Betty Kuli'iana Lau and LuAnn Oiiwaniyoh Jamieson
LuAnn Oiiwaniyoh (it surrounds her or she takes it with her) Jamieson is a Faithkeeper through the Tonawanda Seneca Nation Hawk Clan. She is the founder of the traditional knowledge and language -based school "Haudenosaunee Lifeways & Language." LuAnn and I first met through Papa Henry Auwae where we studied la'au lapa'au (healing with Hawaiian medicinal herbs and spirituality) together in the late 90's.
Through study and work involving natural healing over the last twenty years and through a strong background in the teachings and guidance of her elders, LuAnn has pursued a commitment to the health and well being of her people, supporting and promoting Indigenous worldviews and healing practices.
LuAnn is an Indigenous Foods Consultant, Certified Group Fitness Professional and is also certified to practice Lomilomi (Hawaiian massage) by Aunty Margaret Machado. As a part of a network of emerging Indigenous leaders, LuAnn is also an American Indian Ambassador with the Americans for Indian Opportunity Ambassadors Program. She is currently pursuing a degree in Pubic Health at Syracuse University.
We spoke by phone as she prepared to come to Chicago to assist Betty Lau in the lomilomi events.
June Tanoue: Tell me about your name Oiiwaniyoh (it surrounds her or she takes it with her). What does the "it" mean?
LuAnn Jamieson: It's an aura in the sense that whatever I do and whoever I am, "it" always goes with me. I always take whatever I've gathered with me wherever I go. Names are given by our clanmother. When we are born we are given a name, and when we reach womanhood we are given a different name.
Our clans are matrilineal and matriarchal. All names come through the mother and clanmother. All the women get their identity from their mother because you are born from your mother - you will always know who your mother is. I'm of the Hawk Clan. There are different clans - birds and animals. If there is a death on the bird side, animals come to their aid and help them with their work and death during the mourning period - one example of how the clan division is significant.
JT: What does the Hawk signify?
LJ: The Hawk's responsibilities are to overlook, oversee and protect. The heights that they reach allow them a certain view. They look out for the people, are community oriented, and protective of people. My father is from the Beaver Clan - most are industrious, hard workers, gentle and kind, and get the job down.
JT: Why are you interested in health?
LJ: I grew up and that was my path. I saw my mother struggle with illness and disease - complications with diabetes. So I started to learn about diabetes and other diseases and began to think strongly about prevention. I learned a lot but much too late for my mother - but I really want to help others in the community with my experience. For a long time doctors were just prescribing pharmaceuticals. We have our own medicines that are as strong if not stronger.
I started a traditional knowledge school first by teaching 3 and 4 year-olds. We taught them the language - the Thanksgiving address - and slowly added other grades. We brought in traditional herbalists a - a Mohawk man - Eddy Gray. He walked through the woods and he pointed out many things that were edible and healing - it was amazing. More of our people needed to learn those things.
The Haudenosaunee Whole Health Initiative promotes natural healing. I was involved with them when I met Papa Henry. We brought him here, and he was very helpful in promoting what I wanted. He saw in my community what I saw - many people taking pills and not knowing their side effects.
His way was so gentle, kind and loving - based in indigenous science - he helped to give more attention to the whole traditional medicines. It was always here and people took it but didn't give it their full confidence. He helped us build confidence, including Haudenosaunee herbalists to promote indigenous medicines - sometimes as an alternative but sometimes integrated with western medicine.
Part of what we ignore is how much nutrition is part of health and wellness and treatment of disease. Sometimes Western medicine is so invasive. We have our own healing methods that are more appropriate for us in the form of collective values, relationships, community involvement, ceremonies... all lend themselves to healing.
Everything goes back to reciprocity - a collective vision and support. Many of our ceremonies acknowledge the gift of food. When we give thanks for corn and beans and squash - not pizza and chicken wings - we are reaffirming our spiritual relationship with food and medicines.
JT: Would you describe your spirituality?
LJ: It is not something that we compartmentalize. Our belief system is part of our wholeness - inseparable from reality - part of our everyday life. We have relationships with animals - mostly animals that taught us about medicines - and relationships with plants.
JT: What about Lomilomi ?
LJ: I was drawn to it - my relationship with Papa - he used to say that it was meant to be. I only have surface knowledge - but I think all indigenous ways have similarities - protocol for picking medicines, similar thinking of responsibility in healing. Healing is not up to one medicine but a combination of many things including the individual seeking the healing. They have to have optimism to be healed. I found that similarity with Native Hawaiian healing.
As for the lomilomi, Papa told me about it and he suggested I study it. So I studied with Aunty Margaret Machado. There was one part when you do the ulna part of the massage and you shuffle your feet, it gave me the chills. It reminded me of the Women Shuffle Dance that honors women and demonstrates many responsibilities of women. Learning that part of the massage really resonated with me. I loved the whole protocol: pule (prayer), strong sense of thinking of healing this person - the sincerity of healing in Native Communities - this physical and mental thing helping the person to get better. The Creator is always a part of healing. Lomilomi is very similar to how we look at healing.
