École d’été internationale : Territoire, alimentation, santé et bien-être
12 au 20 août 2024, Uashat mak Mani-utenam (Côte-Nord)
et Mushuau-nipi (Nitassinan/Nunavik), Québec, Canada
La santé et le bien-être des nations autochtones et de leurs communautés sont étroitement liés à la santé du territoire. L’alimentation traditionnelle est au cœur de cette relation. Elle fait partie de l’identité culturelle et contribue à la santé physique, mentale, à la spiritualité, à la transmission des connaissances et au bien-être des Premiers Peuples.
Cette école d’été internationale vise à approfondir les liens entre l’environnement, l’alimentation, la santé et le bien-être en mettant de l’avant des approches écosystémiques à la santé. Cette formation transdisciplinaire et expérientielle unique s’est déroulée sur deux sites. Elle a débuté à Uashat mak Mani-utenam, une communauté autochtone innue en milieu urbain à proximité de Sept-Îles. Après un déplacement en train vers Schefferville-Matimekush, l’École s’est poursuivie au Mushuau-nipi, un site naturel propice à la réflexion où les participant(e)s ont vécu l’expérience unique d’un camp Innu sur le territoire le long de la rivière George.
Au cours de l’école, les participant(e)s ont été amenés à partager et à développer leurs connaissances et une vision systémique des changements socio-environnementaux (incluant les changements climatiques), de la préservation et conservation de la biodiversité, des environnements alimentaires et de leurs liens avec la santé humaine et le bien-être des communautés. Des activités, des ateliers et des échanges ont permis d’approfondir ces enjeux, en faisant place aux savoirs autochtones, scientifiques et professionnels.
Cette école est une initiative conjointe du programme Sentinelle Nord de l’Université Laval, de la Chaire Littoral et de la Corporation du Mushuau-nipi, avec la collaboration d'APECS Canada et d’ArcticNet.
Galerie de photos et témoignages
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Cliquez pour agrandir. Crédits photo : Pierre-Emmanuel Chaillon
As a Northern student pursuing my master's at a southern institution, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to integrate Northern and land-based learning experiences into my graduate studies. Aimee Yurris, étudiante à la maîtrise en santé publique, At the beginning of the summer school, I was a little afraid: What was a Colombian, a lawyer in international economic law going to do in an indigenous camp at the 56th parallel? That fear dissipated as soon as I met the team. How nice it is to belong, in our differences. During school I learned about indigenous peoples, their resilience, their connection to nature and their territory. At the same time, I was understanding, in an experiential way, many concepts and places that I had only had access to through books. How nice it is to coincide, and to understand, that far away, we could get to connect with ourselves. I went there, met wonderful people, listened to stories, and found myself belonging. I understood that between the stories my indigenous grandfather told me in the Colombian mountains and the stories I found by a campfire, there are many coincidences. That the struggles are the same and that humanity is found in each person who decides to fight for what they believe in, and to be faithful to their values. This school taught me more than concepts, it allowed me to value time, to let it flow, to appreciate nature and to understand the goals that life gives you, they are never random. And there, far away, a Colombian was able to understand that the connection with the territory, with life and with authenticity, goes far beyond a border, a language or a continent. Natalia Serrano Burbano, étudiante au doctorat en droit, It was great to meet and work with many new people. I hope to cross paths with them again sometime soon. Nathaniel Holloway, étudiant à la maîtrise en géographie, I would like to share my experience in a way that reflects how special it was for me. It feels truly significant to have been part of this adventure, and I deeply appreciate the incredible opportunity to participate in the summer school, especially knowing how the Mushuau-Nipi site was and still is a culturally rich territory of the Innu and Naskapi nations. This experience was unique and enriching, bringing together a very diverse group. The range of stories, perspectives, and knowledge shared was inspiring. The activities, discussions and stories were particularly impactful. I was deeply inspired by the integration of Indigenous and Western knowledge through concepts like Two-Eyed Seeing. This approach broadened my understanding of environmental and community issues and reinforced my commitment to incorporating these insights into my own research. I believe that many of the connections made will evolve into lasting friendships! Overall, this experience left me motivated and excited to continue exploring and wanting to contribute to community-driven research in northern Canada. Thank you, as I am really grateful for the privilege of being part of this experience. Loek Pascaud, étudiant à la maîtrise en géomatique appliquée et télédétection, The Summer School was an incredible and amazing experience on both a professional and human level. I was privileged to create friendship with a wide range of mentors, experts and participants. It was an honor to stay under the Shaputuan at Mushuau-nipi on this site so precious to the Innu and Naskapi Nations. It's a millennia-old gathering place where the relationship with the caribou takes on its full meaning. It was the perfect place to build relationships, learn about a variety of topics and get a glimpse of the Innu and Naskapi way of life. Philippe Boucher, étudiant au doctorat en études légales, |
