Aklavik residents learned traditional medicine in workshops

Residents of Aklavik, N.W.T., recently attended a two-day workshop to learn about traditional medicine. The event was sponsored by the Aklavik Indian Band and the Ehditaat Gwich'in Council. It took place at a camp outside the community. During the workshop, five participants learned how to create spruce gum juice and ointments. The instructors, Wanda Pascal and Lucy Wilson, came from Fort McPherson, N.W.T. They shared skills and knowledge passed down from their families. Pascal brought local ingredients, including Labrador tea leaves and juniper branches. She highlighted the importance of finding young juniper, which grows in the nearby mountains. Pascal emphasized the need to preserve cultural traditions. She believes it is vital to use natural medicine from the land. "Our medicine cabinet is right in our backyard," she noted. Local resident Velma Illasiak, one of the workshop attendees, appreciated the hands-on learning experience. She voiced concern about passing traditional knowledge to younger generations. Wilson demonstrated how to make spruce gum ointment. She melted the gum over a wood stove, sharing skills she learned from her mother. Wilson expressed her hopes that attendees would continue to practice and share these skills. Both instructors received gratitude for their effort in keeping cultural wisdom alive. They aim to inspire others in the community to learn and pass on these important traditions.