Introducing... #WELLFORBABY
Introducing… #WELLFORBABY — a new series of wellness content catered to families, parents, babies, and all who are interested in a better future for our sacred little ones.
Our baby girl in her cradleboard. Photo by Thosh.
Now that we’re parents, we have a whole new understanding of the purpose of wellness. At its core, it’s all about our babies, our youth, and the future of our world for Indigenous communities and all people alike. In the past year, throughout our pregnancy and the first 5 months of our baby’s life, we have learned a tremendous amount of new health and wellness information which pertains to the whole family. We want to share these teachings with you.
#WellForBaby is a new series of content that we will be publishing on the Well For Culture blog. Here, we will cover a ton of health and wellness topics from the perspective of parents. We’ll be sharing things like Indigenous midwifery resources; information on breastfeeding; tips for family wellness; pregnancy fitness; postpartum health; fatherhood; baby food; and so much more.
If you have any specific questions about anything that pertains to prenatal, postpartum, baby, children, or family wellness, get in touch, and we will try to address this at some point. Thanks for listening, learning, and helping us to create a better future through Indigenous wellness.
Chelsey & Alo wearing matching ribbon skirts made by grandma Donna at the Indigenous Environmental Network Protecting Mother Earth conference on Nisqually territory. Photo by Tomas Carmelo Amaya aka Tio.
Fitness in Indigenous Languages
Introducing our latest project: WELLNESS in INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES.
Two years ago, we dreamt up an idea. What if we could find a way to incorporate movement, fitness, and language revitalization? Right away, we created a list of critical wellness vocabulary -- words like squat, sobriety, run, and stretch. Then, we thought of all of our friends and colleageus who speak and teach Indigenous languages from communities all around Turtle Island. We began working with them to gather a cache of translations of these words. In the near future, we hope that all nations will have access to teaching tools and vocabulary lists of wellness and fitness words in indigenous languages.
Wellness and indigenous language revitalization are two of the most critical and practical methods of collective healing and strength-building in the indigenous world today. With this in mind, we hope to continue this project in many iterations for many years to come. Soon, we will roll out an entire section of our website dedicated to this topic.
For now, we present to you the first in a series of content that WELL FOR CULTURE will produce regarding FITNESS IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES. This video was done in collaboration with the AMERICAN INDIAN CANCER FOUNDATION.
Through this video, the SEVEN BASIC MOVEMENTS IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES, we are proud to show you how to INDIGENIZE MOVEMENT.
CALL TO ACTION:
Remember that this video is only a sample of what can be done regarding fitness, health, wellness, and languages. In order to showcase regional diversity, we chose four representative languages to use here: Kanien'kéha, Lakhotiyapi, Anishinaabemowin, and O’odhamaj. But there are thousands of indigenous languages, and the project should not stop now. We encourage anyone and everyone in the wellness and language worlds to partner up and create fitness videos in YOUR language! It’s so easy and fun!
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Use this video as a template or base idea, but feel free to add your own creative twist. Upload your videos to social media and represent your nation and language.
HASHTAGS: #wellforculture #indigenousfitness #wellforlanguage #moveindigenous
Media + Wellness Training
Media + Wellness training in Arcata, CA.
These days, effectively sharing and developing messages and teaching tools in the wellness field requires a great deal of media strategy and skill. Utilizing Chelsey's skill set in journalism, writing and video production along with Thosh's teaching tools as a professional photographer, and a combined vision for ethics and intention regarding social media strategy, Well For Culture is now offering Media + Wellness workshops and trainings in conjunction with the Native Wellness Institute.
Our first media + wellness training took place in spring 2017 at United Indian Health Services in Arcata, CA. By the end of the training, each participant had filmed, edited, and produced their very own wellness-oriented tutorial. The participants plan on utilizing what they learned in their respective careers and personal endeavors.
Please watch the video below, and reach out to us if you'd like us to host a media + wellness training in your community. It's a lot of fun!
Revitalizing Language & Health | An interview with Lakota language educator Tipiziwin Tolman
Tipi Tolman is a Lakhota language educator, wife and mother from Standing Rock. In recent years, Tipi has worked to make some big improvements in health and wellness. Read this interview to find out more about the challenges and achievements that Tipi and her family have been through on their wellness journey in the rural Great Plains, and how indigenous language revitalization is intrinsically tied to improvement of family and community health for Native people.
