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TheStar.com - living - Cancer made Spirit strong
TheStar.com - living - Cancer made Spirit strong
Cancer made Spirit strong
Jul 14, 2007 04:30 AM
This essay, written by Chief Leonard George, was originally broadcast on CBC Radio's This I Believe on July 5. Leonard George is the son of the late Chief Dan George and is the primary leader and elected chief of the Tsleil-waututh Nation (which translates as people of the inlet) in Burrard Inlet, B.C. He is a lecturer, humorist, a consultant on films and scripts and an actor, and has appeared in such films as Americathon, Shadow of the Hawk, White Fang and Little Big Man. He is also a traditional native singer and dancer.
I believe in the Spirit in me, in the ones I love and the spirit of mother earth. The roots of my belief are inherited from my people, the Tsleil-waututh Nation, and from all natives of North America – we all have a relationship with the Great Spirit. But the real lesson about the strength and beauty of the Spirit came from my youngest son, Isaac.
I have not always fully understood my culture, as my earlier days were tarnished by the Indian Act, residential school and religion. I, as a human being, was damaged, but my Spirit kept me alive.
My first turning point came when I met and married my wife, lover and best friend, Susan. We had five sons, or maybe I should say four boys, because Isaac was two-spirited (gay). We lost our second son Qut-same at 6 months of age. He died from sudden infant death syndrome. Our first six years together were shaky because of my drug and alcohol addiction. It was like I was there, but I wasn't there for my family.
Now, I have been clean and sober for 31 years and Susan and I will celebrate 37 years together this August. We have shared a lot in our time, the laughs, joys, fears, insecurities, frustrations, tears, celebrations and successes, all at a very deep level. Susan has always encouraged our family to follow Native ways, the sweats, pipe ceremonies, fasting, foods and the philosophy of the Spirit.
Our biggest challenge and test of the Spirit within has come in these past few years. In the late fall of 2005, I was diagnosed with cancer in the throat. I was devastated. I thought I was immortal.
Home was the only place I wanted to be. I curled up like a baby and cried. Susan was there for me. We began a journey of healing together.
A few months after that, our son Isaac came home to live with us. He had HIV/AIDS. He needed healing, as well. The three of us spent the next nine months together. Susan put her own health challenges aside and nursed us both through the harsh treatments, tests, medicines and hospital stays. For me, it was a good, warm healing process. For Isaac, it was his last days on Earth. In the end, with Susan on Isaac's right and me on his left, surrounded by his brothers and his sisters, friends, nieces, nephews, we sent him to our ancestors in the Spirit world while singing and drumming a spiritual song.
Isaac was half-English, half-Salish. He was deaf and two-spirited. He lived each of those cultures to the fullest with compassion and love for them all, without any compromise or regrets. The way he described how the Spirit world feels and the peace you feel made death seem beautiful.
I now accept that I am mortal. When Susan and I feel like we are in a tsunami of emotions, we focus on our spirituality, our sons, our daughters and our grandchildren, and also on our beautiful Isaac. He taught us how to see the world through a rainbow of beautiful colours.
Thank God I had cancer. It caused me to stay at home and experience the Spirit inside myself through the love of my family and the courage and beauty of Isaac. I believe – with greater compassion and love and sense of peace than ever – in the Spirit in me.
SPECIALS
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Wakestock 2007
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Driver in crash that killed boy had undetected brain tumour No bailout for Toronto, premier says Manhunt in 3 killings Canadians tight-fisted about tipping, survey says Renovator uncovers mummified infant McGuinty adviser apologizes for sexist blog item 29,000 sex offenders on MySpace Burst oil pipeline drenches B.C. town Speeding? OPP chief may be on your tail Rocket attack kills 10 in northwestern Pakistan
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TheStar.com - living - Cancer made Spirit strong
TheStar.com - living - Cancer made Spirit strong
Cancer made Spirit strong
Jul 14, 2007 04:30 AM
This essay, written by Chief Leonard George, was originally broadcast on CBC Radio's This I Believe on July 5. Leonard George is the son of the late Chief Dan George and is the primary leader and elected chief of the Tsleil-waututh Nation (which translates as people of the inlet) in Burrard Inlet, B.C. He is a lecturer, humorist, a consultant on films and scripts and an actor, and has appeared in such films as Americathon, Shadow of the Hawk, White Fang and Little Big Man. He is also a traditional native singer and dancer.
