You Don't Believe In Bad Medicine? Stop Doing It Then.

Been told by Traditional people that they don't believe in Bad Medicine. Bad Medicine has been a saying or belief in Indian communities forever (or a long time anyway). Lately lot of Medicine people say there is no such thing. They say this because of the many people coming to them for "Protection". These people believe that someone is putting Bad Medicine on them so their lives are horrible. So Medicine people think it's a hypochondriac situation, or maybe it's more practical thing like: these people don't warrant anyone wanting to put energy in doing them harm.  But seriously there are some of us that want or seek any kind of attention so claiming we are getting "hit" is a way to be seen and heard.

For Me I do believe there is Bad Medicine. Even more so, that we practice it everyday.

It may not be those 'Fireballs' the Old People saw over your house or racing in the sky following you, or the needle flowing beneath your skin and getting into your blood stream, or the glass splinter stuck in your head causing you to go crazy, but don't kid yourselves, it's there. It may not look like the Toad being tossed in your Fire, or the step over your legs but Bad Medicine is practiced. It may look like the Face being twisted to have the crooked face but Bad Medicine is there.  Even the non-believer practice it. It is the evil word, the ugly word, the evil action, the evil words. Bad Medicine is bold and it is quiet. It is sneaky, it so in your face that you don't even recognize it.

We see it playing out everywhere, the Bad Medicine. We see it in our work place, the hospitals, the Band Office, the police car, on the bus, on the street, in the news media, and even our homes.

We feel it when we watch the TV and see a man being burned alive while in a cage. We see it in the eyes of those that are using a big knife to take the head of a person tied up. We see it in the face of a man that beheads a young man and then eats his nose. It can be so ugly that we can't understand how it happened. Like when an Indian man goes to the hospital is ignored for 34 hours and dies in an atmosphere of Care? We see it when a Man of God uses his power and uses his position to rape your child. We see it so ugly. We also see it so friendly. We see it so much that is becomes part of our lives and even in our heroes.  We see it in our elected and our protectors. We hear it coming out of our mouths.

Bad Medicine - There it is: Wab Kinew writes a book and we see it coming out as there are those who call him down for trying and being public. There it is: Terrance Nelson is in the news again, he is the radical one. There it is: David Blacksmith is taking Ceremonies and the Drum to the North. He is a heathen and devil worshiper. There it is: EJ Fontaine has a big business, how did he do it? Uncle again? There it is: Leah Gazan always being in the news, thinks she knows everything. There it is: Chickadee Richard she is a man hater only there to cause trouble.  There it is: The co-worker who talks behind your back. The colleague who undermines without constructive options. The friend who betrays your trust. The husband who beats his wife. It can be just like that; horrible or just the everyday comment.

How do we know it exists? How do we know Medicine exists? I mean the non-believer knows that there is no 'outside forces', right?  Fact is we know what good is right? The  Inuit man who gave the coat off his back to a frozen person, Putulik the homeless man gave his coat to another in the cold. The transit bus driver who stopped his bus and gave his shoes to a shoe-less person. We know good exists because we practice it everyday. We know it exists when you stop and pick up a piece of trash on the ground. We know it exists as you compliment your co-worker for being there. . Good Medicine can be the Eagle Feather you hang over your Door watching and protecting. Good medicine is the  sage in your footwear. Good medicine is Bear Root in your pouch. Good medicine can also be the handshake you give to a stranger.  We know good medicine exists. We know Bad Medicine exists because if it didn't exist we wouldn't recognize Good Medicine.

Even the medical scientific community recognizes Good Medicine.
The New Mom lays her new Baby on her skin. That is good medicine.
The milk of a Mom is the best good medicine for a Baby, much better than formula with all its added nutrients.
A Traditional Teacher goes in the Bush and looks for good Medicine so others can go Sweat and pray with them.
Your Co-worker gives you a ride home when it is so cold out.
You coach a young team of hockey players.
You do your best to work hard when someone gives you a chance.
You remember someone in their time of grief.
Good Medicine is out there and we practice it everyday.
Bad Medicine is out there and we practice it everyday.

Bad Medicine even the best of us use it. Just look at the Facebook.

But Good Medicine is what we should be practicing.

Putulik Qumaq hands over his jean jacket to the teenager who was posing as homeless. (MTLCINEMA)