Healing the body and the soul through visualization: a technique used by the Community Healing Team of Cape Dorset, Nunavut

Arctic Anthropol. 2003;40(2):90-2. doi: 10.1353/arc.2011.0083.

Abstract

As Alice Kimiksana indicated, the Healing Circle or Healing Teams evolved to help First Nations people who attended residential schools deal with the aftermath of the abuse many of them suffered there. They use a variety of interventions, some traditional and some more Western in origin, for an innovative approach to a very serious problem. One technique developed by Western psychology, but very useful and adaptable in other cultural settings, is guided imagery or visualization. Often used for performance enhancement in sports, it is also applicable to other situations from medical settings to mental health treatment. In this presentation, Novaliinga Kingwatsiaq of Kingnait (Cape Dorset) led the audience through a modified version of a visualization used by her Community Healing Team. (During visualization one assumes a relaxed state with one’s eyes closed and imagines oneself in the context of a story told by the person guiding the imagery.) The imagery she chose is both symbolically and culturally appropriate. Most audience members were unfamiliar with the process of visualization, and several indicated that they were intrigued by the experience. Kumaarjuk Pii introduced Novaliinga Kingwatsiaq and translated for her.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Arctic Regions / ethnology
  • Community Health Services* / economics
  • Community Health Services* / history
  • Community Medicine / economics
  • Community Medicine / education
  • Community Medicine / history
  • Community Mental Health Services / economics
  • Community Mental Health Services / history
  • Delivery of Health Care* / ethnology
  • Delivery of Health Care* / history
  • Faith Healing* / education
  • Faith Healing* / history
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Imagery, Psychotherapy* / education
  • Imagery, Psychotherapy* / history
  • Medicine, Traditional / history
  • Nunavut / ethnology
  • Population Groups / education
  • Population Groups / ethnology
  • Population Groups / history
  • Population Groups / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Population Groups / psychology