FIRST NATIONS TRADITIONAL HEALTH OPTIONS

THE HISTORY

The First Nations peoples have historically utilized a wide variety of herbs to provide support for their health and well-being. First nations people understood that every plant has its purpose on earth and developed a wide-ranging pharmacopoeia of herbal remedies over the centuries. This pharmacopoeia has sometimes provided "miraculous" results to Europeans who came to this continent and suffered from diseases or malnutrition.

Some of the major herbs used by the First Nations people of Turtle Island include:

Pine Bark is the source of Pycnogenol, a very potent anti-oxidant. It was responsible for saving a number of French explorers in the 1600’s. Eventually French scientists followed up on this "miracle herb" and isolated Pycnogenol

This is the most import of the major "antibiotic" herbs of modern day. It was one of the most important healing herbs of the Native American peoples. Tremendous amounts of research has been done in Europe, primarily in Germany, to show the remarkable benefits of this herb.

Many of the famous "founding fathers" of the USA came to know the value of Ginseng as an adaptogen and energy-supporting, endurance enhancing, consciousness-enlivening herb, from contact with the First Nations people. Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman from Kentucky, was a well-known "ginseng trader". Ginseng is highly revered in the orient and the high-quality American Ginseng is so prized in China that most of the crop each year is exported by American growers.

Evening Primrose Oil has been used successfully in modern times for heart and artery disease. Most modern scientific research on this herb has been done in England. There are thousands of pages of studies and support documents showing the tremendous value of this herb. Once again, European herbalists have to thank the First Nations people for providing access to the use of this herb.

Another shining light in the modern herbal pharmacopoeia, Goldenseal is another of the major "antibiotic" herbs used against bacterial infections and for stomach problems. And once again, the history of this herb is intimately bound up with the discovery and use by the First Nations people.

We could go on and on. There are literally hundreds of major herbs that were used by the First Nations people. Indian Herbology of Northern America lists many of these. This field is spawning many new books on the subject. Modern herablists are beginning to understand the history and are searching in many directions for information about the Native American herbal usage. The interest is growing and the access to information is developing.

THE OPPORTUNITY

At the same time as Western herbalists, scientists and lay people have increased their interest in herbs, particularly those used by First Nations people traditionally, most First Nations people have been forced to abandon their traditional ways in favour of the Western (allopathic) medical model. This has occurred due to the control exercised by the dominant US government and its policies over the years, and due to the strong-arm attempts to assimilate the First Nations people into Western culture.

As First Nations people have been forced to give up their traditional lifestyle, diet and herbal medicines, their health and well being has deteriorated. Average life expectancy for Native American is the lowest of any major demographic group in North America. Predatory conditions that flourish in any community that has had its basic health compromised are rampant. Dietary limitations have led to huge increases in heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis and obesity. These increases mirror the similar problems facing the European population.

As humanity searches for solutions to these health challenges, many people are looking to the traditional teachings as the place to find the answers. Traditional health and endurance among the First Nations people were legendary. By going back to the source of their traditional strength, the First Nations people can reclaim their legacy while at the same time provide guidance for Western civilization as it recognizes the limitations of its ignorance and arrogance and faces the specter of bacterial and viral infections that have become resistant to the synthetic drugs favoured by Western societies, and new diseases are unleashed on humanity through interaction with the rainforests during the unprecedented destruction currently taking place.

First Nations people are also reclaiming their heritage in an attempt to come out from the shadow of Western civilization. This renaissance is occurring, not just for traditional community organization and spiritual teachings, but also in the field of health. This has led to a tremendous groundswell of interest in the use of herbs for basic health maintenance and restoration.

THE PROJECT SPONSORS

Four Directions International, the economic development arm of The Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development and Lotus Light Enterprises, Inc., have joined forces to provide a wide range of options for systematic development of First Nations capacities to identify, develop and market herbs for all of these uses.

Four Directions International is a First Nations owned and operated company, founded by Phil Lane, Jr. It is a direct extension of the work of The Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development. Four Worlds has been actively involved in the development of First Nations traditional spiritual teachings and the application of these teachings to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence. Four Worlds has developed teaching materials and works in the community to provide hope and leadership for the people.

