15 Living a Balanced Life
Part 1: Balance
You will be introduced to the concept of wellness from an Indigenous framework.
The instructor will ask you to watch the two following videos:
The Preservation Project (Jul 15, 2019). What is the Medicine Wheel? Teachings by Jeff Ward. YouTube video.
TedX Talks (Sept. 8, 2014). Living in a circular life|Dallas Arcand| TEDxYYC https://youtu.be/niRs_VIqzYU
One word that keeps being repeated in both videos is “balance.” One way to live in balance in self-care.
Discuss self-care.
- What is self-care?
- What are ways you can practice self-care?
Part 2: Multiple Intelligences
You will reflect on your personal strengths and potentially identify strategies that could help you learn new material.
Last part, we watched the video of Champion Hoop Dancer, and he said he has found his “gift”. We all have gifts.
- Why is it important to identify your strengths? How can you do that?
- Do you think there are different ways of being intelligent?
Watch 4 minutes video to begin. Practical Psychology. (April 2, 2016). 8 Intelligences – Theory of Multiple Intelligences Explained – Dr. Howard Gardner.
Take the following quiz:
Find Out About Your Multiple Intelligences
Government of Canada. (Last modified July 5, 2022). Job Bank. Find out about your multiple intelligences. Retrieved July 20, 2022 from Career Quiz Multiple intelligences – Job Bank
Part 3: The Benefits of Sleep
You will reflect on ways to take care of your physical well-being. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to be productive at school and work.
What are some things that disrupts the quality of your sleep?
Watch the following video:
National Film Board (2015) NFB Space School – Health – Lesson 5 – Chapter 2 – Sleeping in Space. NFB Space School – Health – Lesson 5 – Chapter 2 – Sleeping in Space by Rohan Fernando, Eva Madden – NFB (oclc.org)
Part 4: The Importance of Water
You will reflect on the importance of water to your physical health and ways you can take care of your physical well-being.
Read the article:
Assembly of First Nations (n.d). Honouring water. Retrieved August 3, 2022 from Honouring Water | Assembly of First Nations (afn.ca)
Watch the video:
NCSA Video Channel. (2015, April 7). People of the land. https://youtu.be/_jxY-khXcO4\
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_jxY-khXcO4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26rel%3D0
Reflect on these questions:
- How would life on earth change without water?
- How can you show water that you respect it?
- How much water do you need to drink daily?
Read the following article:
Government of Canada (Date modified 2021-08-12) Health Promotion: Facts on Fluids: How to stay hydrated. Facts on fluids: How to stay hydrated – Canada.ca
Part 5: Healthy Eating Habits
You will discuss healthy eating and some ideas for making healthier choices while traveling for work.
The following article lists foods that are indigenous to North America:
Food Crops Developed in the Americas
Petruzzello, M. (Invalid Date). 18 Food Crops Developed in the Americas . Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/18-food-crops-developed-in-the-americas
Watch the following video:
Please note – this video uses the term “Indian”, which is a reflection of time period it was made in.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/rice_harvest/embed/player/
Bailey, N. & Lower, B. (1980). Rice harvest. Rice Harvest by Norma Bailey, Bob Lower – NFB
Jot down what you might eat in a typical day. Compare this with what is recommended in the Canada Food Guide
Health Canada. (2007). Eating well with Canada’s Food Guide: First Nations, Inuit and Metis.2007_fnim-pnim_food-guide-aliment-eng.pdf (canada.ca)
- How many servings of each food group do you typically eat in a day?
- How does this compare with the recommendations for your gender and age?
Read the following article on healthy eating at work
Government of Canada. (Date modified: 2021-07-21). Canada’s Food Guide: Healthy Eating at Work. Healthy eating at work – Canada’s Food Guide
Read the following case study:
You are traveling for work and won’t be home for four days. You will be staying in a hotel and working long hours. Although you will be provided an allowance to purchase your meetings, you notice you tend to feel tired if you eat to much restaurant food. Create some tips for eating on the road: in your hotel room, in the restaurants and for packed lunches.
Your hotel serves breakfast and you have a fridge but no microwave.
Discuss your plan with a partner.
Part 6: Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects many Indigenous peoples. You may have diabetes or have family or friends who do.
Watch the film: National Film Board – The Gift of Diabetes
*Trigger warning
Please note there are reference to events resulting in historical trauma: wounded knee, alcoholism, residential schools etc.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/gift_of_diabetes/embed/player/
Whitford, B. & Paskievich, J. (2005). The gift of diabetes. National Film Board.
Part 7: Physical Fitness
Attending to one’s physical fitness can improve quality of life on a daily basis, including on the job. Thinking about how to incorporate time for fitness in your schedule contributes to a balanced life.
- What are the physical requirements for your chosen career? Is there a lot of standing, stretching, carrying?
- Do you think you are currently getting sufficient exercise for your chosen career? Why or why not?
- What are the benefits of including fitness in your week?
Public Health Agency of Canada. Tips to get active: Physical activity tips for adults (18-64). 07paap-eng.pdf (canada.ca)
Part 8: Leisure
Part of living a balanced life includes getting the work done, but also participating in activities for the purpose of enjoyment.
