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Ojibwe Dreamcatcher Legend

This is the way the old Ojibwe say Spider Woman helped bring Grandfather Sun back to the people. To this day, Spider Woman will build her special lodge before dawn. If you are awake at dawn—as you should be—look for her lodge and you will see how she captured the…
Categories: My Culture, Wellness and Healing

Pap Smear Screening

A pap smear, also called a pap test, is part of a pelvic exam. A pap test is usually done in the first few years after you have become sexually active and then yearly after that or when you turn 21, whichever comes first. It is the only way to…
Categories: Sexual Health, STDs

Powwows

Geronimo, Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph Jesus, I wanna be the poet who writes about the powwowsthe first one to describe how the smell of sweetgrasstrails behind the Indian dancer with his long dark hair,eagle feathers swirling in soft curls on his bustle,and how the jingles on his feetlaced tightly to…
Categories: My Culture, PowWow

Self-Care for New Parents

Having a baby means making changes in your life. These can be wonderful and rewarding, but they might also involve making some difficult choices. It’s important to work through any concerns you have and get support for yourself and your baby. As a parent, you might be focused on looking…
Categories: My Relationships, Pregnancy

Puberty – Common questions from girls

Please note: In this article, we are working towards using inclusive language. However, we understand that it may confuse readers who are not used to it. Since we may be at different places in our understanding and inclusive language is not common just yet, we would like to provide some…
Categories: My Relationships, Puberty, Sexual Health

Coming of Age – Common questions from guys

Please note: In this article, we are working towards using inclusive language. However, we understand that it may confuse readers who are not used to it. Since we may be at different places in our understanding and inclusive language is not common just yet, we would like to provide some…
Categories: My Relationships, Puberty, Sexual Health

Girls’ Reproductive Anatomy

Here are some answers to common questions about anatomy, including the vulva, vagina, and breasts. What’s a vulva? The vulva includes the labia, clitoris, vagina, and the opening to the urethra. The vulva gets called lots of funny names — coochie, woo-woo, and “down there.” What does “labia” mean? The…
Categories: Anatomy, My Relationships, Sexual Health

Guys’ Reproductive Anatomy

Does size really matter? Many people worry about the size and shape of their penis. Yet penises come in all shapes and sizes and all are very different. What is a penis? The penis is made up of a shaft, the glans (head/helmet) and the prepuce (foreskin). At birth, the…
Categories: Anatomy, My Relationships, Sexual Health

Residential Schools

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a program was set up by the U.S. and Canadian governments to streamline assimilation, (the process by which different cultures are absorbed into a single mainstream culture) in Indigenous peoples of North America. The ludicrous concept that such an assimilation would be…
Categories: History, My Culture

Rez To Urban Transition

Growing up on the reservation is a privilege afforded to few. Getting all that quality time with family members, constantly surrounded by cousins, growing up playing basketball and learning about culture and experiencing a Native worldview, these are all great things to be blessed with. How hard is it, then,…
Categories: My Culture, Rez Life - Urban Life

Safer Sex

Safer sex reduces our risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). How Can I Lower My Risk Using Safer Sex? We all care about protecting ourselves and the ones we love. For sexually active people that means practicing safer sex. We can use it to reduce our risk of…
Categories: My Relationships, Sexual Health, STDs

Seven Grandfathers

Once there was a child. Though she was very young, the patriarchs of her tribe sought to teach her how to live as a human being in a world that can be imperfect, sometimes sad. They knew that if she lived by the precepts they offered she would be able…
Categories: My Culture, Traditional Stories and Teachings
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