Episode 3: Traditional language and ceremony: spiritual healing and recovery with Jeff Wastesicoot

Jeff Wastesicoot shares insight from decades of experience sharing medicine through traditional language and ceremony. With evidence and skilled storytelling – through retelling Indigenous histories and personal stories – Wastesicoot doubly demonstrates the power of language. The nêhiyawak language and culture, which Wastesicoot has dedicated much of his life to preserving, are infused with the laws of the creator. Indigenous languages offer access to spiritual learning and knowledge, and are vital to recovery for many Indigenous Peoples.

Our Guest:

Jeff Wastesicoot is a member of the Lucky Man First Nation in Saskatchewan. He serves as a headsman for the leadership in the Nation. Jeff dedicates much of his time to helping people overcome personal challenges through ceremonies, traditional medicines and counselling. He's dedicated his life to the preservation of the nêhiyawak language and culture. Jeff recognises the spirit within the tongue as he interprets the parables within the nêhiyawak language. He is recognised and acknowledged among the First Nations communities as a spiritual leader and traditional knowledge keeper.

Our Hosts:

Dr. Alanaise Ferguson is a member of the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation and a Registered Psychologist in the Province of BC. She holds an academic appointment at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Syilx Territory. She has trained and clinically supervised hundreds of Counseling Psychology students over the past 9 years in her academic roles at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Holly Graham is a member of the Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan. She holds an academic appointment at the University of Saskatchewan. She also has an Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing. She has worked as a Registered Nurse in northern communities and is a Registered Doctoral Psychologist.

Dr Brenda Restoule is an Anishinabe-kwe and member of Dokis First Nation in the Robinson Huron Treaty. She is a Registered Clinical Psychologist in Ontario who works in First Nation communities and also leads the First Peoples Wellness Circle, an Indigenous led national not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to raising the profile of Indigenous mental wellness using Indigenous Knowledge and evidence.

Our Purpose:

The purpose of our podcast series is to mobilize and share Indigenous Knowledge related to trauma repair, recovery from addictions, community survivance, and care across Indigenous communities in Canada. Our goal is to provide listeners with access to conversations about the lived experiences of First Nations psychologists and leaders in the mental wellness field. We will discuss how that relates to challenges and successes in navigating and working within systems of care, as well as strength-based and cultural approaches to healing for Indigenous people.

The podcast episodes will discuss topics related to:

1) Strength-based approaches to care

2) Challenges and successes in the field