I believe in the Spirit in me, in the ones I love and the spirit of mother earth. The roots of my belief are inherited from my people, the Tsleil-waututh Nation, and from all natives of North America – we all have a relationship with the Great Spirit. But the real lesson about the strength and beauty of the Spirit came from my youngest son, Isaac.
I have not always fully understood my culture, as my earlier days were tarnished by the Indian Act, residential school and religion. I, as a human being, was damaged, but my Spirit kept me alive.
My first turning point came when I met and married my wife, lover and best friend, Susan. We had five sons, or maybe I should say four boys, because Isaac was two-spirited (gay). We lost our second son Qut-same at 6 months of age. He died from sudden infant death syndrome. Our first six years together were shaky because of my drug and alcohol addiction. It was like I was there, but I wasn't there for my family.
Now, I have been clean and sober for 31 years and Susan and I will celebrate 37 years together this August. We have shared a lot in our time, the laughs, joys, fears, insecurities, frustrations, tears, celebrations and successes, all at a very deep level. Susan has always encouraged our family to follow Native ways, the sweats, pipe ceremonies, fasting, foods and the philosophy of the Spirit.
Our biggest challenge and test of the Spirit within has come in these past few years. In the late fall of 2005, I was diagnosed with cancer in the throat. I was devastated. I thought I was immortal.
Home was the only place I wanted to be. I curled up like a baby and cried. Susan was there for me. We began a journey of healing together.
A few months after that, our son Isaac came home to live with us. He had HIV/AIDS. He needed healing, as well. The three of us spent the next nine months together. Susan put her own health challenges aside and nursed us both through the harsh treatments, tests, medicines and hospital stays. For me, it was a good, warm healing process. For Isaac, it was his last days on Earth. In the end, with Susan on Isaac's right and me on his left, surrounded by his brothers and his sisters, friends, nieces, nephews, we sent him to our ancestors in the Spirit world while singing and drumming a spiritual song.
Isaac was half-English, half-Salish. He was deaf and two-spirited. He lived each of those cultures to the fullest with compassion and love for them all, without any compromise or regrets. The way he described how the Spirit world feels and the peace you feel made death seem beautiful.
I now accept that I am mortal. When Susan and I feel like we are in a tsunami of emotions, we focus on our spirituality, our sons, our daughters and our grandchildren, and also on our beautiful Isaac. He taught us how to see the world through a rainbow of beautiful colours.
Thank God I had cancer. It caused me to stay at home and experience the Spirit inside myself through the love of my family and the courage and beauty of Isaac. I believe – with greater compassion and love and sense of peace than ever – in the Spirit in me.
SPECIALS
Plug-in cars hit the road
Burned by hot tickets
Wakestock 2007
More Specials
Great home delivery subscription deals here!
Advertisement
More in the news
Driver in crash that killed boy had undetected brain tumour No bailout for Toronto, premier says Manhunt in 3 killings Canadians tight-fisted about tipping, survey says Renovator uncovers mummified infant McGuinty adviser apologizes for sexist blog item 29,000 sex offenders on MySpace Burst oil pipeline drenches B.C. town Speeding? OPP chief may be on your tail Rocket attack kills 10 in northwestern Pakistan
Advertisement
MOST POPULAR ON THESTAR.COM
Most Read
Most Emailed
* Renovator uncovers mummified infant
* Driver in crash that killed boy had undetected brain tumour
* Manhunt in 3 killings
* Irate soccer mom brings game to screeching halt
* Speeding? OPP chief may be on your tail
* The dark side of the backyard
* Renovator uncovers mummified infant
* Irate soccer mom brings game to screeching halt
* Manhunt in 3 killings
* Couple accused of illegal trading