Aionkwatakari:teke (A‑YOU‑GWA‑DA‑GA‑RI‑DE‑GEH) “For us to be healthy” Vol. 18, №. 4 Kahnawake’s Only Health and Wellness Newsletter Seskéha / August 2013 INSIDE What We Teach Our Children part II 3 Enjoy Your Undergrad Experience 8 Fatherhood in Today’s Society 4 Post‑Sec: Stuff You Need to Know 9–11 THIS Parenting 101 5 Your Pets & Rabies 10 Building Healthy Relationships 6–11 International FASD‑Day 12 ISSUE Signs that Your Child is Being Bullied 7 Aionkwatakari:teke Aionkwatakari:teke Aionkwatakari:teke is a newsletter Editor's Notebook published six times a year by Communications Services of Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS). Our purpose is to provide information on health and wellness issues that affect Kahnawa’kehró:non. ek! It’s August already. Crazy! I don’t know about you, but it seems All community members are welcomed like the summer is going by so fast. As I’m writing this, we’re in and encouraged to submit articles the middle of a heat wave with high heat and humidity the norm provided that they are comprehensive Efor the past several days. I’m trying to remember winter and the below to the general public, informative and educational. Slanderous material will zero temperatures so I don’t complain too much about the humidity. I not be accepted. Views expressed in know it doesn’t last long but it’s hard when you can’t sleep because it’s too the articles may not necessarily reflect hot (I have no air conditioning) and you still have to drag yourself into those of KSCS. We reserve the right to work in the early morning. But I’m not complaining. I love the sunshine edit all articles. All questions concerning and the warmth and my plants are thriving now thanks to the rain and this newsletter should be directed to: now the sun and heat. The Editor Speaking of complaining, I’m sure the kids will be doing that soon as Aionkwatakari:teke school should be starting in a matter of weeks. Parents, on the other hand, P.O. Box 1440 Kahnawake, Quebec JOL 1BO will be rejoicing. Still, for me, the summer just doesn’t last long enough. Tel: 450‑632‑6880 We have a full issue here, a couple of our summer students submitted Fax: 450‑632‑5116 Email: [email protected] articles. Way to go students! Curran Jacobs wrote a couple articles cen- (Attention: newsletter editor) tered on the university experience, with a handy bus/metro guide to help Editor/Layout/Design, Marie David new students get where they need to be. Cheryl Lahache wrote an article Executive Publisher, Derek Montour on building healthy relationships. We’ve included a couple of photo- Proofreading: graphs from one of her sources for her article, the National Collaborating Curran Jacobs Centre for Aboriginal Health, which the photographer graciously permit- ted. Check out their site, there’s a lot of great information there! And Katsistohkwi:io Jacco submitted an article on bullying that many parents or teachers might find useful. We also have other articles on rabies (what you need to know to pro- Contributors: tect your pet), parenting issues, and on international FASD-Day coming Tawnie Miller Bush up in September. We hope you enjoy this issue and, when you’re done Katsistohkwi:io Jacco Curran Jacobs with it, please recycle it. Cheryl Lahache Terry McComber Sken:nen, Kateri Oesterreich Marie Tyson Phillips Deidra Whyte, Animal Protection This newsletter is intended to complement, not replace the advice of your health care Cover: Owen Mayo at the Kahnawake Pow Wow, July 2013. provider. Before starting any new health regimen, please see your doctor. Photograph by Kaiatanoron Mayo, used by permission. Cover design: Marie David. Seskéha / August 2013 2 ¦ Tekeni KSCS Aionkwatakari:teke What We Teach Our Children part II BY TAWNIE MILLER-BUSH, PREVENTION In part one of this series, we began by looking Humility: This value ties in with hon- their friends aren’t. That is a true act of at how we can instill values in our children. esty. Humility is about being humble. courage. Courage for a teenager may be We began with honesty and love. We continue It’s not showing off or bragging; it’s walking away while all his/her friends go now, with more values. about being able to say “I was wrong,” to a party. admitting mistakes, and owning them. You will have to role model this value Respect: This is a hard value to convey. It’s very hard to be humble when you and if you