Indigenous resilience during a pandemic

​COVID 19 has created a world of imbalance in the lives of many. Physical connection is a natural and nurturing aspect of human life that we are missing out on during this time of social distancing. When babies are born the first thing we do is hold them in arms to provide skin to skin contact. The safety recommendation to stay home and work from home also means a decline in physical movement. Emotionally we may be dealing with more stress and anxiety because so much is yet unknown to us and so much has changed in a short time. We may be separated from our emotional support system and lack the relationships we are used to. We may be experiencing grief and fear. Our spiritual sense of resilience, strength, hope is being tested. As Indigenous people we rely on our elders and ceremonies for healing, both of which may only be available virtually or by phone. Mentally we may be dealing with negative thought patterns more than usual. We may be dealing with fear and confusion with all the information and opinions in the news. One of the big concerns after the physical impact of the virus is the mental health impacts of a pandemic, which can last up to five years for some. One thing we can do now to mitigate these effects is to build resilience through connection and coping skills. I created this video to hopefully help with building resilience, as well as, lessen the effects this global pandemic may be having on us. Please stay safe and take a moment to ground yourself, breathe, and live in the movement... ​

**This is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.**