Watch the video:
The Five Day Workweek was Made Up
The five-day workweek was made up. what if we changed it? . (2022, Mar 07).[Video/DVD] Washington, D.C.: WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/audio-video-works/five-day-workweek-was-made-up-what-if-we-changed/docview/2637042611/se-2
Part 9: Emotions
Recognizing and expressing emotion is a key component of living a balanced life.
The Seven Grandfather Teachings originate from the Anishnaabe people. This is a video that was made in Manitoba. Some of the video is filmed in the Saulteaux (Anishnaabe, Nakawe) language. Although the seven grandfather teachings originated from the Ojibwe, they are often refered to by other nations now.
As you watch the video, jot down the names of the seven animals along with the teaching they represent.
What are the seven teachings?
- Buffalo – respect
- Eagle – love
- Bear – courage
- Sabe – honesty
- Beaver – wisdom
- Wolf – humbleness
- Turtle – truth
SagkieengCGS (May 16, 2014). Our 7 Ojibway Teachings. YouTube Video. https://youtu.be/sASjfNI_lD0
Discuss
- Do you have any words to add to your brainstormed list of emotions?
- What does it mean to speak from your heart?
- Why is it important to release emotions?
- Does society have different expectations for men and women when it comes to emotions?
Read this paragraph from Richard Wagamese’s novel Keeper ‘N Me. In it, the Elder Keeper is giving advice on balance and emotions:
See, when we get sent out into the world we come here carryin’ two sets of gift. The gifts of the father an’ gifts of the mother. The two human bein’s that made our life. We came here carryin’ those two sets of gifts, each one equal to the other. But sometimes the world gets hold of us and makes us see diff’rent way. We get told as men that we gotta be strong, gotta be fearless. Lotta us start ignorin’ the gifts of our mother. Go through life just using the gifts of the father. Bein’ tough, makin’ our own plans, livin’ in the head. But if you do that you can’t be whole on accounta you gotta use both of them equal setsa gifts to live right, to fill out the circle of your own life. Be complete. Gotta use the mother’s gifts too. Like gentleneess an’ nurturin’, livin’ in the heart (Wagamese, 1994, p. 166).
Part 10: Courage
Sometimes we need courage to try new things, enter new spaces, and make requests assertively.
Opening questions
- What did the bear represent of the seven sacred teachings?
- How do we act with courage?
- Have you heard the statement – “fake it till you make it?”
Watch the following video.
TED (Oct. 1. 2012). Your body language may share who you are | Amy Cuddy. https://youtu.be/Ks-_Mh1QhMc
Discuss
- What is the difference between confidence and arrogance?
- How can the seven sacred teachings guide us?
- Has there ever been a time that you did not request something that you wanted? You did not ask clearly?
Watch the following video:
Speak First (May 20, 2019). 02 Making requests non assertive and assertive examples. YouTube. https://youtu.be/10-TNjdj8E4
Write three headings on paper: professional, academic, or personal life
Brainstorm some requests that you might want to make in each category.
Discuss how you can make requests respectfully.
With a partner, practice making requests assertively.
Part 11: Resiliency
An Indigenous perspective on leadership is that one should give back to the community. This lesson is meant to discuss responsibilities beyond self and to the community as well as provide insight into generating solutions to problems.
TEDx Talks (Jul 14, 2015). Building resilient communites: A moral responsibility | Nick Tilsen | TEDxRapidCity. https://youtu.be/e2Re-KrQNa4
In this movie, Tilsen uses the term Indian, which can often be used by Indigenous peoples when refereing to themselves and is a legal term in Canada (Status Indian, non-Status Indian, Treaty Indian). This video is also an American video, so the history is a bit different, but it also similar. Please note that the creation of the border made this division. Traditionally Indigenous people traveled over vast territories to follow and harvest resources like the buffalo. Borders were created on Turtle Island.
Discuss the following questions:
- What are you initital reactions to the video?
- Why do we need to have an awareness of the past according to Nick Telsen?
- Who encouraged the youth to “stop talking and start doing”?
- What is one change you would like to see in your community?
One example to consider is:
Part 12: Money
Managing money takes time and effort. The way we spend out money is also related to values. Students are often on limited budgets, so thinking of ways to say money can be beneficial.
This lesson makes use of the following book:
ABE Life Literacy Canada (2020). Workbook 1: Spending plans. $Money matters for Indigenous Peoples. ABC-Workbook-1-Spending-Plans.pdf (abcmoneymatters.ca)
Part 13: Time Management
Time management is an important skill to demonstrate at the workplace and as a student.
The following are resources for this lesson.
CBC player. George speaks with author Drew Hayden Taylor about writing his Ojibwe heritage, and how he’s used humour to deal with racism. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1984856967/
I Don’t Have Time for ‘Indian Time’
Drew, H. T. (1999, Jun 11). I don’t have any time for ‘indian time’ reader forum: [1 edition]. Toronto Star Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/i-dont-have-any-time-indian-reader-forum/docview/437959705/se-2
Dartmouth. Time management tips. Retrieved July 26, 2022 from Time Management Tips | Academic Skills Center (dartmouth.edu)
