Our Episode 3 begins as it often ends with a look what it means to honestly assess how we are, looking at all parts of our lives with a reminder that “we don’t need to always work”, (02:45). Dani and Marion are joined by Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos. (04:54) Jeffery is of Cree descent, and a Professor at U of T in the area of Indigenous Health and Social Policy and the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Studies of Health. He is a practicing Psychologist and an author of books for young people. (05:46) Jeffrey talks about his mother’s influence as an educator and his desire to serve his people even as he learned that the fields of healthcare were not designed to serve Indigenous communities. (09:02) Marion and Dani relate to the difficulty of trying to fit into systems not built for you, and how this feels harmful. (12:50) They discuss trying to decolonize these spaces and that sometimes breaking up and restarting relationships with work is necessary. Jeffrey has learned that his justice work often brings him to places of harm (14:57) yet he believes in fighting for the things we love, but that fighting must be matched with rest (16:11). Marion describes the generational attitudes towards work and rest (18:09), how that is changing in her family, and how important it is to have agency to define what works and what doesn’t in our lives. (20:02) Marion and Jeffrey have a deep discussion around hope. Jeffrey has serious concerns about how, in particular, Indigenous youth in his work, (21:46) contend with inaction around racial and environmental inequality, climate change and water access while trying to live a good life (25:00). Marion sees how breaking down these issues and dealing with things within our control (25:53) by organizing and working in governance (26:08) can make them less overwhelming and help find balance. Jeffrey speaks honestly about the question of hope with regard to his work with young people and their mental health. (28:33) WARNING: From 00:30:00 to 01:08:20, Jeffrey, Dani and Marion talk frankly about their experiences with suicide – either personally or with family or with patients. Jeffrey explains that the suicide information (31:22) regarding Indigenous communities is not understood, interpreted or reported accurately – and he tells us the truth around this information. Jeffrey, in his work, tries to show the bigger context contributing to suicide and the longer story contributing to these struggles. (33:05) And he shares a different approach to suicide prevention, which Marion suggests should include sharing, giving, bringing back the sense of community, looking after each other and all that involves (42:26). The conversation turns deeply spiritual as they consider Dani’s question about the line between a death chosen freely and a death shaped by inequity (44:20). Both Jeffrey and Marion share the comfort found in their Indigenous beliefs, values and traditions around death and dying, (46:40), and how MAiD offer a chance to think deeply about dying well and supporting people with dignity at the end of their life. Jeffrey talks about the spiritual journey (54:43) that people often go on as they think about suicide and death, and how we might view suicidal distress not as failure, but as a profound search for meaning. Asking what makes life have purpose, where you belong, and in what relationships, can be a spiritual awakening and offer hope. This is the same for MAiD (55:55). He suggests that looking at these questions and decisions as a matter of spiritual care – and what it means to be an ancestor (56:24) and become part of the stories in our culture – would deepen our health care practice. (56:40) Marion reflects on her own decision to choose MAiD and the clarity and agency it gave her. Dani revisits her teen experiences with suicidal thoughts through this new spiritually focused lens. Jeffrey shares that walking alongside someone as they ask questions about what it means to live a good life (59:58) alters how we respond and navigate suicide, chronic illness, loss, and grief (1:00:40). Together, they ask: What do we want to pass on to future generations? What would it look like if our health systems offered the same unconditional, generous love to someone nearing death—or considering suicide—as we offer a newborn entering the world? (01:08:20) Throughout this episode, Marion and Dani return to the power of family, community, culture, language, and ceremony - from redefining rest as resistance, to being grounded in the strength of Indigenous teachings and values around death and dying, to contending that hope must be matched with organizing, with real political and social action. For young people and caregivers alike, Jeffrey offers a simple, radical invitation: Imagine yourself into a future that needs you, take one small step at a time, keep talking until you are heard, allow people to show up for you, and when they do, hold fast to them – and remember, you have strong medicine. At the heart of this episode is a gentle but urgent message: self-care is mandatory, healing is communal, and our hardest conversations can become the doorway to deeper love, relationships, and life. Health Resources: Suicide Crisis Line: 988 988.ca Hope For Wellness Hotline: 1-855-242-3310 https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ Wisepractices.ca Reading Resources: Jeffrey Ansloos Thunder and the Noise Storms: https://www.strongnations.com/gs/show.php?gs=3&gsd=8680The Medicine of Peace: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/books/the-medicine-of-peace?srsltid=AfmBOorN6SUQVaFtqh7ZwrDPeO5J4Tn_uZnlSSNOhIaK2Dtfr9mI1GjD Deb McGregor Anishinaabeg Creation Stories: http://www.silvafor.org/assets/silva/PDF/DebMcGregor.pdf & https://muskratmagazine.com/teachings-from-the-muskrat/ Episode Guide: 0:00:00 – Content warning & land acknowledgement0:01:15 – Check‑in: work, slowing down & redefining “enough”0:04:05 – Introducing Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos0:04:45 – Roles, research & children’s books0:05:52 – Justice, racism & how Jeffrey found this path0:10:49 – Fitting into systems not built for you0:13:16 – Matching your fight with your rest0:20:02 – Climate crisis, environmental racism & youth futures0:25:04 – Hope, organizing & protecting young people from overwhelm0:27:50 – Hope vs. political inaction0:30:50 – Youth suicide in Indigenous communities: risk & resilience0:33:27 – Systems, economy & broader suicide prevention0:34:43 – MAiD, agency & inequitable access to care0:36:32 – Marion’s MAiD decision & clarity at end of life0:42:32 – Autonomy, inequity & Indigenous concepts of good life0:48:25 – Indigenous strengths in death and dying0:50:18 –
