Pubdate: Wed, 30 Apr 2003
Source: Manitoulin Expositor (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 The Manitoulin Expositor.
Contact:  http://www.manitoulin.on.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2429

THE NEED FOR A SPIRIT OF HEALING CRIES OUT TO US

The sentencing of Juan and Edgar Uyunkar on charges stemming from the death 
of Jane Maiangowi has come to pass, leaving the younger of the two 
Ecuadorian medicine men free to return home to his family, while keeping 
the father in Canada for yet another year. Their interpreter, Maria Ventura 
has had all charges against her dropped, and she must now struggle to undo 
the economic damage the charges have dealt to her.

The wake of those tragic events on that mid-October evening in Wikwemikong 
a year and a half ago has left both a deep sadness and a division on the 
preferred fate of Indigenous traditional healing practices, in both the 
Native and non-native communities.

Unlike the divisions which have occurred in the past, these new divisions 
are based on philosophy and beliefs in the efficacy of, and right to chose 
one's own path of healing, rather along lines of race or culture, bringing 
members of both communities together in defence of their chosen side.

It could only add a further and tremendous injustice to the tragic events 
of the past year and a half if the hard work and dedication of people like 
Ron Wakegijig and Dr. Jack Bailey, people who have toiled tirelessly to 
bring the traditional and conventional medicine traditions harmoniously 
together, should be set back by the fallout from events which only 
marginally impinge upon their work.

That Native healing medicines do work and have intrinsic value in 
themselves is borne out clearly in the frantic efforts of huge 
multinational pharmaceutical companies, companies who are racing pell-mell 
to isolate and patent the active ingredients in traditional medicines for 
profit.

In the aftermath of the death of Mrs. Maiangowi, both the Uyunkars and the 
Maiangowi family have come under threat and angry recrimination from 
supporters of their opposite numbers, actions which both the Uyunkars and 
Mrs. Maiangowi herself would doubtless decry.

This paper has called for an inquest to be formed by a panel of the Elders 
of the First Nation community; an inquest in which they can examine the 
merits of the issues and put forth their considered advice as to how to 
best deal with those issues. That is a call which, now that the criminal 
proceedings have played their course, we renew.

How best to deal with the issue of Indigenous medicines and sacred 
practices belongs most properly to the sovereign will of the people from 
whom those practices spring. By holding an 'inquest' into the matter, 
non-native society and the larger culture at large will have a definitive 
decision on those values by those most qualified to rule on them.

Perhaps then a truly positive healing spirit will have arisen from the 
sadness of this tragedy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens