Volume 7 Issue 7 31st Annual BC Elders Gathering Updates from the Squamish Nation Host is on page 5 of this issue, and contact information in June 2007 on the back page of every issue. Forms are on pages 6, 7, 8 or they can be found at www.bcelders.com as well as the Host’s own site www.eldersgathering.squamish.net ______
For More Info on the In-SHUCK-ch Days Celebration (pg 4) Contact Sarah Hall at Ph: (604) 820-6873 Fax: (604) 820-6847 Email: [email protected] ———————————————————————————————- REMINDER:
The Elders Transportation Program Application deadline is June 15th 2007 (even though the application form is from 2006)
Submit applications to: Attn: First Citizens Fund Administrator BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres #200 - 506 Fort St. Victoria, BC V8W 1E6 Phone: (250) 388-5522 Fax: (250) 388-5502
Please check out a slide show of the Grand Entry at the 30th Annual BC Elders Gathering in Port Alberni, BC Sorry for the delay in posting to our website (www.bcelders.com)
Inside this issue Pg. 9: Love, Light and Healing Cere- mony, Downtown Eastside Vancouver Easy Bakers Corner/Handy 2 Pgs. 10-11: Aboriginal Language Revi- Tips/Website Information talization Program List of Paid Support Fees 3 Pgs. 12-13: Elderly and Falls Pg. 14: Agriculture Press Release In-SHCK-ch Days Celebration 4 Pgs. 15-16: FN Food Guide and Canadi- ans Consuming Too Much Salt Gathering Update from Host 5 Pgs. 17-18: Doctors Should Measure Waistlines
BC ELDERS COMMUNICATION CENTER SOCIETY CENTER COMMUNICATION ELDERS BC Pg. 19: UBCIC May 17th Press Release Gathering Registration Form 6 Pg. 20: ThinkNDN 102.7 fm Pgs. 21-23: Residential Agreement, Gathering Vendor Form 7 Sun Safety, and Reducing Aging Signs Pg. 24: Back Page Gathering Volunteer Form 8 BC Elders Gathering Info Corner Easy Bakers Corner – Chocolate Haystack Cookies—makes 3 doz Combine 6 egg whites (lightly beaten) and 1 cup of granulated sugar in top of double broiler (Tip: A mixing bowl can be placed in a saucepan of simmering water if no double boiler is available.) Cook over simmering water until mixture reaches 120°F or feels hot to the touch. Stir while heating. Stir in 3 oz. of melted semisweet chocolate. Remove from heat. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of flaked coconuts, 1 1/2 cups of chopped walnuts 1 tsp. of vanilla and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Drop by Tablespoons onto a parchment lined or lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Loosen with a spatula while still warm. Cool on rack. (Tip: If cookies stick, return to oven briefly and they will be easier to remove.)
Handy Tips Expanding Frosting...When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.
Reheat Pizza...Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. Seen on the cooking channel and it really works.
What Can you please share? The following is a short list of Elders suggestions of what might be shared: Your local Newsletters/Upcoming Local Events/Prayers/Poems/Quotes/Comments/Storytelling/Drawings/Articles of Interest/Native Songs Lyr- ics/Wellness Seminars/Obituaries/Birthday Wishes, etc. Submissions are best forwarded to me via email by the 15th of the preceding month. If you are interested in providing articles, please do so, I look forward to hearing from anyone who wants to contribute to the content of your newsletter. Gilakasla, Donna Stirling
‘PRESERVING THE PAST’ New Elder’s Website: www.bcelders.com The First Ever Elder’s Website “Preserving the Past” is now online (Sept. 2002). Registration forms, booth forms, maps of the host territory, accommodation information, etc. concerning the Annual Elders Gatherings are available each year on the BC Elders Communication Center Society’s website www.bcelders.com as soon as they are made available from each new host community. Issues of your Elders Voice Newsletter are also posted on the website each month, though all issues still con- tinue to be mailed out to your Elder’s Contact People throughout the province (to ensure that no one is left out because of a lack of access to the internet). ***Comments? Please feel free to call in to the Communication Center - contact info is on the back page.***
Disclaimer: Health articles, etc. are provided as a courtesy and neither the BC Elders Communication Center Society’s Board/Members or anyone working on its behalf mean this information to be used to replace your doctor’s and other professional’s advice. You should contact your family physician or health care worker for all health care matters. Information is provided in the Elders Voice for your reference only. And opinions contained in this publication are not those of Donna Stirling, Coordinator unless her name appears below the material.
