By Lisa Scott, MNO Community Healing and Wellness Coordinator
Drumming Circle during Health and Wellness Day in Hamilton
It was a cold and rainy day in downtown Hamilton, but nearly 200 people came out to the 7th Annual Health & Wellness Day on March the 8th. The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (SOADI) hosted the daylong event.
The community was treated to foot care services from the SOADI foot care team. Services included a visit with a chiropodist, who provided community members with an assessment of their foot health, and a 30 minute reflexology treatment complete with a sweetgrass oil infused massage–talk about a great way to spend half an hour. Relaxation gave way to excitement as each person left the treatment area and received SOADI’s Foot Care Program Self Care Resource grab bag.
The Self Care Resource Kit was created to assist our Aboriginal, Métis, and Inuit community members practice daily self care. This kit has many tools that teach about preventative care and daily self care.
Self Care Resource Kit
- DVD
- diabetic socks
- large mirror
- SOADI pamphlet series
- lotion
- soap
- plus other preventative care products such as a magnet, pen, foot care directory and inspirational stone
The Foot Care Program Self Care Resource Kit can be ordered online through the SOADI main website.
www.soadi.ca
The crowd was then treated to a traditional feast that consisted of diabetic friendly foods, such as three sisters soup, chilli, salad, wraps and sandwiches. And what feast would be complete without dessert? We all relished the berry medley crisp and strawberry Juice.
The afternoon was full of presentations from many of the area’s Aboriginal agencies including the MNO; SOADI; Urban Native Homes; Hamilton Regional Indian Centre; Ontario Native Women’s Association; Native Women’s Centre; Niwasa Head Start Preschool; De dwa da dehs nye>s, Aboriginal Health Center; NYA: WEH Program; and the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy.
Many thanks to these great agencies and their passionate workers who helped make the day a success!