Overcoming barriers to healthy living is no easy task in a place as rural and remote as Standing Rock - but it can be done. Tipiziwin Tolman shares an inspiring story of healing as she walks her wellness path alongside her family, her community, and the Lakota language immersion school where she teaches.
#WellForLakotaLanguage #WellForFamily #WellForStandingRock #WellForCommunity #WellForCulture
Tipiziwin Tolman is passionate about revitalizing the Lakota language and improving the health and wellbeing of her family and community. Photo courtesy The Creative Treatment.
“ Language revitalization and language learning helps our communities reclaim health and happiness in so many ways. It nourishes our spirits and hearts, and heals wounds that have been open and festering for generations. When we are equipped with our language we become powerful and positive forces of energy for our families, our communities and our people.”
Tipi Tolman is a Lakhota language educator, wife, mother, and passionate cultural revitalization advocate from Standing Rock. In recent years, Tipi and her family have worked together to make some big changes to improve the health of their household.
Read this interview to find out more about the challenges and achievements that Tipi and her family have BEEN THROUGH on their wellness journey in the rural great plains, and how indigenous language revitalization is intrinsically tied to improvement of family and community health for Native people.
Tipi’s 13-year-old son was formerly on his way to onset juvenile diabetes, but by cutting out sugary drinks and minimizing processed foods, he has lost 50 lbs and has successfully avoided these health risks.
WFC: Hello, Tipi! Feel free to introduce yourself.
TIPI: My name is Tipiziwin (Yellow Lodge Woman) Tolman. My maiden name is Young. I am the youngest daughter of Phyllis and Pepper Young. I am Wichiyena Dakhota and Hunkpapha Lakhota from Standing Rock. I come from the Skunk, Pretends Eagle, and Yellow Lodge tiospaye of Standing Rock and the Young tiospaye from Spirit Lake.
I was raised in the community of Long Soldier, north of Fort Yates, along the Porcupine Creek, where my parents still live. I am married to T Tolman and together we have five children: Itazipalutaslutela, Ptehewoptuha, Wigiiyaothi, Wanblikunzawin, and Wanapheya. We make our home in Selfridge, ND
WFC: Tell us about your work - we are big fans.
TIPI: My husband and myself both work at the Lakota Language Immersion school located on the Sitting Bull College campus in Fort Yates, ND. I am the lead Lakota language activities instructor in the Lakholiyapi Wahohpi preschool room and my husband is the primary Lakota language instructor of the Wichakini Owayawa K-2 combined classroom. We are both paired with first language fluent speakers of Lakota in both of our classrooms. We are given the great undertaking in guiding our students in the Lakota language in a quality educationally and culturally relevant early childhood learning space. We absolutely love our jobs despite the challenges and obstacles.
See Tipi at work in this fundraising video for the Lakota Language Immersion School. Video courtesy: The Creative Treatment.
WFC: What are you passionate about?
TIPI: I am passionate about my Lakhota and Dakhota language, my family, my children, my home and the early childhood education field, I believe working with young children in language is where real positive change can happen for homes and for our communities.
WFC: Thank you for the work that you and your colleagues are doing! There is plenty of research to prove that the theft of our Native languages has been a massively destructive force to our people in countless ways. On the bright side, we also know that indigenous language revitalization efforts are influencing major holistic health improvements in our communities and creating more promising futures for Native children and families. From your firsthand perspective and experience, please shed some light on how health and language are related.
TIPI: The current state of our communities’ health is directly linked to the state of deterioration that our language is in.
Many generations of our Lakota people, although raised right here in our ancestral homelands, are essentially outsiders, in our own communities’ spaces, our own prayer spaces, without our language.
We have become excluded outsiders (even though we are Lakota in our Lakota homelands) without our language. And so the relearning, the reclaiming and the revitalization of our language is our journey home into the arms of our grandmothers, grandfathers, and all our ancestors where we may have access to the health, the healing and the happiness that our language offers.
In the past ten years, I have been learning about what valuing and learning our tribal language can do for our personal, emotional and spiritual health. Working within Standing Rock’s various tribal language revitalization initiatives I have seen firsthand how the language nourishes individuals and families to a higher level of health and in turn the collective health of our communities are being elevated.