Page 2 BC ELDERS COMMUNICATION CENTER SOCIETY Address: 1415 Wewaikum Road, Campbell River, BC, V9W 5W9 Ph: 250-286-9977 Fax: 250-286-4809 Toll Free: 1-877-738-7288 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bcelders.com
7th GRATITUDE LIST
Groups who have thankfully paid their $250 ‘Yearly Support Fee’ so far for the Dec. 2006 – Nov. 2007 Year
1. Quatsino First Nation 26. We Wai Kai Nation 2. Burnstick Promotions - Don Burnstick 27. Lower Kootenay Band Family Health Services 3. Neskonlith Indian Band 28. Hailika’as Heiltsuk Health Centre 4. We Wai Kum First Nation 29. Snuneymuxw First Nation 5. Wet’suwet’en First Nation 30. T’It’Qet Elders Council 6. Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em Band 31. Hamatla Treaty Society 7. Comox First Nation 32. Lower Similkameen Indian Band 8. Bridge River Indian Band 33. West Moberly First Nation 9. Squiala First Nation 34. Lheidli T’enneh Band 10. Cook’s Ferry Indian Band 35. Tsewultun Health Centre 11. BC Assembly of First Nation 36. Lytton First Nation 12. Tsawataineuk Band 37. SIMPCW First Nation ($100) 13. McLeod Lake Tse’khene Elders Society 38. Gitksan Health Society 14. Lower Nicola Indian Band 39. Carnegie Community Centre 15. Osoyoos First Nation 40. Doig River First Nation 16. Ditidaht First Nation 41. Sechelt Indian Band ($50) 17. Uchucklesaht Band 42. Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs 18. Adams Lake Indian Band 43. BC Assoc. of Aboriginal of Friendship Centres 19. Canoe Creek Band 44. Tansi Friendship Centre Society 20. Samahquam Band 45. Old Massett Village Council 21. Ka:’Yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ Nation 46. Tobacco Plains Indian Band 22. Kamloops Indian Band 47. Kwadacha Band 23. Saik’uz First Nation 48. Quesnel Tillicum Society 24. Qualicum First Nation 49. Gitanyow Human Services - Health 25. Xaxli’p Indian Band 50. Ehattesaht Tribe 51. Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal 52. Esquimalt Nation Dear Elders Contact Person, 53. Wuikinuxv Nation *If your office has paid the support fee, thank 54. Tla-O-Qui-Aht First Nation you very much for your assistance! 55. Kluskus Indian Band *If your office/group has VOIDED the Invoice for 56. this year and faxed it back in to this office, then thank you all very much, as it saves office time on this end having received a reply from you. *If you are in the process of paying the fee with the new fiscal year upon us, then thank you very much for your continued efforts! *Staff changes often occur, so please call into the office if you require the Invoice to be resent to a new Contact Person. Thank you for your continued support! Donna Stirling, BCECCS Coordinator
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 7 Page 3 What is In-SHUCK-ch Days?
For years, our community members have been requesting a gathering that would celebrate our culture and traditions while bringing together families and friends. Our inaugural In-SHUCK-ch Days celebration on August 25-26, 2007 at Head of the Lake School in Skatin will be a not-for-profit event designed to address these needs and wishes. In-SHUCK-ch Days will be a fun filled weekend complete with cultural and traditional displays, games and activities for the kids, a traditional dinner for the whole family and dance in the evening hours.
Our Vision Planned Activities at In-SHUCK-ch Days:
In-SHUCK-ch Days is a celebration designed • Drumming and singing to enhance identity and pride within our • First Salmon Ceremony communities while promoting our key traditions • Language display and values. This annual event brings together • Cedar Weaving demonstration/display families, friends, youth and neighbours from • Traditional story-telling the surrounding communities to showcase • Vendor booths In-SHUCK-ch culture and recognize the • Bone Game competition significant accomplishments of our people. • Traditional dinner • Evening dance with live entertainment Elders Gathering is coming August 8, 9 & 10, 2007!
• Squamish Nation King & Queen are George Jacobs & Marjorie Natrall • The First 2 days will be at the Vancouver Convention Center. The Last day will be hosted at Capilano Park • PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE TO WIN EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION 1st EARLY BIRD WINNERS ARE: $750.00, Gordon and Annie Reid from Qualicum
• DONATIONS OF ARTWORK ARE REQUESTED
• VOLUNTEER/VENDORS PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE AT OUR WEBSITE BELOW ASAP
OUR THEME IS HEALTH: PLEASE LOOK @ CHANGING UNHEALTHY HABITS, “GIVE UP AN ADDICTION CHALLENGE”, IE, POP, CHIPS, GAMBLING, SMOKING, FAT- 10 WEEKS TENING FOODS ,ETC. UNTIL THE For more information, call Pam Baker’s shop at: GATHERING! TOC LEGENDS: (604) 980—2443 Website: http://eldersgathering.squamish.net/ PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FORM 31ST ANNUAL BC ELDERS GATHERING AUGUST 8 & 9, 2007: VANCOUVER CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE AUGUST 10, 2007: CAPILANO RESERVE
CONTACT INFORMATION Name: ______
Address: ______
City/Prov: ______Postal Code: ______
Home Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______
E-mail: ______
Band / Nation: ______
Group Name: ______Group Leader: ______~~~~Elders Group Leaders will be asked to check in on behalf of their group~~~~
HEALTH CONDITIONS Medical Conditions & Allergies: ______Emergency Contact Person & Cell Phone #: ______All Participants are requested to carry medical and contact information at all times. Thank you.
Registration Fee: $30.00 per person (please make cheque payable to Squamish Nation) “The BC Elders Communication Center Society strongly supports the initiating of a nominal Registration Fee to assist - to some small degree - with the enormous costs associated with hosting thousands and thousands of Elders and support people attending the Annual BC Elders Gathering this year...With the Elders Gathering now in its 31st year, and likely to attract between 4000-5000 attendees, it is no longer the responsible course of action to incur a lot of costs for administration etc. and not charge a nominal fee” Donna Stirling, Coordinator, BC Elders Communication Center Society
COMPLETE REGISTRATION at www.eldersgathering.squamish.net On Line Download Form
Register by May 1, 2007 and you will be entered into a draw to win $750.00 Register by June 1, 2007 and you will be entered into a draw to win $250.00 Registration will not be accepted after July 13, 2007
MAIL COMPLETED REGISTRATION and PAYMENT to: Elders Gathering Registration Officer Squamish Nation PO Box 86131, North Vancouver, BC, V7L 4J5 Phone (640) 980-4553 or Toll-free 1 (877) 628-2288 VENDOR REGISTRATION FORM 31ST ANNUAL BC ELDERS GATHERING AUGUST 8 & 9, 2007: VANCOUVER CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
CONTACT INFORMATION Name: ______
Address: ______
City/Prov: ______Postal Code: ______
Home Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______
Fax #: ______E-mail: ______
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TABLE ______
Registration Fee: $175.00 per table (please make money orders payable to Squamish Nation) **** No Personal Cheques Will Be Accepted****
NOTES 1. Set up to begin at 8:00 am on August 8th, 2007. 2. Each Vendor will have the use of one table and two chairs. 3. Each Vendor will have to contribute one (1) item for the door prize. 4. Vendors will NOT be permitted to sell food, beverages or raffel tickets! 5. No burning will be allowed in the building AT ALL TIMES! 6. Cancellation: Notice of Cancellation must be provided no later then August 1, 2007. Any Cancellation after this date will not be issued a refund. 7. The 31st Annual BC Elders Gathering Host will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items or personal injury.
