FollowDid you ever meet a tree charging a bird rent? Did you ever meet a river charging fish for water?
As counsellors, we sit with people who are in crisis.
Clients are on the front line of a new kind of battle where survival, meaning, purpose and wellbeing are considered primary.
There are no clear-cut answers, but there is a deep commitment to finding a new way to live life.
Together with our clients, we wrestle with deep questions such as:
- How can I earn money, but still do something that has deep meaning and purpose in my life?
- How can I contribute to make the world a better place, while providing for my family?
- How can I remain true to myself, while having to constantly earn money to survive?
Back in historical times money was not an issue. The First Nations were self-sufficient and traded amongst themselves. There was a natural trust that whatever the Nations needed, it could be sourced through the collective efforts of the hunters, gatherers and the community as a whole.
There was no threat of homelessness, as the village banded together to build shelter. There was no rent or mortgages to pay, as land was a collective resource. It was universally accepted that land was not something to be divided up and sold. Land was to be shared and managed according to the natural rhythm of the seasons.
One could devote their life to helping the Nations through medicine, food, creating clothes, jewellery that told their stories, carvings to honour the ones who died, feasts to connect with other nations, construction, teaching children – all without fear of having no money. Everything you needed was provided for.
A give and take system was used with the land and water, using ceremonies honouring the gifts that are shared. Food production was taken care of by the community. One took only what they needed from the land and nature was given time to replenish.
There was scope to practice artist interests. Music, dance and painting were considered sacred. Artistic expression was seen as vital to the wellbeing of the community and for telling the history of the Nation that lived on the land.
This isn’t to say life was perfect in the Nation – but humans lived without the need for money. There was freedom to choose whatever vocation you wanted, as you had the safety net of the Nation. All contributed to the Nation, through whatever means, was considered valuable.
The Nation still had to face the same struggles that we have on a daily basis – wild weather, illness and conflict between Nations. But amongst the unpredictability of life, there was a certitude that the community was there to support one another in time of need, death of a loved one, gathering food for elders, caring for young children, living as one unit.
There was no need to call the bank to ask for an extension on mortgage repayments. You did not have to ask your landlord for a rent reduction. You did not have to worry about having enough money to buy food this week.
There was time for play, ceremony and rest. At night, one could sit under the stars and dream a new vision of reality into practice, to experience visions from Spirit Elders.
Deep contemplation about one’s life purpose and dreaming of a vision of one’s life was seen as a sign of maturity – not something to be discarded for the sake of economic security and employment stability.
There was no conflict between what was needed and what life could provide, as it was commonly accepted that there was enough for everyone in natural rhythm with the planet.
Fast forward to our modern world, we humans are very confused creatures as we believe in constantly having to produce money to survive with limited safety net. Cut off from free land, food and shelter, our life is dedicated to fighting a daily battle of having to earn money to survive.
If we take a look around, humans are the only species who monetise everything such as the need for the oil sands, the pipeline, overfishing, over hunting, and abusing the gift of Mother Earth sharing her gifts. Did you ever meet a tree that charged a bird rent? Did you ever meet a river that charged fish for water? Did you ever meet a lion facing eviction? Did you ever meet a dog who was unemployed?
Indigenous culture contains ancient teachings that can bring forth ways of viewing the world. Across cultures, we see different ways in which we can generate employment, care for the sick, steward the planet and create thriving communities.
Each person has a unique set of strengths, interests and visions. Life is calling for each of us to express into the world our own ideas, thoughts and way of life.
Prepared to risk it all, we pay homage to the modern-day warriors who have no answers but are deeply committed to finding a way with our Elders of many Nations that help us move forward to solve our current day predicaments. If we only take time to listen, with open hearts, open hands, and most of all open minds.
We don’t have any magic answers to our current crisis of living. However, there is one thing we know for certain – that we see each day in our clients – that every single person has an inner vision of how life could be and how it should be.
Our crisis of living is essentially human made. This includes our economic, environmental and health care systems; and us as caretakers of the land, water and ways of life. The good news is, our crisis of living can be solved by humans if we choose to listen to one another with RESPECT, COURAGE, HONESTY, LOVE, WISDOM, HUMILITY, AND TRUTH.
Go forward tall strong warrior – be brave and help co-create the changes we deeply seek in our society.
About the Authors
Maria Nagy
The Great Daughter of Chief Whea of Old Massett Village; the Granddaughter of Alexander and Nellie Yeomans; and the daughter of Pansy (Yeomans nee) and Joszeph Nagy, Maria Nagy is a Certified Addictions Counsellor from the Haida Nation in British Columbia, Canada. Maria completed her education at the University of Lethbridge, graduating with a Bachelors of Health Sciences degree in Addictions Counselling. She also graduated from a two-year addictions program in Peterborough Ontario. Maria worked at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Maryland as an Addictions Counsellor with both men and woman. She has worked in residential care; a Drug Treatment Court program; and group health care facilitation. Maria currently works full time as an Addictions Counsellor in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.
Daniel Solodky
Danial Solodky is a psychotherapist and career counsellor based in Melbourne, Australia. He worked in corporate human resources management for fourteen years prior to retraining in career counselling and mental health. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Career Development and Education from RMIT University. Daniel combines training in mental health, careers counselling, transpersonal psychology and mindfulness based meditation to help clients through life crisis and trauma healing. Daniel has a passion for holistic counselling and education and bringing different cultures together to find new ways of healing and living.
Based in Melbourne, Daniel is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist who helps people work through career confusion and life crisis to find renewed meaning and purpose in life. Daniel holds a Graduate Certificate in Career Development and Education from RMIT University. He lived in Japan for two years and completed counselling placements in Canada and Vietnam.
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