Fort Chip conference aims for healthy results

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Fort Chipewyan was the host location for the 4th annual Health and Healing Conference from July 14 to 16.

The theme for this year's conference was Healing our Past - Honoring our Future.

The healing of the past was depicted by a community play, showing the impact of residential schooling on the community.

The members of the play were teens ranging in age of 15 to 19. "This play is not to blame any race. It is not to bring hatred amongst anyone. It is merely to bring an awareness to the people of where the pain is coming from," said George Poitras, director of the play.

The conference also featured a series of workshops. Facilitators of the workshops were out of town guests and community members.

Traditional teacher Micheal Merrier spoke about family values, God and his experiences along his spiritual journey.

"One of the ways I am walking is through prayer, prayer dominates my life," said Merrier.

Vicki and Allan Jacobs were facilitators of a co-dependancy and self esteem workshop. A husband and wife team, they raised many issues and provided important information.

Micheal Ryan's workshop on Drug Abuse and the workshop by Claudia Simpson and Bonnie Chayer Marten on fetal alcohol syndrome balanced well with Shirley Rowe and Caroline Adam's workshop on alcoholism.

"Recovery from a wounded lifestyle is rewarding in many ways," said Rowe.

"Healing is rediscovery of being reborn and it is never too late to be what you were meant to be," said Adams.

The idea behind the annual health and healing conference is to bring assistance to the people who have emotional, physical or spiritual pains to deal with.

Even the entertainment booked for the conference had a chance to help out. The singing group Asani facilitated a workshop on healing and relaxing through music.

The Nunee Health Authority in Fort Chipewyan, runs the Noel and Isabel McKay Healing Centre, which maintains most of the health care issues of the area.

Special Projects co-ordinator Donna Cyprien hopes the event will lead to a healthier community.

As Elsie Yanik's opening prayer so eloquently stated, "I seek strength from you my great Creator, God, not to be superior to others but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself."