Medicine Wheel: Healing and Reconciliation as Social Justice

Sr. Priscilla Solomon explores how the aboriginal sense of social justice begins with understanding the need for right relationships -- in families, communities and country.

Materials

Videos:

“Program Six - Medicine Wheel as Social Justice"

Documents:

“Directions in Aboriginal Ministry”
Building Bridges Project/ Newman College, Edmonton Alberta

“The Story of Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality”
Chapter 3, World Religions: A Canadian Catholic Perspective
By Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ
Novalis Publishing Inc. and Nelson Education Ltd. 2011

"Medicine Wheel: A Method of Reading the Bible"
By +Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
Publisher TBA

“Drumming from Within: Tales of Hope and Faith from Canada's North.”
By +Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
Novalis Publishing Inc. 2009

"Faith Moments: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha"
By Anne Neuberger. Novalis 2009

Websites:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Click Here

Canadian Bishops on Saint Kateri Click Here

Canadian Bishops on Canadian Indigenous Peoples Click Here

Salt and Light TV video on Saint Kateri Click Here

Jesuits of English Canada on Saint Kateri Click Here

Catholic Missions in Canada Click Here

Background on Fr. Joseph Cardijn Click Here

Based on a talk by Romeo Maione on centenary of Cardijin’s death in Melbourne, Australia November, 1982, edited December 1993

Saint Kateri Resources
compiled by
Religious Education + Family Life
Renfrew County Catholic School Board Click Here

 

Study Guide

Goal

The goal of Program Six is to deepen students’ understanding of how Catholic Aboriginal leaders view issues of social justice through the prism of medicine wheel teachings. With reflections from Sr. Priscilla Solomon, CSJ, Ojibway First Nation, Sister of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie; Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI, Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas (2005-12), Founding Chair, Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops; Rosella Kinoshameg, Odawa First Nation, Member, Aboriginal Council, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ, Ojibway First Nation, Sister of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie, Executive Director, Building Bridges Project.

Steps

1. Show the internet TV video "Program Six: Medicine Wheel as Social Justice"

2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following impressions from the video:

  • Who are the Aboriginal speakers speaking in the video and what are their main thoughts?
  • Who are the non-Aboriginal speakers speaking in the video and what are their main thoughts?
  • What did you know after viewing the video that you didn’t know before?
  • Give three reasons why Canadian Catholics should support the work of the Building Bridges Project.
  • From this video, describe a difference between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal concepts about social justice and how this might make a difference in how one tries to deepen one’s faith life.

3. Option for Take-Home Assignment

  • Look up and read on internet; “Colonization and Racism - Aboriginal Perspectives”. What new information do you find about aboriginal peoples and social justice?
  • Via the Internet find more facts about the plight of Canada’s First Nations living on reserves and in the cities.
  • From the video, how do you think Aboriginal approaches to social justice might help First Nations people living in poverty.
  • In groups, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above.