SUDBURY—Sacred tobacco is a deep and meaningful part of Indigenous culture, and a brand new storybook desires to keep that tradition alive for future generations.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts, in partnership with the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre in Sudbury, celebrated the launch of ‘This Is My Tobacco’ recently. The storybook is part of a three-year collaborative project aimed at gifting our community with cultural teachings and traditions around sacred tobacco. In the words of the project’s elder, Hilda Nadjiwon, “we are all connected and part of the human family.”
This project has empowered Indigenous youth to share their traditions with a broad audience. After a successful poster and brochure campaign, the youth aspired to educate young children about sacred tobacco.
“The Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre honours the continuum of the life cycle and embraces the relationship with our elders and youth,” said Angela Recollet, executive director, Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre. “This project celebrates the work of this relationship honouring the teachings of our ancestors passed on through our generational paths. We believe that everything is possible when working in a reciprocal respectful relationship,” said Ms. Recollet.
“Utilizing the wisdom and inspiration of elders, these very creative Indigenous youth wrote and illustrated a children’s storybook that will benefit our entire community,” said Dr. Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Sudbury and Districts.
The storybook is being distributed to schools, health centres and community partners throughout the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. If anyone is interested in a copy, please contact Public Health Sudbury and Districts at 705-522-9200 or Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre at 705-675-1596.