Lotus Light Enterprises, Inc., is a moderate-sized wholesale distribution company primarily active in the Health Food Industry of the U.S.A. The company was founded by Santosh and Doris Krinsky in 1981. The company is not First Nations owned and operated; however, both Santosh and Doris Krinsky have a deep commitment to the development of First Nations opportunities. Lotus Light provides both information and distribution capability for any specific opportunities which develop as a result of this collaboration.

First Nations people have a tremendous legacy of herbal usage spanning thousands of years. This legacy can provide a two-fold opportunity. First, it can be used to provide basic health care and maintenance options to First Nations communities. This health care and maintenance would be based on traditional use and would provide a real and low-cost option as opposed to modern Western medicine. There is a strong resurgence of herbal medicine world-wide, particularly as people begin to understand that the aggressive intervention techniques of Western medicine have substantial long term cost and side effects. At the same time, this project can provide knowledge and leadership to Western civilization in an area that can eventually have tremendous impact on the direction taken by that culture. First Nations people have the ability to take the lead in this area and integrate herbal therapies with spiritual teachings and concern for the environment and inter-cultural relationships.

By virtue of the tremendous need for a project of this type, a large number of people will find employment and obtain invaluable training, and funding will be generated for the First Nations communities who participate in this project.

1.) Finding and Developing Herbal Resources
The first level opportunity involves finding herbs that are both valuable for human health care and maintenance and which the First Nations people are willing and able to share with others, including people from other cultures. Once the herbs have been identified, various communities can develop internal resources for the processing and distribution of these herbs both within their own community and outside.

2.) Manufacturing
Many of the herbs will require processing and manufacturing that are "value added" activities. The focus of this project is to assist First Nations communities in developing their own resources for manufacturing wherever possible.

3.) Distribution
Four Directions and Lotus Light provide the opportunity for inter-linking First Nations communities throughout North America among themselves and with the newly developing health food industry in the USA and Canada. We believe this collaboration with a young and committed segment of the Western culture will have a positive impact on inter-cultural relations far beyond the specific benefits of the project itself, and provide First Nations people an opportunity to provide leadership and help to shape the future of human life on Mother Earth in a very meaningful way.

One of the major obstacles facing any First Nations organization is the specific knowledge and connections required to truly put a product into cost-effective distribution. Four Directions provides the required "lynch-pin" for the First Nations people, while Lotus Light does the same for the health food industry. This combination provides a centralized link that assures any organization that any viable product they can develop can find a market and provide income. At the same time, these organizations receive further products and opportunities from the Four Directions/Lotus Light network, expanding internal opportunities as well.

For instance, if a particular group develops a Pine Bark Tea, this product can be put into distribution by Four Directions and Lotus Light throughout North America. In return, the group will have access to numerous other herbal products available from other groups, by virtue of the distribution services of the Four Directions/Lotus Light activity. Products that cannot be easily or economically developed with the First Nations community will be available from the US health food market through Lotus Light’s contacts, thereby giving the entire First Nations community the required access, at much more reasonable prices, to the numerous herbs and supplements that have been found to be highly beneficial alternatives to Western medicine.

4.) Local Health Products Centers

One of the most important links in the network is the local health products center at the Community level. This center will have access to the entire range of herbs and health products provided by the distribution coordination group, including products from their own Reserve, products developed by other Reserves, and numerous products available through the commercial health food industry. These centers will have direct contact with the people, providing herbs and supplements, providing education and counseling and coordinating seminars at the local level, and training for interested individuals to gain a knowledge of the herbs and their application. Each local center will of course be totally free and independent to develop its own unique required programs, such as elder-care programs, youth programs, nutritional awareness programs, etc.

