Ruthless Compassion with Dr. Marcia Sirota
Avis O'Brien on Creativity, Healing, and Reconciliation
158 - Avis O'Brien on Creativity, Healing, and Reconciliation
158 - Avis O'Brien on Creativity, Healing, and Reconciliation
158 - Avis O'Brien on Creativity, Healing, and Reconciliation
Thursday 15th February 2024
Join Avis O'Brien on Ruthless Compassion as she explores healing through Indigenous art, land-based practices, and community connections.
35 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
Hopeful
Compassionate
About this podcast
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery from Trauma
Relationships & Community
Mindful Recovery
Healing Relationships
Navigating Intimate Relationships
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Get the buttons here!Avis O'Brien: Healing Through Art and Ancestral Wisdom
Episode Overview
- Explore the power of land-based healing and cultural practices in trauma recovery and well-being
- Gain insights into decolonization and reconciliation as transformative processes
- Discover the importance of community connections and solidarity circles in mental health support
- Learn about Indigenous contemplative practices and the polyvagal theory in fostering resilience
- Reflect on the impact of trauma, colonization, and intergenerational trauma on mental health and wellness
Land-based healing can be described as a set of practices or principles or worldviews on how we can turn to the land for healing and wellness, releasing trauma, co-regulating with nature.
Imagine harnessing the power of your heritage to heal deep-seated wounds. That's exactly what Avis O'Brien, a Haida/Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw artist and Land Based Cultural Empowerment Facilitator, brings to the table in this episode of Ruthless Compassion with Dr. Marcia Sirota. Born in Alert Bay, British Columbia, Avis belongs to the Kawaas Sdaast.aas Eagle Clan and the Gigəlǧəm n̓əm̓ina sa Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ people. Her mission? To guide individuals through healing journeys rooted in Indigenous traditions and land-based practices.
Avis dives into how trauma, colonization, and residential schools have left lasting scars on Indigenous communities. She shares her unique approach to healing through drumming, singing, dancing, medicine harvesting, and other ancestral practices. Her work is especially impactful in Indigenous youth suicide prevention, helping young people resist the spirit of suicide by reconnecting with their roots. Through community workshops, Avis teaches how to use these cultural practices as tools for self-regulation and emotional balance.
But it's not just about individual healing. Avis emphasizes the importance of community and collective well-being. She introduces concepts like neurdecolonization and polyvagal theory, offering fresh perspectives on mental health that challenge conventional methods. By reclaiming ancestral languages and fostering strong community ties, Avis shows us how to create a holistic path to wellness. This episode is a heartfelt conversation that invites you to rethink traditional mental health approaches and embrace a more inclusive, culturally-rooted journey to healing.