COMPLETE REGISTRATION at www.eldersgathering.squamish.net On Line Download Form
MAIL COMPLETED REGISTRATION and PAYMENT to: Elders Gathering Registration Officer Squamish Nation PO Box 86131 North Vancouver, BC, V7L 4J5
GENERAL INQUIRES contact: Monica Jacobs, Squamish Nation PO Box 86131, North Vancouver, BC, V7L 4J5 Phone (604) 980-4553 or Toll-free 1 (877) 628-2288
Volunteers
31ST ANNUAL BC ELDERS GATHERING AUGUST 8 & 9, 2007: VANCOUVER CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE AUGUST 10, 2007: CAPILANO RESERVE CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: ______Address: ______City/Prov: ______Postal Code: ______Home Phone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______E-mail: ______
VOLUNTEERS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN UP FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE - 3 HOUR TIME SLOT:
August 8, 2007 August 9, 2007 August 10, 2007 8:30 am – 11:30 am 8:30 am – 11:30 am 8:30 am – 11:30 am 11:30 am – 2:30 pm 11:30 am – 2:30 pm 11:30 am – 2:30 pm 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm All Day All Day
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP: Entertainment Host/Hostess Registration Grand Entry Information Booth Self Care/Respite Set-up
DO YOU HAVE: Valid Drivers Licence Yes No Class:______First Aid Ticket Yes No Level:______First Host Yes No Food Safe Yes No
COMPLETE REGISTRATION at www.eldersgathering.squamish.net On Line Download Form Fax completed form to:
(604) 980-4523 Attn: Elders Gathering Registration Officer, Squamish Nation, North Vancouver
GENERAL INQUIRES contact: T.O.C. Phone (604) 980-2443 or Toll free (866) 980-2443
Support our Elders, volunteer your time Spirits Rising Memorial Society PRESS RELEASE - 22.05.07
Love, Light & Healing in Downtown Eastside Vancouver National Aboriginal Solidarity Day 2007
Spirits Rising Memorial Society is honoured to announce the inaugural Love, Light and Healing Ceremony, which will be held at 10am on National Aboriginal Solidarity Day, June 21st, 2007, in the centre of Main & Hastings Streets, in Downtown Eastside Vancouver.
Skiljaday Merle Williams, a Traditional Haida Healer, Teacher and Cranial-sacro Therapist who lives on Tsawwassen First Nation, was inspired to initiate the Love, Light and Healing Ceremony, in which Traditional Aboriginal Healers and Elders will join together to help to bring Love, Light and Healing to the area on the summer solstice. ‘Light Workers’ from all cultures, races, religions and creeds are welcome to participate in the spirit of unity.
The Love Light and Healing Ceremony is one of many innovative and empowering educational initiatives of the Society, which includes The Missing Women’s Memorial Totem Project, a sixteen-week educational course designed to empower women and youth from the Downtown Eastside through Traditional Aboriginal and Contemporary Education, with a strong focus on strengthening the inner core. Components of the curriculum include innovative classes ranging from Life Skills to Traditional Aboriginal Culture, History and Arts - carving, cedar weaving, beadwork and jewelry-making. Students of The Project will witness, learn and assist the Carvers, Siya7pl’tn Jordan Seward (Haida & Squamish) and Morgan Green (Tsimshian) on the Totem, which will be raised in September 2007 at Wendy Poole Park in East Vancouver.
Spirits Rising Memorial Society was created to act as a catalyst for positive change, offering innovative educational and empowering initiatives that will have a real effect on the lives of Aboriginal Women, Youth, Families, and all people in our world.
Spirits Rising Memorial Society is kindly supported by Canadian Heritage (Aboriginal Women’s Program), Margaret Mitchell Fund for Women, BC Gaming Commission and the Aboriginal Division of BC Health.
For further information, interviews, images, etc., contact:
Michelle Morning Star Doherty President, Spirits Rising Memorial Society 2019 Dundas Street (corner Wall Street) Vancouver BC V5L 1J5 t: 604 254 1139 / c: 604 626 2559 w: www.spiritsrisingsociety.com e: [email protected] Aboriginal Language Revitalization Program Through the En’owkin Centre in Penticton, BC and the University of Victoria ______
Penticton Summer Institute, July 9 to 27, 2007
This three-week program in the warm and welcoming environment of the En’owkin Centre in Penticton BC, offers two core courses towards the Certificate in Aboriginal Language Revitalization (CALR). Through the following courses, you will experience group activities, personal reflections, lectures, workshops, and conversations with resource people as you explore key principles in linguistics and language revitalization:
Language Revitalization Principles and Practices (LING 180, 3.0 Units)
An introduction to the cultural, social, political, and psychological issues surrounding language loss, along with principles and best practices in the care and revitalization of Aboriginal languages in Canada and around the world. Factors influencing language maintenance, loss and revival are also explored.
Instructor: Iehnhotonkwas/Bonnie Jane Maracle is from the Wolf Clan of the Kanien'keha:ka and was born, raised, and currently lives on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, which is one of eight communities comprising the Mohawk Nation.
Introductory Linguistics for Language Revitalization (LING 181, 1.5 Units)
A foundation for understanding language revitalization. Topics include sound systems and how they relate to orthographies, word structures and dictionaries, sentence structures and understanding texts, meaning and vocabulary, language acquisition, and historical change. Develop your awareness of languages targeted for revitalization, linguistic topics and resources.
