient of the City of Calgary’s Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award.