Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
|
"Solutions to Indigenous problems must come from within Indigenous communities - they must own and control the healing process. Healing programs must reflect specific needs and goals of the community and the individual."
|
Healing PrinciplesThis project will focus on a number of key principles underlying healing. The first is self-determination, which I wrote about in my document 20 Ways To Facilitate Indigenous Healing, Part 1:
'1. Self-determination is the Foundation of Healing Despite the fact that self-determination and self-direction are the foundation of healing and recovery, governments and systems of care still predominantly take power and control. This approach fails. Solutions to Indigenous problems must come from within Indigenous communities - they must own and control the healing process. Healing programs must reflect specific needs and goals of the community and the individual.' The second principle is empowerment, on which I wrote: '2. The Importance of Empowerment Empowerment is key because healing is something that comes from the person, not from a practitioner or treatment. People are empowered when they gain hope, understanding and a sense of belonging. They need the opportunity to make their own choices. They may need encouragement to start focusing on their strengths instead of their losses. Sometimes, they need another person to believe in them before they’re confident enough to believe in themselves.' Other principles involved in this project include: (1) Healing the Community (The Healing Forest Model) and (2) focusing on strengths, capacities and abilities of people, rather than their needs, deficiencies and weaknesses (as in asset-based community development, ABCD) I’ll be modifying this section from time to time, so keep an eye open. |
Project Updates
'Dreambuilding in Napranum' Project Kicks Off
Today, I would like to announce the first of our Healing Journey collaborative projects. This project involves the development of an easy-to-access, internet-based educational and advocacy resource based on lived experience that will inspire and educate people about community healing. Our project only really started on February 23rd, 2015, but I’ve included some relevant blogs from earlier dates. Dreambuilding in Napranum So today, I’m going to introduce you to a Good News Story, Dreambuilding in Napranum. It’s a story I’ve crafted over ten Sharing Culture web pages, utilising written and film content available on the web. Sharing Culture Advisor: Annalise Jennings What would happen to such problems if we focused on healing the community? Well, if you check out the work of Annalise Jennings you will get some idea of what can be achieved. I came across Annalise’s work several months ago and quickly realised that this remarkable lady was doing some special things in Indigenous communities in the north of Australia. The Importance of Healing Communities “The Wellbriety of the community creates a healing sanctuary - a culture of recovery - for the wounded individual, just as the growing Wellbriety of the individual feeds the strength of the community. The individual, family and community are not separate: they are one. To injure one is to injure all; to heal one is to heal all.” 'The 3 Ps: Paternalism, Prohibition, Penalty' by Annalise Jennings Please watch and SHARE this awesome talk. Annalise and the Napranum community are very special and show what can be achieved. This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. > Dreambuilding in Napranum > Project Collaborators |