Instructor: Maxine Baptiste, B.A., M.A. (linguistics), Head of Language Programs at the En’owkin Centre (on leave) and Ph.D. candidate in language, culture, and heritage at the University of Arizona. ______
Victoria Summer Institute, August 7 to 24, 2007
This three-week intensive Summer Institute on the beautiful University of Victoria campus in Victoria, BC combines workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on practice to present the second set of two core courses required in the CALR Program:
Language Learning and Teaching in Situations of Language Loss (LING 182, 1.5 Units)
An analysis of principles of language learning and acquisition in situations of language loss, and an examination of approaches to language teaching in Aboriginal community settings. Course topics include forms of language acquisition, teaching and learning strategies, integrating community needs and goals and their roles in teaching and learning.
Instructor: Dr. Bernice Touchie, raised in a First Nation community, is an instructor and Principal for the Ucluelet First Nation. She has been involved with the coordination of language revitalization programs in British Columbia for the Ditidaht and Ucluelet First Nations, Ha-Ho-Payak Society in Port Alberni, and managed multi-tribal language revitalization for Nuu-chah-nuulth Tribal Council. She has researched indigenous languages and social development and has published on the Nitinaht and Ditidaht language and on language learning for First Nations students.
Field Methods for Language Preservation and Revitalization (LING 183, 3.0 Units)
A look at planning strategies and approaches, protocols, ways of gathering information, and analyzing and managing language preservation and revitalization. You will focus on community involvement, ethics and ownership issues, and the use of technology in documenting language. Techniques for study with elders, interview and recording methods, information and database management and sharing information are also explored.
Instructor: Dr. Strang Burton has been employed with the Stó:lō Nation language program for over ten years. He worked with Stó:lō elders and other staff to help produce two textbooks on the Halq’emeylem language, one digital dictionary, and two CD-roms. ______
Fees & Accommodation
Tuition, texts and program activity fees are CDN$1637.30 for the July Institute at Penticton and CDN$1637.30 for the August Institute at UVic. Please note that this amount does not include accommodation or meals. International students will be assessed international tuition fees.
If you are attending the Penticton Summer Institute, you can consult with the En’owkin Centre at (250) 493- 7181 for accommodation options that range from on-site dormitory arrangements to nearby camping and accommodation in local motels or guest ranches.
If you are attending the Victoria Summer Institute, you can find information about the University of Victoria’s Student Residences at http://www.housing.uvic.ca/summer or call (250) 721-8395 for more information.
Registration
To register, please visit the course registration page at http://www.continuingstudies.uvic.ca/forms/crm/calr- reg.aspx
Questions?
Our program website at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/calr provides detailed information on Program admission, registration, fees, and on requirements for the Certificate Program. It also offers more information on accommodation in Penticton and Victoria. Please let us know if you have questions or need more information. We hope that you can join us this summer!
Aboriginal Language Revitalization Program Division of Continuing Studies University of Victoria (250) 721-6119 [email protected] Experts say exercise can help the elderly prevent falls, injuries, a common hazard
March 24, 2007
Provided by: Canadian Press
Written by: JAMIE STENGLE
DALLAS (AP) - Like a lot of people, former flight attendant Mary Nicholson wasn't an exerciser. But two years ago she changed all that - at age 71.
For Nicholson, part of the motivation to exercise was to be strong and agile enough to avoid a fall. "I'm bound and determined I'm not going to fall and break a bone," she said during a workout that included balancing on one leg, working with weights and stair-climbing.
Nicholson says she feels better, is stronger, and her balance is much improved.
With one in three adults over the age of 65 falling each year, experts say that people should follow Nicholson's lead as they get older.
In 2004, the most recent year statistics are available, almost 15,000 people 65 and older died from falls and about 1.9 million were treated for injuries in emergency rooms in the U.S., said Judy Stevens, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I think the magnitude of the problem is something that people don't recognize," Stevens said. "It really is a serious issue for older adults."
Making sure that people over the age of 65 know how to avoid falling or being injured by a fall is the goal of a campaign launched this month by the National Athletic Trainers' Association and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The organizations say in addition to exercise, older people can make their homes safer by installing night lights, bathroom grab bars and slip-resistant floors.
"If we continue to exercise, especially strength training, we decrease the loss of bone density. Just by working on strength training, you're working your muscles to keep strong," said Joe Scott, a NATA member who is outpatient orthopedic team leader for Southcoast Hospitals Group in New Bedford, Mass.
Scott said that as people get older, they're less active so they lose strength. Also, sight and balance problems can creep in.
Stevens also said it's a good idea for older people to have a doctor review their medicines each year to look for things like drug interactions that could lead to dizziness.
Experts say certain exercises - yoga, tai chi, and trying to balance on one leg with your eyes closed - can help improve balance.
If a younger person slips, they'll usually catch themselves, but older people often have less strength and slower reaction times, experts say.
Injuries from falls in the elderly can include broken wrists, elbows, arms and hips, said Dr. Jay Mabrey, chief of orthopedics at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. "We don't heal as quickly when we're older," Stevens said. "The older a person is when they fall, the harder it is to recover. For very elderly people, it can be devastating."
Nicholson said that before joining the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center two years ago, she was not an exerciser.
"I just gradually got into it," said Nicholson, who works out with a trainer twice a week takes classes three times a week, including working out in water.
She said she now just pops up off the couch instead of having to hoist herself up and she's able to confidently walk a straight line.
"I wanted good balance and the strength that goes along with it," she said. "You just feel more secure."
Here are some tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the National Athletic Trainers' Association to help prevent injuries from falls.
Keep muscles and bones strong, by following an exercise regimen:
-Strength training with weight bearing and resistive exercise works for all age groups.
-Practise exercises designed to help improve balance.
