Inside This Week
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
INSIDE THIS WEEK 25th ANNIVERSARY celebrations are planned by Edmonton's Canadian Native Friendship Centre. See Page 3. AMMSA AND ARTS staff and board held their annual Christmas party, where e number of awards were presented. See Pages 4 and 5. NORVAL MORRISSEAU, the "grand master" of Canadian Native artists, opened a new exhibition of his work. See Page 12. PAGE 2, December 19, 1986, WINDSPEAKER Panel says `system' caused mental health problems L By Guiou Taylor Loro Carmen, social somebody to talk with. service consultant, said Joey Hamelin, working A panel of Native service three major factors are the with the Alberta Hospital, leaders were united in their deper causes of Native pointed out that "answers feeling that the major mental disorder: (to the causes of mental "Mental disorder is not `being crazy' source in Native mental 1) Non -Native imported disorders) cannot be health problems is the religion destroyed the provided, but there is a long ...a lot of alcoholics and drug addicts intrusive "non- Native Native sense of dignity history of intervention by system." and social institutions. non -Native people in the think they are crazy...alcohol is the Speaking to an audience "When you take away lives of Natives," with of health professionals, the the culture of thousands destructive results. poor man's psychiatrist...the user panel addressed a sympo- of years - and do it John Tees, public rela- feels that `healing is only a sium on Community quickly, when you tell us tions director with Native drink Participation in Mental our ways are no good, Outreach, says he sees the away.' Actually, once you stay Health, on Thursday, that people are evil and negative results of mental December 4, at the superstitious, you help stress in people looking for clean for awhile, these mental University of Alberta. to destroy us. jobs. Counsellors with Mental illness refers to 2) Non -Native govern- their clients, says Tees, illnesses disappear." those symptoms of failing ment was and is forced often have to help people to to cope With the stresses of on Native people. face the stress of new jobs. society. Alcohol and drug European government is In stating the need for abuse, physical violence, imperialistic, hierar- Native -designed therapies, spouse battering, depres- chical. If you go back to Gary Nault, who describes sion, anxiety and loneliness Indian days, it was not himself as a shamen -in- are in the category of who had the most training, says that "we need mental disorder, and often relatives - the Elders our own doctors." have their origin in stress would recognize talent, All panelists agreed that only with medicine and "The Native spiritual Carmen. "We are capable and loss of self- esteem. and would take years to western medicine "operates intellectual answers, but leaders must get themselves ourselves of studying our Mental disorder is not develop it. out of a partial model." "Native healing goes deeper together and then go out to problems, and of developing "being crazy." According 3) Enforced poverty Psychiatry is concerned to the spiritual healing." the communities," says our approaches." to Poundmaker's Lodge "Native people can see Director Pat Shirt, "a lot of the outside world through alcoholics and drug addicts" television, but have no Now that I think think they are crazy. real access to it." about it, Santa, you really don't have to bring the 'll Alcohol use can begin with Two Native women who OTTAWA money. We get along without it- trying to prove the user is had been involved in somehow. The one thing we really need doesn't cost grown up, and often is provincial mental health anything at all -just a change of heart on the part of a thought to be a way out of programs described their REPORT lot of sovemment people: """ pressure and stress. Shirt frustrations. By Owenadeka Fur example, the next one on my list is Minister of feels that alcohol and drug A social worker described Communications Flora MacDonald. She's trying to decide what to do about the recommendations in the use dig the person into a how, after finishing her Dear Santa: deeper hole. college degree, she was report of the Caplan -Sauvageau task force on "Alcohol is the poor employed as a social broadcasting. The task force said that Native people How are you? I hope you're able to bring everything man's psychiatrist" says worker, and that the work should have the right to receive radio and television on my Christmas list because I have Shirt. "The user feels that itself caused excessive been a good little programming in their own language. Santa, please bring boy. I mean, golly, I