5.) Education and Training

An inevitable consequence of the project will be the necessity for providing education and training about the finding, preparation, use and benefits of herbs in the basic health care program. In addition, it is anticipated that some groups may also require training in business development and organization. Four Directions and Lotus Light are prepared to locate appropriate training resources and set up the necessary "one on one" training programs as well as wider reaching seminars to ensure that the basic knowledge required will be available. In many cases, the educational information is available within the First Nations community in the form of traditional elders. The project will attempt to locate and provide access to these important resources within the community itself. This has the benefit of bringing the community closer together and providing respect and support to the elders.

6.) Marketing and Outreach

To succeed in the general marketplace in North America, it is necessary to have what is called "economy of scale". The combination of Four Directions and Lotus Light and their respective market access and inter-relationships in both communities provides sufficient size for ventures to start and have a real chance for successful development, due to the existence of a market without the expense of finding and contacting it and educating it for each small company that starts somewhere in the First Nations world.

7.) Technology and Communication

The collaboration among and between communities spread throughout North America will require a strong communication network and capability. In order to facilitate this communication, it will be necessary to utilize the most modern, state of the art technological capacity, based on computers, the Internet, and satellite communications. The building of this infra-structure and the training of the appropriate people in each location is part of the project that will have wide-ranging benefits far beyond the herbal field.

8.) Diet and Health

Seminars will be organized to aid people in understanding the link between diet and health. It is anticipated that this project will expand to include high-value dietary components to improve the overall basic health of the people.

9.) Energy, Recycling and Waste Disposal

In any major development project it is important to take into account where the energy will come from and what happens to the by-products or waste products of the project. This is particularly important in the field of manufacturing. The current project includes the potential development of self-supporting energy generating plants based on burning of waste products in a clean, renewable cycle.

10.) Funding
The goal of the project is not to have one central focus in control of the entire project. Rather, each community will have the opportunity to develop its own capacities with respect to developing herbal products, manufacturing or other value added activity, provision of distribution capabilities, and setting up of local herbal health centers. The activities of Four Directions and Lotus Light are meant to provide coordination, communication and information. These activities will be funded by the business generated through Four Directions and Lotus Light.

With respect to local funding, each community will need to analyze its own opportunities within the project and develop its own funding strategy. While many Reserves have available funds from government support or trust funds, local iniatives, or other successful operations at this time, and thus can provide appropriate funding for the activities they choose to develop within this project, others will require support and creative finance options. Four Directions and Lotus Light are actively seeking to develop funding options for those who require it, including but not limited to government "self-sufficiency" grants, private foundation grants, investment capital, microbanks, and private family or community fund pools. Along with assistance in obtaining funding, we are prepared to provide training and accounting systems to assist those who get involved in controlling their business operations and conserving their funds appropriately. At the same time, we recognize that such assistance is not required by many , who have developed their own very strong financial base in some cases, and we respect the principle that each community should have the utmost freedom of privacy in its affairs. With this in mind, we provide assistance in developing funding only when needed and requested.

11.)  Self Sufficiency - Long Range Goal

The eventual long range goals is to have First Nations people achieve full self-sufficiency among and between their various communities. This self-sufficiency will provide the foundation for First Nations people to once more take charge of their own destiny and play their necessary and valuable role in guiding humanity into the next millennium and facing challenges of the past and the future.

12.) More Information
In summary, this project of Four Directions and Lotus Light involves providing information, coordination, market access and training/education. All of the local project operations at each community are run totally by and for the local community as an independent operation. Relations between this project and the local activities are based on mutually agreed upon terms and interchange. Each local organization has the freedom to develop from the base that is established to meet their own local needs without interference from any centralized organization. Thus structure is the opposite of what is normally found in government-organized programs, and is directed towards the development of a vibrant, self-sufficient community of people who each can express themselves in their own way, but can join together when it makes sense for each to do so to achieve economies of scale, efficiency and progress. Rather than accentuate the central organization, this project is designed to support, enhance and develop the local structure at the Reserve level. It is our belief that in this way, each band, tribe and community can maintain its own lifeways and activities, while having access to a large and growing network of concerned and caring people all over the continent, and a new economic and health model can develop which overcomes long years of reliance on government programs and dependency and which creates true opportunity for each community to thrive together in ways that are unique to themselves.