-Exercise at least three days a week to improve strength, flexibility and balance.
-Choose low-impact exercises, such as yoga, tai chi and Pilates to avoid stress on joints.
-Stretch daily to improve flexibility and mobility.
Make your home safer with simple improvements:
-Good lighting, without extension cords, to eliminate dark areas.
-Slip-resistant walking surfaces.
-Grab-bars and a night light in the bathroom.
-Handrails on both sides of stairs extending beyond last step.
-Remove throw rugs from doorways and hallways.
If you have fallen before, follow these recommendations:
-Consider a full physical evaluation and balance screen, including vision and hearing tests.
-Wear shoes with good support, such as lace-up oxford shoes with leather soles and rubber heels.
From SeniorsHealth@Medbroadcast Indigenous Farm Conference & Tradeshow Wed. May 2 – Thurs. May 3, 2007 Laurel Point Inn, Victoria, B.C.
Media Advisory Friday May 4th, 2007 -- For immediate release
Aboriginal Agriculture Agenda Lifts Social, Environmental and Economic Futures
Victoria – National Conference and trade show focused on Aboriginal agriculture was held at Laurel Point May 2-3, 2007. The event brought together for the first time from across Canada and drew together the leaders of this new movement in economic development including farmers, policy designers, finance experts and other innovators across Canada. Aboriginal Agriculture: Growing Culture, Honouring Tradition speakers introduced successful practices that develop niche markets and that drew from traditional knowledge.
“It feels like we have built something big here, the conference was full of powerful stories of growing food that grows and heals our cultures. It was all solutions, smart and practical ways that aboriginal people are healing their bodies, their communities and the land that sustains us” ” said Chief Harold Aljam of the Coldwater Band and chair of the Aboriginal Agriculture Society of BC who hosted the event.
The highlight of the event featured two awards presented by The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Pat Bell to Youth Farmer of the Maynard McRae Jr., and community award to the Canim Lake Band.
Maynard McRae Jr., 25 years from the Upper Nicola Band near Merritt is a 4th generation rancher said“he was surprised to win and that the recognition is something I take back to my community with pride.”
Pam Theodore from the Canim Lake Band, near 100 Mile House presented their story of building community through growing food. “We used to rent the land out to others, they planted big tracks of one thing, we took the land back and, we rotate crops, especially potatoes, but its more than food and health, we are planting a future”, said Theodore.
Lead sponsors of the event include the First Nations Agricultural Lending Association, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Aboriginal Business Canada, Coast Capital and VanCity credit unions. Services were also provided by Diana's Monogramming of Armstrong BC, and Menzies Printers of Kamloops, BC.
For more information on the event: www.fnaa.ca/events.htm or call 1-866-314-6804.
Media contact: Donna Morton, [email protected], 250-880-1430.
ABORIGINAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Toll Free: 1-866-314-6804 Web: www.fnaa.ca/events.htm
Canada introduces food guide aimed at First Nations, Inuit and Metis people April 11, 2007
Provided by: Canadian Press
YELLOWKNIFE (CP) - Spurred by rising rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, the Canadian government has released a version of its food guide aimed at providing healthy eating tips for First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
Federal Health Minister Tony Clement said Wednesday that issues surrounding food and healthy eating for aboriginal people weren't represented in previous issues of the food guide. The most recent revision to the general food guide, released in February, was the first in 14 years.
"Obviously, we've had some problems with increasing obesity, childhood obesity and diabetes since that time, and quite frankly, there was quite a demand from aboriginal representatives to do something specific," Clement said.
The guide incorporates both modern and traditional food choices. For example, it lists bannock as a grain product and wild plants and berries as options under vegetables and fruit.
Bill Erasmus, regional chief for the Northwest Territories with the Assembly of First Nations, said his group has been in discussions about the food guide since 2005, first with the Liberal and then the Conservative government. "First Nation children, more than half of our children are obese," he said. "It's a huge problem."
He said many studies have shown that First Nations people who eat traditional foods and exercise are much healthier than people who eat a more typical North American diet. "Our bodies are in tune with that, and we know that we have to have food like caribou instilled in our diet, or it affects our system."
Harriet Kuhnlein, director of McGill University's Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment, called the new food guide "quite a coup."
"It's very complicated when you're talking about native traditions from a country as big as Canada, with so many different kinds of native traditions," said Kuhnlein, who studies traditional food systems of aboriginal people both in Canada and other countries.
There are "many, many different kinds of traditional food patterns amongst our native people," she said. "And then, superimposed upon that, you have the complexities of grocery stores or different sizes and availability of foods."
She said the guide strikes a good balance between both types of food. "If they are eating a grocery store diet, they can find guidance in this food guide, and if they're mixing grocery store food with traditional food, they can also find how to make a good diet from the guide," she said.
Kuhnlein also pointed out that the guide addresses dietary issues specific to aboriginal people. "Milk and dairy products are things that were not included in First Nations traditions, beyond the breastfeeding of children," she said.
The guide addresses that tradition, suggesting traditional alternatives such as wild plants, seaweed or fish with bones to substitute for the nutrients found in milk.
The guide, which talks about respecting the body and having a healthy spirit, also takes into consideration the four quadrants of health in First Nations traditions.
"The emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental aspects of health . . . here you have strong body, mind and spirit. I think it captures it very well."
Erasmus said the food guide is only a start, however. He said traditional ways of gathering food need to be preserved so that all First Nations people have access to the type of nutrition they need to stay healthy.
For example, the practice of caribou hunting involves exercise in tracking down and killing the animal, as well as the health benefits of the meat.
"There's a physical part to it, there's an emotional, there's a spiritual aspect, a connection to the land, all of that involved," he said.
He said such activities need to be encouraged. "We need to sit down now and talk about how we can make sure that those foods are on our table, rather than just putting out a guide and expecting people to have caribou."
