Indigenous Medicine Stories: Anishinaabe mshkiki nwii-dbaaddaan

Darrel Manitowabi

Indigenous Medicine Stories Podcast is a collaboration between AMS Healthcare and the Jason A. Hannah Chair in the History of Indigenous Health and Indigenous Traditional Medicine at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University. Indigenous Medicine Stories aims to educate health professionals and the public about Indigenous healing. The podcast will highlight the lived experiences of Indigenous Knowledge holders, healers, and Elders and help professionals who practice Indigenous healing. Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples held a knowledge system of wellness, healing, and medicine. Colonial processes such as Treaties, the Reserve system, the Indian Act of Canada, Residential Schools, child welfare policies, racism, discrimination, and excluding Indigenous healing in Western biomedicine and education have attempted to erase this knowledge system. Furthermore, until recently, the health education professions have played a role by excluding Indigenous knowledge from the curriculum. Also known as Anishinaabe mshkiki nwii- dbaaddaan ("I'm going to talk about Indigenous medicine") in Anishinaaabemowin, medicine stories explore the perseverance and holism of Indigenous well-being and healing practices through the lived experiences of practitioners. About AMS Healthcare Our work advances a Canadian healthcare system through innovation and technology while remaining rooted in compassion and our medical history. We convene networks, develop leaders, and fund crucial medical history, healthcare research, education, and clinical practice activities. Our work helps improve care for all Canadians. For more information, contact Anne Avery at Anne.Avery@amshealthcare.ca. About the Jason A. Hannah Chair. Through a permanent endowment, the Jason A. Hannah Chairs teach the history of medicine in healthcare education. Dr. Darrel Manitowabi is the inaugural Hannah Chair in the History of Indigenous Health and Indigenous Traditional Medicine at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, Sudbury Campus. His research in the history of Indigenous health situates the place of the Anishinaabe language and knowledge in conceptualizing holistic well-being and ill health. For more information, contact Dr. Darrel Manitowabi at dmanitowabi@nosm.ca

  1. JAN 14

    Conversations from the Southwestern Ontario First Nations & Inuit Cultural Practitioner Gathering

    This episode features Liz Akiwenzie, Dr. Nicole Redvers, Pam Plain, Joanne Jackson, Glenna Jacobs, Toni Murphy, and R. Doug George, recorded at the Southwestern Ontario First Nations and Inuit Cultural Practitioner Gathering. Liz Akiwenzie was raised in Chippewa of Nawash and lives in southwestern Ontario. She is Ojibway on her father's side and Oneida on her mother's side. Her spirit names are Nistangekwe (Understanding Woman) in Ojibway and Day^ya yut do La doe (She Who Reasons and Sees Both Sides) in Oneida. With over 40 years of learning in cultural ways of being, she is recognized as a Knowledge Keeper and Cultural Educator, supporting healing, education, and reconnection for individuals, families, and communities. Dr. Nicole Redvers is a member of the Denı́nu Kų́ę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories and serves as Associate Professor, Western Research Chair, and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at Western University. She works nationally and internationally to advance Indigenous perspectives in human and planetary health research and practice. Nicole is the author of The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles. Pam Plain, spirit name White Cedar Bark Woman, is Anishinaabe from Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Eagle Clan. She holds a Master of Social Work and has worked since 2006 in trauma, grief, child welfare, and mental health, grounding her practice in Indigenous worldviews and Two-Eyed Seeing. Since retiring in 2022, she offers private counselling and consulting services rooted in holistic and culturally based healing. Joanne Jackson is Eagle Clan from Kettle & Stony Point First Nation and has spent many years learning from Elders and traditional healers. She is entrusted to conduct Indigenous healing practices and ceremonies and provides cultural teachings to support wellness journeys. Joanne holds a Master's degree in Social Work and has over 30 years of experience in counselling, crisis work, and community healing. Glenna Jacobs is Ojibway and Pottawatomi from Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island), of the Crane Clan, with the Anishnaabe name Soaring Eagle Woman. Her lifelong journey in cultural healing, social work, and traditional practices led her to create community-based and private healing programs supporting Indigenous wellness. She now operates Nookmis Path to Reconnection, guiding individuals through trauma release and spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. Toni Murphy is a Registered Nurse from Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island) and a lifelong advocate for Indigenous community health and well-being. She is President of the Southwest Home & Community Care Network Association, supporting healthcare services across more than 40 First Nations communities. Toni serves as a bridge between Indigenous and Western healthcare systems, embodying the principles of Two-Eyed Seeing. R. Doug George is Potawatomi/Chippewa from Kettle & Stony Point First Nation and serves as Senior Program Manager of Traditional Healing at SOAHAC. With over 20 years of experience, he supports Anishnaabe wellness through culturally grounded healing programs and community engagement. Doug is dedicated to strengthening connections between traditional knowledge and contemporary healthcare in support of balance and reconciliation. amshealthcare.ca

    42 min
  2. 09/17/2025

    Justice, Healing, and Culture w/ Vincent Pawis

    This episode features Vincent Pawis ('Vince'), an Elder of Shawanaga First Nation. He founded White Buffalo Healing Lodge in 2005 when he served as a Native Inmate Liaison Officer at the Sudbury Jail. Vince was instrumental in founding its Elder Assisted Aboriginal Circle Parole Hearings, a program allowing offenders to be heard in a setting that reflects their values and traditions in their rehabilitation. Counselling work with offenders begins from the point of incarceration to subsequent preparation for parole hearings. Subsequently, White Buffalo's structured programs prepare parolee clients for release with aftercare programs, employment, training, and community integration. At-risk youth also engage in counselling sessions, workshops, healing circles and sweat lodge ceremonies. This commitment to the ongoing health and well-being of White Buffalo's clients has drastically reduced the recidivism rate among parolees. In recognition of his work and benefit to communities at large, Vince was presented with the Minister's Award for Exceptional Achievements in Corrections. He was later appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province's highest honour for his contributions to law and culture and subsequently was awarded the Governor General of Canada Meritorious Service Medal for restoring pride and self-confidence in the community by promoting positive lifestyle changes of its members through connection with cultural heritage. Watch behind the scenes video of this episode https://whitebuffaloroad.com/ https://amshealthcare.ca/

