culture

I would like to acknowledge that acupuncture originated in China, with roots in Japan and Korea as well. Today it is practiced all over the world. The spread of acupuncture through the continents, over the decades, was spearheaded by immigrants, political activists, proponents of affordable healthcare for all, and many others. I am indebted to the traditional carriers of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, and to those pioneers, some of whom were jailed for helping their own, often underserved, communities. I am indebted to those who lead the way for us to be registered and licensed today. In practicing this medicine as a white person of European descent, it is my responsibility to never cease in my learning, my deference, and persistent deepening of understanding - of the medicine itself, its cultural context (historically and currently), and my role within it. 

land

I would like to acknowledge that I live and work in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceeded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

I will work towards a future that is more just than the one we leave behind. Reciprocity and healing the wounds inflicted by European settlers, the Canadian government, the church and the crown is essential to our collective well-being.

*Mi’kma’ki includes all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, part of New Brunswick, the Gaspé region of Quebec, part of Maine, and southwestern Newfoundland.