haven't criticized politicians all 'healing is only a drink stresses. Seeking help, she Flora MacDonald enough courage to change the year -except when they deserved it. Anyway, Santa, federal away.' " Actually, "once voluntarily herself Broadcasting Act to give Native languages the admitted here's my list: you stay clear for a while, to residential treatment. same legal protection as English or French. My first request isn't for me, it's I these mental illnesses She worked three years for Brian Mulroney. Santa, I want to tell you about five people who used know he's a millionaire and now he's the most powerful disappear." With the and took one month each to work for the government who deserve a special gift. man in the country, but he doesn't have averything! majority of Native people year for treatment. So The first is Richard Price. He was charged with a to please bring him one little piece of knowledge. Make criminal offence for leaking the notorious Buffalo Jump sentenced Alberta Another ex- patient him institutions involved with reported that treatment realize, Santa, that self- government is not just an report to the media. He was then fired from his job as a idea that makes good economic sense, make him alcohol, "there would be no consisted of being a given a policy advisor in the Department of Indian Affairs. recognize instead that our people have the right Native murder in Alberta diagnostic label, and having -the The second one is Dennis MacPhee. He quit his job right that was given to us by the without alcohol." The pills Creator -to govern as the top financial figure in the Manitoba region prescribed. ourselves. temporary situation, alcohol, Both said what they because he said he was tired of working for a By the way, Santa, could you please bring the same itself turns into a killing needed was not pills, but a department that routinely cheated Indians out of realization to the premiers as well? If problem. closeness to a person," you don't have millions of dollars. enough to go around, could you please make sure that The third is Robert Laboucane. He was fired from his Bill Vander Zalm, Don Getty and Grant Devine get job as an economic development officer in Alberta. He their share first? was fired because he held a news conference to tell the The next person on my list, Santa, is Minister of media that, when it came to economic development, Indian Affairs Bill McKnight. Please bring him $500 the department was saying one thing and doing Windinow million to build new housing so our people won't have to another. live in tiny, drafty, run -down firetraps anymore. And The fourth person is Walter Rudnicki. He quit his job speaker bring him another $500 million for economic as a senior policy advisor in Ottawa. He said he quit development so our people can have jobs instead of because he was disgusted by the department's refusal welfare. That adds up to $1 billion and I haven't even got to act on a recommendation to renegotiate Treat around to money for schools, roads, water, sewers and Number 8. Fred Didzena Clint Buehler hydro to mention like Presiderd Editor -not things land claims. The fifth is Cam Mackie. He quit as manager of the I know that times are tough, Santa, so if you really Native Economic Development Program. He said the Bert Crowfoot Rocky Woodward can't afford to bring the cash, I 'll tell you General Manager Reporter what. Instead, program was being corrupted because worthy projects bring Bill McKnight just half the concern and half the were being torpedoed for Kim McLain political reasons. George Poitras compassion that David Crombie displayed when he Production Editor Reporter Santa, please bring all five of the whistle -blowers a was the minister. 24 -karat solid gold whistle and the Aboriginal Order of Margaret Desjarlais And speaking of David Crombie, Production Assistant Mel Miller Santa, he's next on Canada. my list. Gail Stewart Since he's in charge of the Secretary of State, he So that's my list, Santa. I know you're checking it Joe Redcrow Ad sais doesn't need quite as much money. So could you twice to see who's been naughty and nice. But before Cree Syllabics please bring him, say, just $100 million for Native you decide just where I fit in, let me say that I hope organizations, friendship centres, W ncispeaker is a weakly publimtim of the Aboriginal Multi -Media 9Cciety of communications Dasher and Dancer and the rest of your reindeer have aber o wndfspeoker is published every, /hursday at 15001 112 Avenue, societies and women's groups? not been Edmonton, Albedo. grazing on any of that radioactive tundra from ISM 2V6, Phone: (403) 655.2700. And if you don't have an $100 Advertisements designed.