    45 min
  3. 06/11/2025

    A Gathering at St. Joseph's Care Group

    This episode features Ron Linklater, Brenda Mason, Randy Sewap, Dieter Sainnawap, and Nelly Mesenegeeshik, who were all participants in an Elders and Healers Gathering hosted by St. Joseph's Care Group in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Ron Linklater is a respected Knowledge Keeper and educator dedicated to sharing traditional teachings and supporting community wellness. With decades of experience in Indigenous education, Ron brings a grounded, compassionate presence to conversations about healing, cultural identity, and the importance of reconnecting to the land and ceremony. Brenda Mason is a passionate community healer and advocate for Indigenous wellness and mental health. With a background in grassroots support and cultural work, Brenda brings insight into intergenerational healing, trauma recovery, and the strength of Indigenous kinship and caregiving practices. Randy Sewap is a Traditional Knowledge Carrier and mentor committed to uplifting Indigenous youth through teachings, land-based learning, and cultural resilience. He draws from ancestral knowledge and lived experience to guide others on their healing journeys and to foster pride in Indigenous identity. Dieter Sainnawap is a dedicated language advocate and cultural facilitator working to revitalize Indigenous languages and support cross-generational learning. Through his work, Dieter promotes the power of language as a vessel of spirit, history, and healing, connecting people to their roots and to each other. Nelly Mesenegeeshik is a deeply respected Elder and Keeper of Traditional Knowledge. Her teachings center on the land, the spirit, and the ancestral wisdom passed down through generations. Nelly's presence offers gentle strength and clarity, encouraging reconnection with Indigenous lifeways and the sacredness of community. https://sjcg.net/services/Indigenous-Relations/health.aspx http://amshealthcare.ca/

    1h 8m
  4. 05/14/2025

    Finding the Way Forward w/ Fred Kelly

    This episode features Fred Kelly, a respected Anishinaabe Elder from the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario. A survivor of the Indian Residential School system, Kelly has dedicated his life to healing, advocacy, and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. He was a key figure in the negotiation and implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, and has worked extensively as a spiritual advisor, mediator, and educator. With decades of experience in leadership, both at the grassroots and national levels, Fred Kelly continues to be a vital voice in truth and reconciliation efforts. His commitment to traditional knowledge, Indigenous sovereignty, and intergenerational healing has inspired communities across Turtle Island. Disclaimer: This episode contains content that may be distressing to some listeners. It includes discussions of sexual abuse, assault, and the traumatic experiences of survivors of residential schools. We recognize the deep pain these stories carry and encourage you to prioritize your well-being while listening. If you or someone you know is impacted by this content, we urge you to seek support.  These stories are shared with permission and in the spirit of truth-telling, healing, and honoring the voices of survivors. Support Resources (Canada) National Residential School Crisis Line Available 24/7 for survivors and their families 📞 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness Help Line Mental health counseling and crisis intervention for all Indigenous peoples across Canada 📞 1-855-242-3310 💬 Chat online Talk4Healing Confidential support for Indigenous women, available in multiple languages 📞 1-855-554-HEAL (4325) 🌐 https://www.talk4healing.com Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) Services for survivors, including counseling and health support 🌐 https://www.irsss.ca Kids Help Phone For youth in need of immediate support, available 24/7 📞 1-800-668-6868 💬 https://kidshelpphone.ca Sexual Assault Support Services (by region) Search for local support centers across Canada 🌐 https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres

    57 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Indigenous Medicine Stories Podcast is a collaboration between AMS Healthcare and the Jason A. Hannah Chair in the History of Indigenous Health and Indigenous Traditional Medicine at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University. Indigenous Medicine Stories aims to educate health professionals and the public about Indigenous healing. The podcast will highlight the lived experiences of Indigenous Knowledge holders, healers, and Elders and help professionals who practice Indigenous healing. Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples held a knowledge system of wellness, healing, and medicine. Colonial processes such as Treaties, the Reserve system, the Indian Act of Canada, Residential Schools, child welfare policies, racism, discrimination, and excluding Indigenous healing in Western biomedicine and education have attempted to erase this knowledge system. Furthermore, until recently, the health education professions have played a role by excluding Indigenous knowledge from the curriculum. Also known as Anishinaabe mshkiki nwii- dbaaddaan ("I'm going to talk about Indigenous medicine") in Anishinaaabemowin, medicine stories explore the perseverance and holism of Indigenous well-being and healing practices through the lived experiences of practitioners. About AMS Healthcare Our work advances a Canadian healthcare system through innovation and technology while remaining rooted in compassion and our medical history. We convene networks, develop leaders, and fund crucial medical history, healthcare research, education, and clinical practice activities. Our work helps improve care for all Canadians. For more information, contact Anne Avery at Anne.Avery@amshealthcare.ca. About the Jason A. Hannah Chair. Through a permanent endowment, the Jason A. Hannah Chairs teach the history of medicine in healthcare education. Dr. Darrel Manitowabi is the inaugural Hannah Chair in the History of Indigenous Health and Indigenous Traditional Medicine at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, Sudbury Campus. His research in the history of Indigenous health situates the place of the Anishinaabe language and knowledge in conceptualizing holistic well-being and ill health. For more information, contact Dr. Darrel Manitowabi at dmanitowabi@nosm.ca

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