For our language honoring families, language has been the catalyst for healthier homes, in terms of a higher quality of parental engagement in their children’s education and development. It is truly amazing and such a huge honor to be a witness to the revitalization of our language through our children and all the positive things that we continue to experience as we move forward in reclaiming our language for the future generations.
The Tolmans are partners in life and work. Photo courtesy Lakota Language Consortium.
WFC: Describe some of the struggles that you have been through regarding access (or lack thereof) to healthy foods and information about healthy eating.
TIPI: Initially, I believe I was uninformed - totally in the dark - about what certain additives, ingredients, and chemicals were and how they affected me, and after I had children, how they affected my children. When I became an adult, and a relatively young mother, I made the majority of our food choices out of convenience. We ate lots of microwaveable foods, lots of chips, processed meats, sugary drinks, such as strawberry or chocolate milk or sweet tea, and mistakenly believed that it wasn’t pop so it wasn’t too bad for my children.
All of these poor food choices were cheaper than buying fresh fruits or vegetables. We live in a very rural area and the one grocery store is really the only choice that I have unless I want to drive 70 miles north or south to Mobridge, SD or Mandan, ND. So access to a variety of affordable healthy foods is something that just does not exist in our world.
I want to share that I was raised with some restrictions growing up, for example, during our childhood, our mother did not allow us to have sugar, or salt, ketchup or sweetened cereals. We ate lots of vegetables and fruits. So I am blessed in that I was provided an example that I can set healthy boundaries for my children. This is something that I have drawn on as I have become more informed and as I grow older and continue to learn more about how food choices affect our world.
WFC: We know that you have made some big healthy changes in the past few years regarding healthier food for your family. What kinds of changes have you made; what motivated you to do so; and what was your support system along the way?
TIPI: There was definitely a growing awareness of how certain foods and especially sugar affected the students I worked with. And I also have a number of food allergies that are progressively worsening as I age.
My husband as well, has a gamut of food allergies. By far he has been my greatest teacher when it comes to food awareness and healthier food choices. When I married him, I had to become cognizant of the kinds of foods I was eating and cooking. My husband previously worked as a counselor and teacher at a juvenile psychiatric rehabilitation facility and the children he worked with were required to be on a specific nutritionally balanced diet.
He encouraged me to learn more about how certain additives, dyes, and chemicals effect childrens' development. It has been a huge learning journey. My husband also drinks a huge amount of water and he prays with his water, every day. Again, he would encourage me to inform myself (“Google it!”) about the benefits of drinking more water. I can honestly say that in the past three years I have drank more water on a daily basis than I ever have in my whole life. It makes me proud to know that our little family is walking our talk when it comes to our Lakota prayer, “Mni Wichoni”, water is the integral part of every Lakota ceremony and gathering and now in our family and home.
It has been a little over three years of only drinking water, no sugary drinks and limited junk food in our home. We have serious food rules and boundaries for our children in our home, we have the simple rule, “real food, before junk food” – We also only eat during meals, where we all sit and eat together, all which begins with prayer, they are not allowed to snack when they are bored and the food never leaves the kitchen and dining area. We do our best to provide an ample amount of fruits and vegetables for every meal. With our healthier and more informed rules in place, my oldest son, who is now thirteen, lost 48 pounds in the last two years alone. Previously he struggled with the possibility of the onset of juvenile diabetes and all the health risks associated with that disease. By far, seeing my children healthier, happier and more confident in their own bodies is the best part of this learning journey.
Tipi and family are Well For Culture, Well For Lakota Language, and Well For One Another.
WFC: A you seen any differences in your children’s cognitive abilities or behavior since you minimized their sugar intake? Any other unexpected changes?
TIPI: I have seen my six year old son’s hair grow longer and thicker in these past three years. Also his behavior and his ability to make good choices drastically improves when we limit sugar. My daughter, who is eleven years old, makes better and more sound choices when she abstains from sugar as well. I also see similar effects regarding sugar in my students.
WFC: What advice would you give to mothers or parents out there who are hoping to make healthy changes in their households?
