Another successful month of wellness

As November soon draws to a close, so will Spirit of Wellness month, the longstanding annual tradition of checking in on oneself and community, through community activities but also by adopting habits or ideas to improve wellbeing.

“It’s not just about these workshops and activities, and yes, those are all good, and there’s many benefits that come from it, but it’s about keeping it simple too, and being holistic at home,” said Adam Delisle, a prevention worker for Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) that was one of three organizers for Spirit of Wellness, along with Adrienne Zachary and Kanaieshon Delaronde.

Delisle said that that sort of mindset came through some of what was included on the activity calendar shared by KSCS, which includes suggestions to “Text a friend, even just to say kwe,” “spend time in nature,” “take the first step in something you’re putting off,” and “spend time with loved ones.”

“The little battles, sometimes, are the most rewarding, and we seem to forget that. That’s what we’ve tried to emphasize a little bit,” said Delisle.

That does not mean the myriad of activities on offer in November, like spin classes, traditional crafts, physical activities at the Kahnawake Youth Center (KYC), and free tours of Kahnawake, to name but a few, have not been worth including.

Delisle said the large variety of what is on offer for Spirit of Wellness every year is meant as a way to include as many people as possible.

“The community is a very diverse place,” said Delisle.

“I’ve heard it from the many trades that I’ve worked in prior to being a prevention worker, is that there’s no place like Kahnawake, it is a standalone community. It’s built on a foundation that comes from many different types of backgrounds.”

That variety has worked well, with participation across the different activities being good, Delisle said.

He said that he and the rest of the organizing team have received a lot of positive feedback about the activities offered, including much of it for the “Family Lego Building” last Saturday, which was a calmer event where one could spend time with close family doing a calmer activity.

One specific piece of feedback Delisle got is from a mother in the community, who brought her son and was able to spend time one on one with him with out the big spectacle and crowds that often come with community events in Kahnawake.

“She really appreciated, and in turn, he appreciated that fact, without it being spoken out loud,” said Delisle.

“That was, an accomplishment in and of itself, because that’s the spirit of the whole thing.”

Another activity that was well received was the free tours every Monday in November, done by Kahnawake Tourism.

“Learning about one’s own community is deeply important for overall wellness. It supports several interconnected aspects of wellbeing such as identity and belonging, cultural confidence and pride, healing and reconciliation, community cohesion, mental and emotional wellness and empowerment,” said Jordan Diabo, the tours coordinator for Kahnawake tourism.

“Taking the time to learn where we come from strengthens identity, fosters healing, and reminds us that there is always more to discover about our own community. You never know what you don’t know, even about the place you call home.”

She said that while the tours did not differ that much from what is usually offered, each tour is unique by the people in it, the questions asked, and what they are interested in learning.

“For instance, when we welcome young elementary students, we focus on topics that resonate with them, such as traditional medicines, our clan systems, and stories like Sky Woman,” said Diabo.

There are still a few activities left in the last days of November, with a workshop called “Lunch & Learn - Trauma Response” today (Friday) at 11 a.m. at the Golden Age Club, a spin class at Dynamic Fitness from noon to 1 p.m. today, as well as the holiday parade tomorrow in the late afternoon, with the inclusion hour starting at 4:30 p.m.

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