THE SEVEN GRANDFATHER TEACHINGS: COMBINING INDIGENOUS TEACHINGS WITH HEALTH AND WELLNESS PRACTICES

Abstract

The Seven Grandfather Teachings, (Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth), are traditional Anishinaabe cultural teachings that promote living a good life (Kading et al. 2019). Using these and other Indigenous methodologies, this thesis describes a framework or system that allows people to build a culturally respectful health or wellness journey. I argue that health and wellness practices can be a path to reclaiming the connection between our bodies, minds, and culture. While settler colonialism and the commercialization of the health and wellness industry create health inequities, we can disrupt this cycle by combining Indigenous knowledge, traditional movement practices, and modern health and wellness practices. Part of disrupting health inequities requires us to examine how we can increase accessibility for people of different levels of wealth, experience, and ability. In this thesis, I discuss ways that tribes and individuals can lower barriers of entry to health and wellness practices. By creating wellness centers, we can create spaces that we can move, learn, and conduct ceremonies in. The core of this thesis is the use of scalability to create sustainability while reconnecting with our bodies, minds, and culture. By creating a framework that is rooted in cultural teachings, we can create a system that is adaptable to individuals and tribal communities alike. I will give examples of how to create your own wellness plans using the Seven Grandfather Teachings. I also provide a layered approach to creating your own wellness centers.