TIPI: It is a definite challenge to limit my children's sugar and junk food intake in other spaces other than our home, sometimes at relatives’ homes, our rules are seen as “mean” or “unfair”, we also have specific food protocols in our culture which sometimes go directly against our family expectations, but we face all our challenges with the knowledge that our goal is ultimately the most important and that is, the health of our children.
Also at times it is so tough on the heart, or I feel “bad” for not allowing the children to partake in an excess of sugar in spaces where it is available. Again, the challenges are when we are in spaces other than our home to maintain our rules and restrictions in a respectful manner. We do our best and know it is worth it. I also have moments as a mother when I question, why didn’t I do these things before or earlier or I am ashamed of the poor quality of health I was showing my children in the past, but I am continually learning more and more about taking my role as the navigator of my children to become quality citizens of our family and home, of our Lakota people, of our community and of our world, more seriously. And I believe that on this journey, we are continually learning and doing better.
The most rewarding moments are seeing my children be proud and confident and happy. My oldest son, my chaske, Wanapheya was praised recently by his doctor for his weight loss, the doctor literally hugged him and told him she was so proud of him. The smile on his face was amazing to see. There are many times, in the past couple of months, were our relatives see him and are surprised, or don’t even recognize him. He loves is and we love it, we are so happy for him. Also his dentist recently praised him for his “outstanding” oral health and not having one single cavity, she shared with him how rare that is and encouraged him to keep it up. These moments make it worth it, and serve as a reinforcement to maintain our vision to health. To see my son stand taller and straighter, equipped with knowledge, health, and confidence is just the best and words fail to encapsulate how my heart fills with pride and happiness for him. We are so proud of him.
WFC: At Well For Culture, we are big proponents of living sober lifestyles, as we have seen so many positive changes after becoming drug and alcohol free. How does sobriety impact the health of your household?
TIPI: My husband has never drank alcohol or used or tried any drugs. But as for myself, I used and abused both when I was younger. I tried to deal with grief and some life challenges by self-medicating.
The real catalyst for me into my sobriety has been my job and my role in reclaiming the Lakota language for my communities’ children. Before I had my children and before I had my language, I didn’t take this life seriously. I didn’t honor this one life that Creator gave me. This is one of the lessons I have learned on the journey, how to truly honor this life. All honor and praise goes to Creator and absolutely, this beautiful life could not be possible without sobriety.
Sobriety is the key element in why we are able to have positive blessings, like careers that we love and that directly raise the health for our homelands, beautiful children, a loving and committed partnership and a close relationship with Creator, a safe and beautiful home full of prayer, that my children can be proud of. All of these things would not be possible without a full commitment to sobriety.
My middle son, Wigiiyaothi, said in the past, as he was going to sleep, “ina (mom), in our home, there are no drugs, alcohol, zombies, or bad spirits, only good is allowed here.” And he is right, no matter what, it is never too late to learn a better way of being, especially when it comes to your children.
WFC: Thank you for sharing your wellness journey with us! You have been so informative and such an inspiration. Keep it up!
Talking Movement on "Native America Calling"
We had a great time talking about movement and holistic wellness on Native America Calling along with our inspirational friend Acosia Red Elk and others. It's an AWESOME episode - have a listen!
We love the work that Acosia does to promote healthy lifestyles around Native country. She is an inspiration! Here we are together last summer at a powwow in Oregon.
We were honored to join the discussion on an episode of NATIVE AMERICA CALLING along with our friend/world champion jingle dancer/buti yoga instructor Acosia Red Elk and a few others folks who contributed some great points about movement and exercise.
In this episode, you'll hear a lot about some different philosophies behind why movement and exercise is important, and how you can stick to your lifelong wellness journey (as opposed to short term goals). Remember that wellness and active movement is for EVERYBODY, young and old, rural and urban, all athletic levels.
Listen to the episode HERE.
Thanks for having us, Native America Calling!
Well For Culture "The Cuts" with Sterlin Harjo
We were on Sterlin Harjo's podcast, THE CUTS. It's an awesome conversation where we get really real about indigenous wellness. Give it a listen!
Sterling Harjo has an awesome podcast called "The Cuts" - listen to it!
We had the pleasure of joining our bud/filmmaker/1491 Sterlin Harjo on an episode of his podcast: THE CUTS. Every episode is great - he interviews some really rad folks from around Native country, so you should listen to them all - but if you want to hear a really straightforward, no-holds-bar conversation about some of our thoughts on holistic health and wellness, LISTEN HERE.
