Blog Archives
Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Truth)
Movember is quickly coming to a close as today is officially the last day! It is almost time to mow this Mo!
This is also the final blog posting for our series linking Movember and health literacy to the sacred 7 Grandfather Teachings. The 7th and final sacred Grandfather Teaching is Truth:
Debwewin—Truth: Truth is to know all of these things. Speak the truth. Do not deceive yourself or others.
It’s all about accountability. People need to be accountable to themselves first. I like this teaching because it explains that. Most people believe that we have to be truthful to others. But what about ourselves?
The same goes with health literacy. People need to know that it’s OK not to know something. But it’s also important to hold ourselves accountable to our actions. For example, the word “can’t.” People like to say things like: “I can’t lose 10 pounds. I can’t quit smoking. I can’t eat a balanced diet.” What if people changed the word to “won’t.” People might be saying: “I won’t lose 10 pounds. I won’t quit smoking. I won’t eat a balanced diet.” By using the word “won’t” we are giving ourselves a choice. People don’t like the word “won’t” because at the end of the day people want to make healthy lifestyle changes. So what if every time we use the word “can’t” we replace it with “I don’t know how.”
“I don’t know how to lose 10 pounds. I don’t know how to quit smoking. I don’t know how to eat a balanced diet.”
Simply by changing these simple words around, we can be truthful to ourselves, remove the barriers and allow ourselves to learn more about health literacy. Let’s be accountable to ourselves first and learn from all 7 Grandfather Teachings.
On behalf of the Good Learning Anywhere team and Sioux Hudson Literacy Council, we would like to thank you for all your support for Movember 2011. It’s been a great experience, we’ve promoted a lot of health literacy awareness for our learners, and we made some new connections as well.
Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Honesty)
I am going to be completely honest with you. It has not been difficult to grow a moustache for the 30 days in Movember. In fact, there have been days that I have really enjoyed growing the Mo…so much so that I have thought about keeping it. I have not quite decided on that yet though!
Honestly, the hardest part of Movember has been trying to write this blog series on the sacred 7 Grandfather Teachings and link them to men’s health literacy. Here I am, a white non-Aboriginal male, sharing information on teachings outside my culture and trying to link them to a worldwide movement for men’s health: Movember. I certainly feel that this is outside of my comfort zone…(but I am trying to learn something new from this experience)
Gwayakwaadiziwin—Honesty: Honesty in facing a situation is to be brave. Always be honest in word and action. Be honest first with yourself, and you will more easily be able to be honest with others. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean “righteousness.”
Throughout Movember, I have reflected a lot about the adult learners in the Good Learning Anywhere program. They have been keeping me motivated for Movember. Many have never taken any upgrading classes before, and never online for that matter, so I consider them to be brave. They have been honest with themselves as they are taking courses that will get them closer to meeting their goals.
The same is true for men’s health as well. All men, including myself, need to be honest with ourselves first and become more knowledgeable about health issues and prostate cancer particularly. Honesty demonstrates leadership among men in our communities.
I also think that for men, we need to take action on health issues. It’s nice to talk about it but it means nothing if we don’t take action. This requires bravery.
So this question goes to the men who read this blog: How honest are you being with yourself?
Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Love)
Week 1 of Movember is quickly coming to a close. Many of the Mo Bros out there are definitely starting to gather some mo-mentum as their Mo continues to grow. Another thing growing is our increased knowledge about health literacy.
In our last blog, Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Wisdom), we tied health literacy & Movember to the sacred teaching of Wisdom. In this blog, we are going to discuss the teaching of Love.
Zaagi’idiwin—Love: To know Love is to know peace. Love must be unconditional. When people are weak they need love the most. In the Anishinaabe language, this word with the reciprocal theme indicates that this form of love is mutual. In some communities, Gizhaawenidiwin is used, which in most context means “jealousy” but in this context is translated as either “love” or “zeal”. Again, the reciprocal theme indicates that this form of love is mutual.
In the definition above, there is one line that stands out for me. ”When people are weak they need love the most.”
So what does that mean? Weak does not mean lack of physical strength or endurance. Weakness can affect the mind, body and spirit. When a person is weak in one of these areas, they become unbalanced. They need love.
Through Movember, we’re going to read, hear and see a lot of information about health literacy. We’re going to encourage people to take care of themselves and tell them all these great things that they need to do.
But before we start spreading all this wonderful information, let’s consider getting our lives balanced – and that could all start with giving or receiving a hug! Maybe when a person feels loved, they will feel more inspired and motivated to take care of themselves?
What do you think?
Movember & 7 Grandfather Teachings (Wisdom)
Moustache season is now OPEN! Every November, men across Canada and around the world grow moustaches to support and promote men’s health awareness, specifically for prostate cancer. The month of November is now called Movember!
At Sioux Hudson Literacy Council and the Good Learning Anywhere program, our goal is to use Movember as an opportunity to promote men’s health awareness among our Native Stream adult literacy learners. To do that, I will personally be growing a Mo (short for moustache).
But I also wanted to write and share some blogs that link health literacy to our learners’ Native culture. This is not easy for me as I have not grown up in a Native culture but I will do my best to learn and share what I can. So, for this Movember season, I decided to write short blogs about health literacy and the 7 Grandfather Teachings. In each blog, I will choose one and share information.
Nibwaakaawin—Wisdom: To cherish knowledge is to know Wisdom. Wisdom is given by the Creator to be used for the good of the people. In the Anishinaabe language, this word expresses not only “wisdom,” but also means “prudence,” or “intelligence.” In some communities, Gikendaasowin is used; in addition to “wisdom,” this word can also mean “intelligence” or “knowledge.” Source: Wikipedia
I believe that in order for us to cherish our knowledge about health, we need to know where to access information about living healthy lifestyles. Here are a few links:
- National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
- Men’s Health Stats via Movember Canada
- Health Canada – First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health
- Canada’s Food Guide – First Nations, Inuit & Metis
- National Collaborating Centre For Aboriginal Health (NCCAH)
If you decide not to sign up online…
If you decide not to sign up online for Good Mo’s Anywhere – please let me know by email (warren@siouxhudsonliteracy.com) that you are participating so I can keep you up to date on the health literacy information we put together.
