3. Historical Alienation Why does a peer counselor want to learn about alienation? What are the barriers students experience in learning? What is the motivation for learning for people in the FNAC program? What are the barriers in learning for people in the FNAC program?
4. The Peer Helper Alienation can be a person who is in an environment that is different for them. Some individuals have never been here before. Some students/peers feel that they do not belong. Some experience meaninglessness.
5. Main desired goals/learning outcome Students should be able to discuss, describe and recognize alienation behaviors among their peers. Promote awareness through communication skills. Encourages each other in the educational community.
6. Goals and Boundaries/peer counselor Who are we? We are all students. Two main goals of the peer counseling training are: to gain the skills that will help guide our peers develop a sense of Independence. To help guide our peers develop a sense of Empowerment while in the FNAC and BU setting.
7. Peer counselor What is peer counseling? A peer counselor is a helper. A peer counselor helps a peer face the fear/pain that gets in the way of learning. A peer counselor is a guide that encourages. A peer counselor can teach skills. A peer counselor is not a professional, we are not able to diagnose.
8. Module Description Module 7 How to Help With Issues of Alienation This module introduces the concept of intervention with individual peers/students at the First Nations and Aboriginal Counselling Degree Program. Students in the peer program will learn and will apply their skills in practice situations. The material will be applied in role plays; the module will address alienation by exploring the story of Aboriginal and European history with a focus on the effects of that history in relationship to alienation. The impact of colonization, assimilation attempts, and residential schools which caused loss of language, identity and belonging are to be discussed. Spiritual and oral practices are explored in order to formulate effective and meaningful interaction in peer counseling. The intent of this module is not to judge any culture or level of acculturation. Understanding is needed to sometimes put aside our own stuff and work within in the context that is meaning full to their peers.
9. Content/skill development/discussions experiential group exercises Exploration of Alienation Discussion Review of Active listening De-reflection client finds meaning in the outside world and stops focusing on self (Greenberg, L.S. 2003, p. 313.) Use of Legends in helping, culturally relevant Nature Self-disclosure review
10. Medicine wheel teachings THE SEVEN STAGES OF LIFE OJIBWE/ POWAWATOMI (ANISHINABE) TEACHING ELDER: LILLIAN PITAWANAKWAT The Good Life After birth, the first seven years of our lives is the good life. I’m going to present the ideal first, the way it used to be. And so the first seven years of a child’s life, there were elders, grandmothers, grandfathers that provide for all the needs of that child, unconditional love for that child, and discipline, and the child came to know what life was all about, confident in who they were. And so the teachings began very early in life. The support family was there - the mothers, the fathers, being supported by their mothers, their fathers, and the child became strong. And by the time they were seven years old, they were put out on their first day fast to make them realize that these are all their relations that we walk with. So the child goes out to fast for a day, for a night, with all the support people. The Fast Life After that, the child was prepared for the next leg of the journey, and that was called the fast life. This was when the child was being prepared for their four-day vision quest at the time of puberty. And men were designated to look after the boys, women designated to look after the girls, to train them. So that after their fasts they would be inducted into the men’s circle for the boys, and the women’s circle for the girls, so that there was always space for every individual. No outcasts in the circle. Everybody was included. The Wandering Life The next part was the wandering stage, where I go and wander about from place to place to find my teachers, to find other experiences. The wandering phase. It’s also to wonder about life: “I wonder, if I did this, what would happen?” So there’s two wanders in there: w. a. n., and w. o.n. - the two wonders of life. Truth And so when we finish going through the wandering life, our elders, or our teachers, our mentors that we picked out, are the ones that guided us to the next phase, which was the Truth Stage - the truth being, taking a look at myself, that I can see my mirror. These are my gifts. This is what I’ve learned from, and being able to speak out of that truth of self. Planning And then comes the planning stage. “What am I going to do with all of this information that I have? How will I accomplish it?” Doing And then after the planning stage comes the actual living out of it; practicing all those things that I have learned on this life’s journey, to exactly where I’m at, there. Elder And then to be inducted into the elder’s circle. And all of those intervals, every seven years, they would fast for direction and guidance. So then when they become elders, they come back and they teach the young ones. So there was always that circle of teaching. There were always professors there. Always teaching, always sharing. And for every one of the Seven Stages of Life, it took about seven years - seven years to accomplish all of that. http://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/ojibwe.html accessed March 1st, 2009
11. the four agreements - don miguel ruiz's code for life agreement 1 Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. agreement 2 Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering. agreement 3 Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life. agreement 4 Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret. http://www.businessballs.com/thefouragreementsdonmiguelruiz.htm accessed 3/3/2009
12. References Greenberg, L. S., Elliott, R., & Lietaer, G. (2003) Humanistic-experiential psychotherapy. In Hayduk, P. (2005). An Introduction to Counselling in Canada Retrieved March 1st, 2009. http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/Resources/Psych388/CanadianSupplement/Chapter6/10_aboriginal.shtml
Hinweis der Redaktion
First Nations people have had a history of isolation from mainstream society and are considered a minority group. Becoming a strong First Nation individual is a challenge. Exploration of the levels of alienation will help to develop an understanding of how it effects identity issues. This module will show a skills toolbox of “de-reflection (means meaning)” or a defecting or arrows through native stories , active listening, nature and self disclosure. This module will include current Western counseling practices along with Native Cultural methods.