Chelsey & Thosh overlooking Oceti Sakowin camp. Photo by Bobby Wilson. (We swear it was actually candid!)
We recorded the interview a few months ago from the Luger housed on the Standing Rock rez. So, we talk a lot about the #NoDAPL situation and how wellness is highly relevant and critical for activist movements. We also break down our thoughts on FRYBREAD, Sterlin helps us convince you, the listener, that healthy food is not gross (thanks Sterlin!), and if you listen through you're gonna hear some juicy snagging gossip too (shameless clickbait).
So, give a listen. Thanks again for having us on the show, Sterlin!
You can find the episode on thecutspodcast.com or in the iTunes podcast app.
Well For Culture on the "Fat Burning Man" Show
Well For Culture co-founder Chelsey Luger just made an appearance on the number one health and wellness podcast in the world: The Fat Burning Man! Check it out!
Well For Culture co-founder Chelsey Luger made an appearance on the number one health and wellness podcast in the world: The Fat Burning Man.
The interview is about 40 minutes long. They discuss indigenized fitness, ancestral eating, spiritual connectedness, holistic wellness, and much more. You can download and listen to it on the Fat Burning Man podcast or you can watch it on YouTube.
We were huge fans of the Fat Burning Man prior to being invited on the show, so needless to say, we are even bigger fans now that they have included Indigenous perspectives to share with their expansive reach in the alt-health world. We *highly* recommend listening to not only Chelsey's interview but to all episodes of the Fat Burning Man, as it is an excellent and well curated resource for holistic health and wellness knowledge.
Thanks so much for listening and sharing! Enjoy!
How To Detox Your Surroundings & Environment
It's time to detoxify your surroundings and your environment... the indigenous way! You won't believe what a difference these tweaks will make in your day-to-day life.
Some of my favorite all-natural or mostly-natural beauty products including two Native-owned lines: "Sailor Girl Soap and Supplies" and "Quw’utsun Made." Photo by Thosh Collins.
Many of us know how important it is to detoxify our bodies by abandoning things like bad foods, alcohol, and drugs. If you’ve taken steps to get rid of any or all of these things, you’re moving in the right direction. But if you’re like most people - even those who are otherwise health conscious - you might be forgetting one of the most important steps toward holistic wellness: detoxifying your surroundings.
Your surroundings or environment includes the air around you, the surface of your hair and skin, and any other thing you come in contact with externally that might be affecting your internal health.
Why is this so important? It’s simple: what surrounds you ends up affecting what’s inside you, whether you realize it or not. For example, many of us use lotions or perfumes on the surface of our skin which contain a slew of hazardous chemicals. Your skin absorbs about 80% of what it comes into contact with. So, if you wouldn’t eat your lotion (or if you know you’d feel sick swallowing a spoonful of it), then why would you put it on your skin?
In the industrialized world, these synthetic chemicals are extremely common. In the past 30 years, more than 100,000 chemicals have been approved for use in the United States alone. And since most of these substances have not been thoroughly tested for potential health effects, we do not know what kind of damage they could be causing our bodies. But experts suspect that various combinations of these toxicants could be contributing to all kinds of issues ranging from depression to developmental disorders to cancer and even Alzheimer’s.
The good news is, more and more companies are making efforts to offer products free from these substances. Better yet, in the Indigenous world, we have access to a wide range of entirely natural plant-based solutions that are totally healthy and safe.
There are three main areas that mainstream health advocates usually consider while cleaning up an individual’s environment: the kitchen, the bathroom, and general household. I would also add a critical fourth step to that which westernized experts tend to forget: your energy. Here’s my guide to a comprehensive Indigenized environmental detoxification.
1- The Kitchen. To clean up your kitchen, start with what your food. Eliminate most things that are packaged and preservative-filled, especially canned food. Canned items are bad for a million reasons, one being that the cans themselves are often coated with BPA (short for “bisphenol,” a chemical which causes hormone disruption). Next: what are you cooking with? You should try to use cast-iron, ceramic, or glass cookware rather than teflon-coated pans, which are carcinogenic. Also, avoid the microwave at all costs: the convenience of the microwave does not outweigh the risks of radiation. Finally, never put hot foods in plastic, and and try to stop using plastic water bottles. Even those labeled BPA-free contain replacement chemicals that are just as harmful as BPA.