-By Shannon Montgomery in Edmonton.
Article is from [email protected]
Fast-food folly - Canadians consume too much salt, risk illness, study finds April 10, 2007
Provided by: Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - A new study suggests most Canadians are consuming far more salt in their average daily diet than is necessary or recommended.
The Statistics Canada study, based on a 2004 survey, found that average daily sodium intake was far beyond the recommended upper limit, regardless of age.
Among adults ages 19 to 70, the upper limit was surpassed by more than 85 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women.
The tolerable upper-intake levels for sodium established by the independent Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C., range from 1,500 to 2,200 milligrams a day for children aged one to three, to a maximum of 2,300 mg for people aged 14 or older.
The study found that in 2004, the average for all Canadians was 3,092 mg of sodium a day, a third more than the point beyond which the risks of adverse health effects, especially those linked to hypertension, rise significantly.
Sodium consumption exceeded the recommended levels throughout the country, but two provinces stood out - Quebec and British Columbia, where the average daily intake for people aged one or older was around 3,300 mg.
A relatively small grouping of foods accounted for close to a third of all the sodium Canadians consumed in 2004: The "sandwich" category - pizza, sandwiches, submarines, hamburgers, hot dogs - led the way, representing 19 per cent of sodium intake, while soups accounted for seven per cent and pasta dishes made up six per cent of salt intake.
Article is from [email protected]
Doctors should measure patient's waistline, say new obesity management guidelines
Provided by: Canadian Press Written by: SHERYL UBELACKER April 9, 2007
TORONTO (CP) - Doctors should add a tape measure to their blood pressure cuff, stethoscope and other key diagnostic tools, say new obesity management guidelines which recommend that all Canadian adults and adolescents have their waist circumference sized up during regular checkups.
The advice to measure belly girth is among key recommendations of the first Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of Obesity in Adults and Children, a 120-page document put together by dozens of experts across the country under the auspices of Obesity Canada.
The guidelines are being called the first in Canada to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for health-care professionals and policy-makers to battle the growing epidemic of obesity and the diseases that accrue from it, notably cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
"We need to talk about the waist circumference measurement as a new 'vital sign,"' said Dr. David Lau, president of Obesity Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to dramatically reducing the number of overweight and obese Canadians.
Almost 60 per cent of Canadian adults are overweight and almost one-quarter obese, said Lau, an endocrinologist and a professor of medicine at the University of Calgary. Among children, one in four is overweight and one in 10 obese, he said.
"We are now seeing obesity occurring in children at an alarming rate," Lau said Monday from Calgary. He noted that endocrinologists are seeing overweight and obese teens with health conditions that at one time were seen primarily in adults, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
"We're now seeing Type 2 diabetes, previously a typical disease of the 40s and 50s in men and women, now we're seeing this in teenage girls and as young as six years of age," he said, adding that today's children are facing a life expectancy shorter than their parents' if the rising tide of obesity isn't dealt with now.
"The way I see it is the personal and societal consequences of inaction on obesity can no longer be ignored."
The guidelines, published as a supplement to Tuesday's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, involved an exhaustive review of the medical literature to determine exactly what weight-loss strategies have been proven to work.
Lau said the recommendations are a first step in giving family doctors and other health providers better tools for helping overweight patients to shed excess pounds and keep them off - and to prevent others from piling them on in the first place.
While that includes keeping tabs on waistline measurements - considered by many a much better indicator of unhealthy weight than body mass index - doctors should also keep a wary eye out for underlying contributors to obesity, including depression and mood or eating disorders, the guidelines advise.
Physicians and other health providers should also counsel patients on ways to overcome unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle, such as priority-setting and time-management strategies, Lau said.
When appropriate, doctors should not hesitate to prescribe medications or refer patients for bariatric surgery, both of which have been proven to help some people lose weight and maintain trimmer bodies, said Dr. Arya Sharma, scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network and a contributor to the guidelines. "The key message from the guidelines for health professionals and to policy-makers and to the general public is that obesity is a chronic disease," Sharma said Monday from Hamilton.
"And we have to start thinking about obesity and start thinking about the treatments for obesity like we would any other chronic disease, which means we need to think about what are the best treatments out there that we can provide to patients who are struggling with this condition."
Dr. Ian Janssen, an obesity researcher at Queen's University, said existing guidelines based on a consensus of expert opinions have helped doctors figure out thresholds for obesity and being overweight.
"There are (already) guidelines on 'This is an obese patient,"' Janssen said from Kingston, Ont. "But how do we manage that patient? How do we determine if they are at risk? What are the treatment options for them? What ones should I use in different scenarios?"
"That's what this is for because clinicians are not well-educated in obesity. And most clinicians don't even assess obesity because they don't know what to do with it."
Dr. Mark Tremblay, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan and co-author of two of the guide's chapters, said the evidence-based recommendations are the first of their kind in Canada, "and perhaps anywhere in the world."
"When the average family doc went through med school a number of years ago, it just wasn't at the same profile," Tremblay said of obesity treatment. "This is providing them perhaps clarity where their medical texts that might have been written some time ago just didn't address this at the level it needs to be addressed today, because it's so commonplace."
"It does give them recommendations and ideas for moving forward," he said from Saskatoon. "This single- handedly isn't going to transform society. But from a clinical sense, it's a major step forward and a consolidation of a very diverse and complicated literature."
"And it's written in the Canadian context, which I think is valuable as well."
