Project: Indigenous Spiritual Biography as the Matrix for Reconciliation

By Shane Patterson, 1st year MDP student

Hau mitakiyapi, iyuha chante waste nape chiyuzapi-Greeting my relatives, I greet you all with a heartfelt handshake. My name is Shane Patterson and I come from the original lands of the Ihanktowan Oyate also known as the Yankton Dakota reservation. I am part of the Seven Council Fires of the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota speaking people. Our Ihanktowan Tribe are known as the ‘People of the End Village’ identified as the band that stood at the eastern doorway in the camp. I have resided in Canada for the last 20 plus years obtaining dual citizenship in 2010. I was adopted by my tanke Katherine Whitecloud and into the Whitecloud tiwahe through a hunka ceremony. This hunka ceremony spiritually and culturally connects to the community of Wipazoka Wakpa also known as Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

This year I connected with Dr. Mark Ruml building a relationship with him as a mentor while in the MDP program. Dr. Ruml has given me the opportunity to work on a research project titled ‘Indigenous Spiritual Biography as the Matrix for Truth and Reconciliation.

This project examines spiritual biographies and teachings of Indigenous healers as well as spiritual leaders as part of the matrix for reconciliation. It focuses on documenting the spiritual biographies of well-known Indigenous healers and spiritual leaders. Throughout the summer, Dr. Ruml and I have been conducting video interviews healers and spiritual leaders within Winnipeg and southern Manitoba. The project goal is to interview 100 healers and spiritual leaders. Some activities I have been involved with are: scheduling interviews, collaborating, and facilitating interviews, transcribing, presentations, networking, taking ethics training, and attending sundances. These activities provided insight on the usage of audio and video equipment that were required for usage of the project.

Shane and Mark Ruml

This research grew out of a book project that the late Don Daniels, from Long Plain First Nation, and Dr. Ruml were collaborating on: "Don Daniels: The Life and Teachings of an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Healer." This research project examines the spiritual biography and teachings of Indigenous healers and spiritual leaders. Documenting the spiritual biography of well-known Indigenous healers, spiritual leaders, and those who have embraced Indigenous spirituality is an act of reconciliation itself. It values their life story and the significant contributions that they have made to the survival of their people and to Canadian society.

The project uses an Indigenous advisory circle to ensure that the research is conducted in a culturally respectfully approach. This project has been thoroughly rewarding and enriching especially listening to Indigenous knowledge keepers who have doing amazing and wonderful work at the community level. I will continue being apart of interviews, being apart of the Indigenous Advisory Circle, and supporting the research project with the continued guidance of Dr. Ruml.