When dealing with stress brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone can benefit from reminders of their own strength, according to the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT).
In addition to providing grocery support and hosting full-moon ceremonies online, the organization continues its mission to provide self-empowering services to Indigenous women and families in Toronto.
Self-affirmation can take many forms, but in this case, self-affirming statements can be said aloud or read in private for the purpose of situating a person’s strength and worth in the midst of a stressful or challenging time.
Oxford Dictionary defines self-affirmation as: “the recognition and assertion of the existence and value of one’s individual self”.
That work is now reaching people across the country, according to Executive Director Pamela Hart.
“We’ve seen a very positive response,” Hart told APTN News. “It’s opened up our clientele. We saw women who just needed it, who needed to be a part of something that they know and that they rely on every month that builds strength and unity and brings them closer to their spiritual self.”
The country has been in lock down for nearly a month as officials try to control the spread of the new coronavirus which causes Covid-19. More than a million people have lost their jobs as businesses closed and much of the population is in self isolation.
Maintaining a presence in community members’ daily lives is also important to the organization.
To that end, the NWRCT Facebook page is providing links to culture and wellness projects as well as self-affirmations that help to build a sense of empowerment.
Self-affirmations are helpful in maintaining a sense of feeling grounded, Hart said.
“It’s important to take those moments to remember who you are, where you are, and be mindful and stay grounded. It’s scary for many individuals.”
As of this posting, 1,007 people have died in Canada including one person in Six Nations of the Grand River. More than 28,000 people across the country have tested positive for it.
More affirmations as well as links to resources and supports can be found on the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto’s Facebook page.