Here are some key recommendations for health providers in the Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of Obesity in Adults and Children:
- Measure body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in all adults and adolescents to determine degree and distribution of body fat. - Measure blood pressure, heart rate, glucose and blood lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL). - Assess and treat obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, and potential health risks. - Screen patients for depression, eating and mood disorders. Assess readiness to change and barriers to weight loss. - Devise lifestyle modification plan with patient and, when appropriate, family members. - Provide dietary counselling and calorie-reduced plan for weight loss (i.e. five to 10 per cent of body weight over six months). - Prescribe 30 minutes of daily activity of moderate intensity and, when appropriate, increase to 60 minutes or more per day. - Consider appropriate medications or referral for bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, or both. - Have patient in for regular reviews to reinforce weight-loss goals or maintenance.
Article from [email protected] BC Government Must Support Final Report of Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture JOINT PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 17, 2007
(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, May 17, 2007) Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs stated today, “The UBCIC fully supports the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, in particular we agree that First Nations must be fully consulted in all aspects of the decision making process of the aquaculture industry. It’s time for the BC Government to live the commitment of the New Relationship at the First Nation community level.”
The recommendations include: • Permanent ban on salmon farms on the North Coast of British Columbia, north of Cape Caution. • For existing open-net caged salmon farms on the South Coast of British Columbia a transition to closed containment within 5 years, with a biological barrier separating the farmed salmon from the marine environment • Moratorium on any new salmon farms until transition of existing farms to closed containment is complete • Fallowing the salmon farms on migratory routes during young wild salmon migration from the rivers to the sea • Move away from industry self-policing and have government staff conduct random checks without any notice to salmon farm operators
Geoff Senichenko, Research Director of the Wilderness Committee stated, "We are witnessing the highly destructive impacts of fish farms on indigenous salmon species in the Broughton Archipelago. The damage due to fish farms has been clearly documented by the work of Alexandra Morton and Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council."
“The UBCIC Chiefs Council has consistently opposed fish farms and will continue to do so until such time as the destructive and deadly impacts to the indigenous salmon and shell-fish harvesting areas are fully addressed. The UBCIC is urging the BC Government to support the report” said Grand Chief Phillip.
"The Wilderness Committee does not support any type of salmon farming as it is unsustainable, even if using closed containment technologies. Salmon are carnivores and the world's oceans are being depleted to provide the protein necessary for salmon farm feed. Salmon farming should be phased out completely and instead we should invest into restoring wild salmon stocks and look at raising herbivore fish sustainably on land as has been done in Asia for thousands of years." said Geoff Senichenko. "The recommendations of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, however, are a good first step to address the negative impacts of fish farms on wild salmon and the marine environment and need to be adopted by the BC government to move us forward."
The Union of BC Indian Chiefs and Western Canada Wilderness Committee shall continue collaborating and supporting their mutual efforts on the vital issue of fish farms.
- 30 - FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoff Senichenko (604) 683-8220 or (604) 877-1718 Research Director, Wilderness Committee
Chief Stewart Phillip (250) 490-5314 President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs ThinkNDN 102.7fm Mondays 8-9pm on 102.7fm or Listen Online at www.coopradio.org or Satellite StarChoice #845 Check Our REVAMPED Website at www.thinkndn.ca
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The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) is in the Final stages of approval!
Judges in nine court jurisdictions have decided the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) is fair and just and will proceed to final approval by former Indian Residential School students.
A mandatory 150 day opt out period started on March 20, 2007 and ends on August 20, 2007. During this period, former students and their families must decide whether they stay in the settlement or remove themselves (opt out).
There are two parts of a Notification Plan during this period. One is that newspaper, Radio and TV Announcements will appear in many regions across the country starting this week. All of these announcements will contain the information former students need in order to make informed decisions.
Secondly, from April 11, 2007 through to August 20, 2007, Regional Coordinators from the AFN will be scheduling community information sessions in all 633 First Nation communities and many urban centers across Canada. These sessions will include a detailed presentation on the IRSSA to explain the details and the benefits of the settlement agreement and the legal rights of former Indian Residential school students and their families.
>> Click here to view the Community Information Session Schedules: http://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/currentevents.html
If you are unable to make it to the session scheduled for your community, or if you have missed the session you can call 1-866-879-4913 right away and request information to be mailed to you.
Pending approval of the IRSSA by the former IRS students, applications for the Common Experience Payment, Independent Assessment Process as well as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, Healing and Commemoration programs would be available after September 20, 2007.
We thank you for your patience.
The National Chief has stated that this is a fair and just settlement agreement and supports the finalization of the Agreement. The National Chief acknowledges that individuals have the right to make their own decision in this matter.
Sun Safety - Fun in the sun
Most people love sunny, warm days, when they can get outside for fun and soak up the sun. But sun is one good thing you can have too much of - and not even know you've had too much until much later, when, like 60,000 Canadians every year, you're diagnosed with skin cancer. Fortunately, 19 out of 20 cases of skin cancer diagnosed are less aggressive forms called basal cell or squamous cell cancers, which are fairly easy to treat. But 5% are melanoma, a more serious form.
Know it like the back of your hand It's important to know your skin and the signs of skin cancer. If you notice any unusual moles or marks on your skin, watch them closely. The most common skin cancers (basal and squamous cell) can look like a small, skin- coloured or red knob. The more dangerous melanoma usually begins as a mole that seems to change colour or size. What are the signs that tell you to have a doctor look at a mole? Just remember ABCD: • Asymmetry: The mole is not round. • Border: The border is irregular with jagged edges, not smooth. • Colour: The colour can be uneven across the mole, it can change, or it may seem very different from the other moles on your body. • Diameter: Cancerous moles are usually larger than 6 mm (the size of a pea or a pencil eraser).
Protect them while they're young Skin cancer is usually caused by the skin's exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The more sun you're exposed to over your lifetime, the higher your risk of developing cancer.
It's estimated that up to 80% of a person's total exposure to the sun happens before 18 years of age. Because of this, it's good to teach children healthy sun habits from the start. One serious sunburn in childhood can increase future cancer risk by as much as 50%.
