Participating in indigenous ceremony: journeys that lead to healing

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Date
2019-07
Authors
Murdock, Nellie Elizabeth A
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Abstract

Ceremonial journeys of Indigenous people are a way to their healing. This Master of Social Work - Indigenous Knowledge research listens to eight participants who shared their ceremonial journeys through talking circles and individual interviews. Eight participants who stated, “We will share our stories” and “We want our voices heard”. Through the stories of their journeys three main themes came to light. They are decolonization, faith and family. Decolonizing became evident as their stories unfolded and they expressed how attending Indigenous cultural ceremonies changed their lives. The theme of faith, believing in the Creator and in their ancestors, became a consistent and constant theme as they shared journeys of attending ceremonies. As the participants learned for themselves how to heal, how to move forward in their own lives, and how living life using their own Indigenous culture in circles of sharing, caring and respect changed their lives around, and as they began to see a brighter happier future for themselves, sharing this knowledge with their families becomes increasingly important. As social workers working in the system of social welfare and valuing self-realization of all people, we need to identify the social injustices of the continued oppression of Indigenous families and their rights to apply their traditional customs as catalysts to healing. The challenges for social work practice and policies are threefold; first, accepting Indigenous ceremony and understanding culture changes lives for the better, secondly, supporting those who choose Indigenous ways in their healing, and thirdly, recognizing the long term and life style benefits to children and their families.

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Indigenous people, Ceremony, Healing, Faith, Spirituality
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