Know which medicines are wise for you
Introducing the Coyote Story
Storytelling has always been a traditional way in Indigenous communities to share knowledge, wisdom and humour. Now we have new tools to share old ways.
We’ve learned that wellness can be affected by taking too many medications. This is known as Polypharmacy in the medical world. The ‘Coyote’s Food Medicines’ story was created to encourage conversations about wellness and how to manage medications for a healthy life.
Read the Story
STORY BY
Jean William, Cecelia de Rose, & Clara Camille
Elders of Northern Secwepemc
SUPPORTED BY
The Shared Care Committee (a partnership of
Doctors of BC & the BC government)
First Nations Health Authority
Click the image above to download and read the story (pdf). Order books at resources@fnha.ca
"In the past, our Elders didn’t take lots of medication, mostly just aspirin. But now cupboards look like pharmacy shelves."
- Jean William
Hear from the Elders
The ‘Coyote’s Food Medicines’ story was created after Secwepemc Elders, Jean, Clara and Cecelia met in July 2016 to share their thoughts on their community’s use of medicines. From this conversation and the guiding words of the Elders, the ‘Coyote Food Medicines’ story emerged.
In this video you hear from the Elders as they look at the story they helped to create, and discuss their experiences around managing traditional and Western medicines.
About this Project
The seed for this story was planted when Keith White, Physician Lead for Shared Care’s Polypharmacy Risk Reduction Initiative, and Gina Gaspard, Clinical Nurse Specialist for the First Nations Health Authority, saw a health related First Nations story, and thought it might be a good idea to create one related to Polypharmacy.
From there, Gina connected with Danielle Wilson, Aboriginal Lead for Interior Health, who reached out to Secewpemc Elder, Jean William, inviting her and her friends to talk about medication use in their community. What followed was a gathering in Williams Lake where everyone came together for easy conversations, lunch, and visits by some of the Elder’s grandchildren. Danielle took a first shot at writing the story, and with the guidance of the Elders, illustrations by Georgia Lesley, design and production by Drawing Wisdom, the ‘Coyote’s Food Medicines’ story, as you see it today, was created.
About Us
This project is a collaboration between the Shared Care Committee (a partnership of Doctors of BC and the BC government) and the First Nations Health Authority.
