Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 02/04) - The students sit in a circle, a bison rug at their feet and drums or talking sticks in their hands, striving to find a balance in themselves that may be hindering their learning.

These Aurora College students are taking part in a wellness workshop pilot project that may become part of college programming next year.

Workshop facilitator Aline LaFlamme brought her experience with spiritual healing to the student body.

"The college wants to address some of the difficulties students have in coming to class, doing their work and finishing their programs," she says.

LaFlamme uses a traditional medicine wheel, depicting the balance of spirit, mind, heart and body in each person to help students.

"What we want is for them to learn these aspects of themselves," she says.

She and student counsellor and co-facilitator Joanne Erasmus tell the story of a young native woman who signed up for the first of two four-day workshops and ended up staying for both.

The woman, who did not want to be named, realized the shame she had always felt because of her aboriginal status.

Through the weeks she developed pride in herself and her native culture.

"She felt very ashamed to be a native person," says LaFlamme.

Through the workshop, the student dealt with those feelings and decided to spend her life as an aboriginal role model in the classroom.

"Now she's got a clear vision. She has a sense of pride about being aboriginal," says LaFlamme proudly.

Stories like this one spell success for the test workshops, ensuring they will be incorporated into the curriculum next fall, says Erasmus.

Learning together

The facilitators used techniques like drumming and singing, artwork, prayers, and smudging to help heal the 21 women who signed up for the March 16-19 and 22-25 workshops.

As the second workshop ends, the students chat about what they learned.

"To search our inner feelings and strengths. As we learn together we grow together so we can survive to become a strong person," Marie Bouvier says.

"I learned about the side I wasn't paying attention to," says Tess Jones.

On that day as well, the young native woman who learned pride in her heritage presented a drawing depicting herself.

It included a heart for her love and lovableness, a sun for how she brightens other people's lives and the family that she realized she keeps together.

Her new-found pride shone through in the picture and in her clear, strong voice.