Sharing Stories: Walking with Spirit
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Written by Joanne Pompana
Not too long ago, our agency moved to a new location. After twenty plus years in the east end, this was like removing a limb for some of our Elders, Board and Staff. Reflecting on this move, and its implications for services to our Indigenous people in the west end, took me back to several critical moments in my own life and to the lives of those whom I have worked with over the years.
To simplify, “when nothing changes, nothing changes”, and it is at those critical times, that one looks beyond oneself, to seek solutions. I have witnessed these moments individually and collectively; I continue to be amazed with the resilience of Edmontonians to look beyond the barriers and strive to find those solutions that let life flourish. I call it “walking with spirit”. Some call it being intentional, being mindful, being trauma informed; I believe we are saying the same thing. We have become conscious of life beyond ourselves; we are more spiritually attuned and aware of our own impacts on life.
When politicians and community leaders recognized the increasing suicide rate, specialists were sought, committees were created, partnerships were formed, and the reality set in amongst folks with respect to the immense gravity of the suicide situation here in Alberta. Conversations with a variety of professionals in the field led to the Living Hope plan, which in turn laid a foundation to increase awareness, understanding, and solutions to address the suicide crisis.
When we genuinely bring our like mindedness together, creative and sustainable solutions can emerge. In other words, people who are already involved in such focused thought are generally those who walk with spirit individually. Collectively, this enhances the possibility of addressing mental well-being.
In these past couple years, a number of factors have been identified as contributors to suicidal ideation: loss of family, loss ofculture, zero framework for living, poverty, death, addiction, co-addiction, generational trauma, war, abuse, violence, and so on.There is nothing simple about suicide. However, one person who “walks with spirit” can definitely influence another person to “walk with spirit”’ when each person can transcend the holding pattern of their current now.
Recently, I met a young mom who was working on multiple issues in her life. It showed the complexity of elements that may contribute to a person’s experience with suicide and suicidal ideation. Her story is heartbreaking; however, her DNA is from tough people. Sadly, when she interacts with a western service provider, she is often met with assumptions and biased perceptions regarding her character such as: “oh, another Indigenous woman who cannot take care of herself or her children.”
Our small agency, The Red Road Healing Society, does whatever we can to provide wrap-around services for our Indigenous people like this young woman. However, if each of our staff did not try to walk with spirit in their own lives to the best of their ability, then we would not be able to provide this wrap around support as we would then be unable to engage our client’s spirit.
Living Hope is making great strides in de-mystifying the suicide issue, and we are grateful. There is, however, a long way to go for those of us who still believe that life and the renewal of life is something to be celebrated daily.
Living Hope has been, and continues to be, a natural partnership. We have never sensed a feeling of being forced to act outside of our expertise, and we hope they feel the same way. The fact that we are still partnering says a lot! Honoring one another, providing mutual respect, conducting oneself honourably goes a long way to healing our communities.
I love these Living Hope people, and Red Road will continue to support their initiatives in whichever way we can.
Mitakuye Oyasin.
Joanne Lethbridge Pompana