2 - The Bathroom. For lotions, skincare and soaps, you might try homemade, food-based formulas. This method is inexpensive, easy, kind of fun, and definitely safe. Some common ingredients for homemade beauty products that you can find at the grocery store include coconut oil, avocado, lemon, and apple cider vinegar. Google away - you’ll find a world of free recipes and ideas out there. My next suggestion is to talk to your parents/grandparents/or other folks who are familiar with plant-based concoctions that are local to your area. These are the best possible ingredients to use for our hair and skin. If our ancestors used it, it’s safe to say it works. The next best option is to purchase an Indigenous-made natural beauty product from a Native-owned operation. If you don’t know any personally, you can take a look at the list ICTMN put together here. Finally, you can also try a natural grocery store or even a mainstream cosmetics store like Sephora. An increasing number of USDA-organic personal care products are available every day. While shopping for the safest products, avoid the following ingredients:
"Fragrance" and "Parfum"
Parabens
Gluten
Aluminum chlorohydrate (deodorant/ antiperspirant)
DEA compounds (found in moisturizers and sunscreen)
Tricoslan and triclocarban (often in antibacterial hand soaps and some toothpastes)
Formaldehyde and formalin (nail polish and nail polish remover)
3 - General Household. Let’s face it - humans aren’t made to spend as much time indoors as we do now. 100 years ago, seasonal allergies were practically nonexistent. Today, nearly 50% of Americans deal with them. As Dr. Charles Eastman (Santee Dakota) once said, “I go into a farmhouse, I immediately begin to sneeze and cough… but the wind goes through the teepee and up the smoke hole.”
All of this is a result of our immune systems having trouble dealing with improper ventilation; dust buildup; chemicals in cleaning products; and countless other toxicants in our paint, our plastics, our furniture and even our beds. I’m not expecting anybody to move into a tipi (though it doesn’t hurt to camp in a tipi or sleep outside from time to time!), but I am suggesting that you clean up the surfaces and air in your household, because you shouldn’t be inhaling or eating chemicals.
You can start by keeping the windows and doors open and the air conditioner off as often as possible. Lots of times the weather doesn’t allow that, so be sure to change your air-conditioning and heating filters every 3-6 months. Avoid things like plug-in air fresheners and room deodorizers. Make sure that you’re not walking around in your house with your shoes on (especially if you live in an urban area!). Keep as many plants in your house as possible - these are natural air purifiers. Make sure it’s a plant that likes the indoors (not all plants will be happy inside but some will enjoy it). Finally, adjust your cleaning products and methods. You can use all-natural solutions like vinegar and citrus fruits, or you can purchase cleaning products from trusted brands with minimal ingredients. You won’t get that bleachy smell that you might associate with cleanliness, but you’ll be saving yourself from illness and will be cleaning just as well. As long as you’re keeping surfaces clean with products that are not labeled “hazardous if ingested,” you’ll be alright.
4 - Your Energy. Smudge, smudge, smudge. Smudging with sacred medicines is one of the oldest and most universal indigenous practices out there. Smudging will clean the air and your senses from bad energy and will raise your consciousness. If you don’t already know, ask an elder or a spiritual person about the best way to smudge yourself, your home and your vehicle and make this a regular practice.
FINAL NOTE: Remember, these are just guidelines - a brief and simple way to get you going on your detox. This is not inclusive of every single step or product you might need to detoxify your environment, but it is a start. If you have any further suggestions or recommendations for other Indigenous cosmetics companies, feel free to shoot me an email or comment.
The Wellness Wisdom of Dr. Charles Eastman
"That is the only place where you can find true leaders again -- out of doors. And they will be agile, supple, not only in physical action, but in mind and soul, because they are saturated with fresh air and God’s sunshine. They are flexible. They fit anywhere. They are magnetic." - Dr. Charles Eastman, Ohiyesa
“That is the only place where you can find true leaders again — out of doors. And they will be agile, supple, not only in physical action, but in mind and soul, because they are saturated with fresh air and God’s sunshine. They are flexible. They fit anywhere. They are magnetic.”
