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Cultural Worker

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Phone (204) 727-1407   

 FAX (204) 726-0902

e-mail - frank_tacan@live.ca

Frank Tacan stands beneath the teepee at Brandon's city hall. (Sam Samson/CBC)

I am an Indigenous, I'm one of Creator's Children

My Creator, today let me remember the reason I'm here on Mother Earth. Let me look into my own eyes and see the beauty you have created. Let me have good thoughts. Being Indigenous is not the color of my skin. Being Indigenous is to listen to my heart, to think only the things you have taught., to watch nature and live in prayer, to talk to you constantly during the prayer, to talk to you constantly during the day. Being Indigenous is to act and to walk in a sacred way.


 Cultural Worker/Advisor/Elder

"As a traditional healer / Elder, I know the teaching of the Dakota Culture and I am committed to sharing what I know for the good of the people when I am asked and I help them the best way I know how. Elders don't work by the hour, minutes or seconds; they do their work from the heart in order to help the people. They do not work or help people for money, they do it because they care, love, and respect the person's emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well being and health. When people come to see me for a specific problem or when families are dealing with a chronic illness or the passing of a loved one, these are times when a pipe ceremony or smudging is needed. Sharing and healing circles will also provide a source of support for patients and families.

Ceremonies

The ceremonies build strength, support healing and give balance to people:

  • Smudging Ceremonies
  • Inipi (sweat lodge) Ceremonies
  • Spirit Name Giving Ceremonies
  • Sun Dance Ceremonies
  • Spiritual Healing Ceremonies
  • Offerings that may be needed when requesting ceremonies:
  • Prayer cloth offering
  • Tobacco offering
  • Spirit plate offering

Counselling

In order to guide the person, the cultural worker/advisor/Elder looks at the following aspects:

  • Emotional Cultural Counseling
  • Spiritual Counseling
  • Mental Life Counseling
  • Physical Counseling
  • Spiritual Counseling
  • Life Counseling

Working Together

Doctors, Chaplains, and Native Elders have different ways of healing people. Spiritual healers and medicine people pray for the patient and ask the spiritual guides to assist in finding the sickness and pain within the person. This is how they determine what medicine they will give the patient, whether it is herbal medicine, counseling, spiritual guidance or by conducting a special ceremony for that person. By working together we would provide the best care possible for the patients. Respect from doctors, nurses and other staff for Native ways of healing is essential for an elder to be able to carry out their responsibilities as a helper. Respect and value the gifts that are given to Elders and medicine people. Care givers can provide support for Elders by letting patients know that the Elder is available.

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