slip, apologize and say “I Think of respect in terms of how you don’t know what it is. slipped, I’m sorry, that wasn’t ok” (that want your children to treat you when Gandhi was an example of humility. shows courage, honesty and humility). they become adults. Are you teaching No matter how many followers he had, them by role modeling? If you swear he never put himself above others or Please join us in the next issue for the (even if it’s just in conversation with made them feel inferior. Our clan moth- final installment in this series. other adults) children are watching and ers and chiefs are also good examples of assume this is acceptable language. being humble. Do you expect people in general to Humility takes practice. In this say “please” and “thank you” and wait day and age it’s very easy to sit behind for their turn to speak? Do you do that a computer and type anything you with your children? If you cut them want when you don’t have to address off in mid-sentence then you are show- the person face to face. You should try ing them that you accept this behavior. being humble when posting something Gentle reminders help. For example, tell online— that takes real effort. You can them that using words like “stupid” and lead by example and remind your chil- “dummy” or comments like “shut up” or dren of this value as often as needed. “bite me” are unacceptable. Respect is a thousand little things; it’s Courage: Courage is not an easy virtue behavior, it’s attitude towards others, it’s to role model. Courage is standing up the way you speak, how you behave, and for what you believe in even if it’s not knowing when to listen instead of when what everyone else thinks. Courage is to talk. Respect encompasses so many admitting when you are wrong. aspects of our lives; from respecting Courage is apologizing no matter each other to respecting our bodies, as how much it may hurt your pride. It’s well as respecting the earth. It’s speaking sticking to your guns even though giv- and thinking respectfully. This is a very ing in may be the quick and easy fix. important and fundamental value we all It’s telling your children to stand up for need to exert. the weaker or quieter children even if KSCS Ahsen ¦ 3 Seskéha / August 2013 Aionkwatakari:teke Fatherhood in Today’s Society BY TYSON PHILLIPS, COMMUNICATIONS aving a family in this day your baby is born. “Your life becomes a be tired from the day, he’ll make time and age can be challenging, different experience,” he says. “It’s a big to play with his son. “I work out a few especially when both parents responsibility to raise a child. There are times a week at the gym and it’s a chal- Hwork. Sose Joseph Jacobs and his wife rough patches but you get through it. I lenge when Levi is waiting to play. I’ll Robin Guyer-Jacobs waited to start a really appreciate having a son and I feel make it up to Levi by playing with him family. Together since 2002 and married rewarded being a father.” after my workout” Sose mentions with since 2009, they were ready to become Mornings are usually busy for Sose a smile. parents in 2011 when they welcomed and Levi. “Robin starts work a few hours Being healthy role models to their their son, Levi. before me, children is important to Sose and Robin. Now, Robin is so I prepare They are non-smokers and don’t want expecting their sec- Levi for day- their children exposed to alcohol. “We ond child, a girl, care. We have will have a drink if we are out alone. this August. breakfast and Robin is against drinking in front of Sose spoke with I give him his the kids and I agree with her. We would Aionkwatakari:teke bath,” Sose never have a wild party with lots of about what it’s says, explain- booze at our home.” like being a father ing their rou- Sose and Robin’s future goals for in today’s society tine. “When their children are that they have a good when both parents Robin and I education, are well behaved, and have work. had vacation a good sense of direction in life. “We Four years ago time, Levi would be thrilled if they followed in our Sose was hired would be at footsteps and went into the health field, on at the Kateri home with as Robin did by becoming a nurse like Memorial Hospital us. When we her mom, Dawn Lazare,” he says, add- Centre (KMHC) returned to ing they will still be happy even if they pharmacy as a work, it was choose another path. “That is quite a few lab technician.