Neurologists and health experts the world over are discovering now what Santee Sioux Dr. Charles Eastman tried to tell us one hundred years ago. Proof of Dr. Eastman’s foresight lies in an obscure article he published in 1921 at the age of 63 titled “What Can the Out Of Doors Do For Our Children?” It has not been widely read, but this pinch of literature offers some of the most profoundly cutting edge health and wellness knowledge available then, today, or possibly ever.
Nearly every insight Eastman offers can today be proven or supported by contemporary medical and scientific research. His predictions have become real, and his recommendations for increased outdoor activity have become ever more relevant.
The primary point of Eastman’s message is that children need a lot of time outdoors, in nature, in order to become healthy adults in mind, body and spirit. It seems simple, but it is a concept that has not been widely recognized until recently. And even now, it is a concept that is not being taken as seriously as Eastman urges.
Contributing to the immense value of Eastman’s article is the depth and multiplicity behind his own background and understanding of the world. He was raised in the traditional Dakota (Sioux) lifestyle by his grandmother. Eventually, he also learned the Anglo way. But he never abandoned his people. Rather, he used his Native teachings, his Dartmouth education and his Boston University medical degree as collaborative tools while he served the world as many things, including a surgeon, a diplomat, a writer, an ethnohistorian, and an advocate for Native rights.
Reflective of the life that he lead, the concepts offered in this short essay have managed to transcend time, culture and space, leaving the reader with any knowledge of health and wellness in awe of its insight and foresight. It is almost a wonder that this source is not referenced or quoted more often as it is an absolute gem in both philosophical wisdom and downright utilitarian value.
This is an example of the timeless value of Native American knowledge and the unique ability of traditional indigenous people to crack the code of the perils of the modern world by simply drawing from ancestral teachings. Eastman knew then, as we all know now, that the Whites who devalued Native medicine, Native teachings and Native worldviews were more than shortsighted - they were missing out on things that could have helped them a lot… things that can still help the world a lot.
Much has changed since 1921. Our world is different now and it seems that Eastman predicted what it would turn into. The human race is becoming weaker all the time. We are in desperate need of a holistic revitalization of wellness practices.
Below are a few excerpts from Eastman’s essay along with links to contemporary scientific and medical sources that have since proved or supported, in the western sense, these truths. But after this, please take the time to read Eastman’s entire article - it is required reading for anybody with an interest in health and wellness.
Wellness for intellectuality and morality...
“We need to be normal, to be agile, not only in our muscles but in our mental forces, not only in our intellectuality but in our morality. The trouble with civilized morality is that it is canned and stiff, and it cracks everywhere when you move it. The point of it is, out-of-doors means God; out-of-doors means Mystery, and that means God. Fresh air and sunshine are God’s own forces, coming out of his own laboratory.”
Corresponding Research: "WELLNESS AS VIRTUE: Morality and the pursuit of health" by Peter Conrad.
CHILDREN NEED FREEDOM...
“...most civilizations die of a nerve collapse, because they have shut the fresh air out… because they have tried to hover the little ones, to harness them up and pin them down … they have no freedom. The very thing on which we and all things live - you have prejudiced him against all that. You have prejudiced his soul against god.”
Corresponding Research: "Health Benefits to Children From Contact with the Outdoors and Nature" - research developed by the Children and Nature Network.
TEACHERS NEED THE OUTDOORS, TOO...
“I will say to teachers that they cannot teach unless they have fresh air and sunshine - lots of it; out-of-doors — lots of it.
”
Corresponding Research: Quality Teaching and Learning -" Outdoor Play Benefits" - from the Office of the Administration for Children and Families Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center.
THE OUTDOORS IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH...
“People used to say that animals are brutes, but I find in recent years that they are the most civilized creatures in the world…. In studying civilization, I find that it does not tape a snap of the fingers to get a ‘civilized’ man to fire upon another man - The cause of this condition is lack of fresh air — too many kinks in his nervous system.”
Corresponding research: "Exploring the Mental Health Benefits of natural environments" by David G. Pearson and Tony Craig - Frontiers in Psychology Journal.
OUTDOORS FOR CLARITY OF ALLERGENS...
“It is time that we should put up the windows and let the boys and girls out. I go into a farmhouse, and I immediately begin to sneeze and cough… It is vitally necessary that we should wake up to all these things. What is the use in turning the whole United States into a flower-bed and losing your own nervous system and going to the insane asylum!