Babies under six months old are especially susceptible to the glare of sunshine and should be kept out of the sun completely. They're too young for sunscreen, so keep the baby in the shade and covered as much as possible. Don't forget that the sun can reflect off shiny surfaces and swimming pools, so keep babies well shaded from all directions at all times.
No such thing as a healthy tan There is a common myth that if a person tans well, they're protected from these harmful rays. Not true! While it is true that fair-haired, blue-eyed people are most prone to burning, and therefore are more susceptible to the sun's rays, even "healthy" tans are really just damage control - they're your body's way of trying to protect itself from the sun. But the damage is already done and can't be reversed. Years of sun worshipping, be it outside or in a tanning salon, will eventually show up later on in life as wrinkles, poor skin elasticity, and possibly skin cancer.
The sun, however, is also very important to our health. It provides us with vitamin D (which we need for our bones), and it can lift our spirits. In fact, there's a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) that can happen when there's more darkness than daylight - sufferers feel "down" during the winter and much better when summer comes. So staying holed up deep inside isn't the way to go either.
As with most good things, moderation and good sense are the keys. The goal is to have fun outside but to stay safe at the same time. Here are some basic rules:
• Cover up whenever possible. A longer cotton skirt, for example, might feel cooler on a hot day than a pair of shorts, and will help guard you from the sun.
• Wear a hat. Hats keep the sun's rays off the scalp, face, and back of the neck, prime areas for skin cancer. A good hat will also shelter and protect your eyes from the sun's powerful rays.
• Use sunscreen whenever you're outside, even if the sun doesn't seem particularly strong. Damaging ultraviolet rays can penetrate through clouds, so don't take a chance. Always apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 15. Be sure to follow the directions closely and reapply the sunscreen on a regular basis throughout the day, especially after you've been swimming or sweating. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for their product recommendations and advice on proper application.
• Avoid the sun when it's at its peak. It's strongest between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., so use that time to do activities indoors if possible.
• If you take prescription drugs, check to see if they can make you more sensitive to the sun. If you're not sure, ask your pharmacist. If, despite being careful, you still get a sunburn, treat it as you would any other kind of burn:
• Apply cool, wet compresses for 24 to 48 hours. • Don't apply skin creams within the first two days. • Drink a lot of water to keep from feeling dehydrated.
Very severe burns, the kind that produce blisters, are often treated in clinics with dressings. If you're not sure if your burn is severe, have it checked.
Article from Medbroadcast.com
Tips on reducing the signs of aging
While you can't stop or even slow down the natural aging process, you can prevent the signs of premature aging due to sun exposure and smoking!
Protect your skin from the sun
The first step is to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Not only will you be preventing premature signs of aging, you will also be reducing your risk of developing skin cancer or actinic keratosis.
• Avoid the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. • Wear wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. • Use a generous amount of sunscreen and reapply it frequently (every 2 to 3 hours). • Use sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15 and that have UVA and UVB coverage. Apply sunscreen all year round at least 15 to 30 minutes before going out. • Avoid tanning beds.
Other things you can do to keep your skin healthy
Exercise. Not only will exercise keep your body fit and decrease your risk of conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease, but it will also get the blood flowing. Improved blood flow will increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin that keeps it healthy and gives it a healthier looking colour. The increase in oxygen and nutrients to skin cells also provides the ideal conditions needed for collagen production that help ward off wrinkles. Exercise should be an important part of every anti-aging skin care program.
Eat right. Sometimes minor nutritional deficiencies can cause rashes, skin lesions, and other skin changes, even if no other symptoms are present.
Stop smoking. If you smoke or spend time with a smoker, you may be harming your skin. Research has shown that exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness. This is partly because cigarette smoke depletes your body of vitamin C, which is a key ingredient for keeping skin plump and moist.
Get enough rest. Too little sleep makes you look and feel tired. One of the first places where lack of sleep shows up is on your face, with sagging skin and dark circles and bags under the eyes. Research has shown that most adults function best with 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
Information is from Medbroadcast.com BC ELDERS Zen Sarcasm from humourmatters.com COMMUNICATION 1. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. CENTER SOCIETY 2. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield. 3. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. 1415 Wewaikum Road 4. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was Campbell River, B.C. V9W 5W9 probably worth it. Phone: 1-250-286-9977 PROVERBS: Fax: 1-250-286-4809 No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Toll-Free: 1-877-738-7288 Necessity is the mother of invention. Coordinator: Donna Stirling Live for today for tomorrow never comes. Website: www.bcelders.com Life is what you make it. Email: [email protected] BIBLE QUOTES:
‘ELDERS VOICE’ ISSUES “God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of ARE SENT OUT TO trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and COMMUNITIES BY THE mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and 1st OF EACH MONTH. rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence.” Psalm 46:1
If your area’s copy is not re- Please mail, fax, email, or call in your ceived in a timely manner please call in to the office. Special Wishes/Community Events !!
Happy! Happy! Birthday To All Elders Born in June!!
Gemini May 21st - June 21st Gemini Twins are clever, charming, imaginative and versatile, as well as gifted with a great sense of humour. Quick-witted problem solvers, they can make themselves at home almost anywhere and seldom have self-doubt. Trying to do too many things at once, they may sometimes do nothing. National Survivors Support Line
24 Hours a day - 7 days a week - 1-866-925-4419 The Indian Residential School Survivors Society provides free, immediate, confidential, non- judgmental, support for residential school survivors across Canada.
ANNUAL BC ELDERS GATHERING INFORMATION CORNER
31st Annual BC Elders Gathering Dates: August 8th and 9th, 2007 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre and August 10th, 2007 at the Capilano Reserve
Contact Info: For questions on Registration, Vendor Booths, and Info Booths call Damara at 1-877-628-2288 For questions about Volunteering, Donating, and general inquiries please call Touch of Culture at 1-866-980-2443.