Seasonal wellness refers to the idea of shaping the way we live to align with the natural world as it changes throughout the year.
In Western medicine, aspects of wellness are examined mainly through how our bodies feel. However, many people view wellness in the form of four quadrants (some Indigenous people refer to this as the medicine wheel) as they relate to the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental states of being. Together, they represent a wholistic view of wellness, which aligns with the First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness.
There are other quadrants, such as the four directions (north, south, east and west), the four stages of life (infant, youth, adult and Elder), and the four seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter). While there are variations in beliefs between Nations and across diverse landscapes, there are many teachings that take a viewpoint toward the four quadrants.
Seasonal wellness is also referred to as a “seasonal round,” and can be used to explore the four seasons by examining the specific activities that take place during those times. Much like the four quadrants of a wheel, the seasonal round is depicted as a circle, turning as the seasons turn into each other:
“As you move around this circle, you’ll see that we spend much of our time outside during the warmer months, and closer to the winter we move inside and activities reflect this. The colonized system of work and movement throughout the year works against the way the Earth works. Hence, we now have things like burnout and seasonal affective disorder and we are prone to seasonal mental health challenges. In today’s world, we aren’t following the seasons natural rhythm and flow. This flow is directly related to Indigenous health and wellness on so many levels.” – Jolene Wesley, Tsimshian Nation, FNHA Coordinator, Traditional Wellness
Depending on the stage of the seasonal round, we may collect traditional foods and medicines, hold specific cultural ceremonies, and observe traditions and celebrations. We may also live in or move to more fertile or abundant grounds, and adapt to the specific weathers or climates of traditional territories.
As you explore FNHA’s seasonal wellness web section, note that the cultural teachings, ceremonies, protocols and knowledge vary greatly depending on the Nation. Information in this section is shared with the goal of promoting understanding of Indigenous perspectives and, specifically, how seasonal wellness is a core component of First Nations ways of knowing and being.
Spring – Learn more about seasonal wellness in the spring, including information and teachings on food, medicines and freshet.