”
Corresponding research "Indoor Allergens" - the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.
THE RISE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS...
“We are the youngest civilization and we are already senile. We show every indication of it.
”
Corresponding Research: "Neurological disorders: Public Health Challenges" - World Health Organization.
THE NEED FOR OUTDOOR SCHOOLS...
“I predict the time will come when we shall have an entirely out-of-door school. These are necessary, and I believe we shall have them, except in the coldest part of the year in the coldest localities.
”
Corresponding article: "Green Charter Schools Take off."
THE BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR EXERCISE...
“The gymnasium is not the best place for young people to develop their muscles. Our vitality comes from the sun, and only the light from the sun comes through the windows, not its life-giving properties. So that kind of development just blocks our muscles. We are only puffing up our muscles; we are not creating strength or endurance. We may for a moment be able to lift a heavy weight or to make a heavy blow, but there is no life or true strength there, and it all goes against the nervous system… the formative age should use no machinery in their development. They should season their muscles in the sun, in the fresh air, in the spring water coming down from the mountain, with a jump into the clean brooks and lakes of the mountains. That is where you get your nerve tonic.”
Corresponding research: "The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors" - the New York Times
THE PHYSICAL KNOWLEDGE OF OUR ANCESTORS...
“...the people who lived here thousands of years ago had physical knowledge above ours, so far as the physical nature and habits of man are concerned.”
Corresponding article: "Manthropology" The Science of the Inadequate Modern Male" by Peter McAllister - the Huffington Post.
THE OUTDOORS FOR NERVES AND STRESS...
“What can the out-of-doors do for you? You cannot measure it. Your race will continue as long as you practice that kind of living. So far as your physical nervous system is concerned, you and your posterity would be sure of good health.
”
Corresponding article: "Research says nature provides secret tools for reducing stress" - by Evan Brand - Breaking Muscle.
THE OUTDOORS FOR SPIRITUALITY...
“We must be natural human beings - we must, if we are going to be intelligent, spiritual people. Remember, there is nothing in canned heat, as far as spirituality is concerned.
”
Corresponding article: "Playing outside could make kids more spiritual" - Kristen Parker and Gretel Van Wieren - Michigan State University
Awakening The Spirit: A Diabetes Documentary
“The effects of diabetes on our Native communities is most often presented in terms of the statistics and not in the direct impacts on individuals and their loved ones,” said San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “By working with the Awaking the Spirit program on projects like this short documentary, we are showing the Native people behind the numbers and their stories of strength and resilience as well as ways to prevent diabetes.”
No one should have to fight diabetes alone.
In an effort to increase awareness about managing diabetes, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians collaborated with the American Diabetes Association of Greater San Diego on a project called Awakening the Spirit.
This mini documentary focuses on three Native men in southern California and several others from around Native country who have struggled with diabetes or pre-diabetes and have managed to take control of this disease.
James Rodriguez (Mojave) exercises to keep his diabetes under control.
Richard "Shot" Linton (Santa Ysabel) talks about the traditions of health and wellness in his culture, and how returning to these practices can save lives today. James Rodriguez (Mojave) is a recovered alcoholic who lost his kidneys to diabetes but never gave up the fight to get healthier. Bradley Guachino (Pala) is an MMA fighter who was once an overweight teen and now teaches Jiu Jitsu in his community to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Lisa Man (Seminole) is pre-diabetic but stays active by dancing.
Their stories show that it is possible to prevent, manage, and even recover from diabetes and related illnesses.
Ronnie Whitehorse of the San Diego American Indian Health Center says that a lot of young people are in denial about their risk for diabetes, but that it's never too early to take preventative steps.
“The effects of diabetes on our Native communities is most often presented in terms of the statistics and not in the direct impacts on individuals and their loved ones. By working with the Awakening the Spirit program on projects like this short documentary, we are showing the Native people behind th e numbers and their stories of strength and resilience as well as ways to prevent diabetes.”
Bradley Guachino (Pala) fought off diabetes through MMA training.
Richard "Shot" Linton talks about managing diabetes through healthy lifestyles and traditional cultural practices.
*All Photos courtesy Albert Renteria Jr., www.thearrc.com