Elder Lynn Jonasson receives ‘7 Teachings’ award for community service and wisdom

Jonasson was recognized specifically for his wisdom.

“Many of our Indigenous men are doing incredible service work and don’t get recognized at all. This also encourages our younger generation to practice the traditions and sacred teachings,” he said.

“For Indigenous men, this is part of our cultural way of looking after community, our children, our women. We are protectors, providers, warriors and we serve.”

As is well-known, Jonasson points out, many in the Indigenous community have been hampered by the opioid crisis.

L-R: Elder Charlie Fox of Treaty 7, Elder Lynn Jonasson of Red Deer, and Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi at the recent third annual Okimaw Awards in Edmonton. (Indigital Media)

That’s one sphere where Jonasson spends a lot of time giving himself to community.

Jonasson started the Many Healing Blankets program at Safe Harbour Society around 2006.

In it, they teach the medicine wheel and go through 12-step addiction programming.

He is also regularly at the hospital as people are coming out of care, as well as at the remand centre and other local agencies.

“This is about love and all the teachings. But love is the overarching one. If we lose compassion, we lose love,” he says.

“These awards do give me hope and inspiration, and they make me want to try harder,” he adds.

“I keep on encouraging everyone to come together and work in service to community.”

Janice Randhile, Okimaw Society founder, says the awards initially came from an idea earlier this decade that there should be something to complement the local Esquao Awards, which honour Indigenous women in Alberta. Esquao is the plural form of woman in Cree.

“I wanted to make this happen, and part of it is that I’m a mother of a son, I have many nephews and brothers, a lot of male influence; and I thought that if we can start lifting our men up, bringing in some balance, then maybe healing can start amongst our people,” she said.

“I like to use the analogy of our sacred pipe; the bowl represents the women, and the stem represents the men. We’ve done a really good job of raising the bowl up, but the stem feels down a bit; and in order to smoke that pipe and put them together, they have to be balanced.”

Randhile added that it’s about honouring the spirit of the Indigenous men and, “warriors within,” who are out there making a difference for their community.

“With Lynn, you know, we’re all students in life and he is just so open to sharing his wisdom and knowledge,” she said. “He is a kind and gentle man who gives so much of his time to the community.”

More information is at okimaw.org.

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Elder Lynn Jonasson receives ‘7 Teachings’ award for community service and wisdom

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