The organization OSI-CAN has added Indigenous Land-Based Healing to the supports and programs it provides.
The new program is in its first phase, and they are providing sweat ceremonies that are facilitated by Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.
“We were able to get a grant from the Future Generations Foundation that allowed us to start our Indigenous Land-Based Healing Program through the first phase, which is to provide Indigenous sweat ceremonies,” explained Julius Brown, the OSI-CAN Program Director.
Brown said that they are always evaluating their programs, and OSI-CAN needs to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of our indigenous veterans or frontline protectors by integrating alternative and holistic approaches into our program. This inclusive approach recognizes the importance of cultural identity, community support, and restoring the sacred connection to the natural world.
“The objective of our program is to provide mental health support to veterans and all public safety personnel. We’ve been in existence for eight years, and about two years ago, we were evaluating our program and saw a gap in our services. While our program supports Indigenous veterans and other safety personnel, we realized we needed to offer Indigenous land-based healing alongside western medicine,” explained Brown.
The OSI-CAN mission is to inspire hope and contribute to the well-being and recovery process of veterans and front-line protectors. That includes but is not limited to: former and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Allied Armed Forces, RCMP, Police Services, CN Police, Emergency Medical Service providers, Fire Protection Services, Wildland Firefighters, Hospital Trauma personnel, Nurses, Healthcare Workers, Crown Prosecutors, Social Workers, Animal Control officers, Coroners, Indigenous Emergency Management, Victim Service Personnel, Emergency Communications Specialist, Crisis Management Workers, Corrections Officers, Youth Workers, Youth Corrections Workers, “Volunteer” First Responders, Conservation Officers, Tow Truck Officers, and private sector First Responders. The services are also available to the spouses and significant others of those exposed to such trauma.
The ceremonies offer therapeutic benefits such as introspection, purification, and renewal. Brown said that by integrating them into the programming, we aim to provide an impactful experience that compliments traditional mental health support. The primary objective is to create a supportive environment where Indigenous Veterans and Frontline Protectors can find holistic healing that integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
For dates and more information, please go to: https://www.osicansk.ca/indigenoustraditionalhealing.