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HOSW History

The Healing Our Spirit Movement

The Healing Our Spirit Worldwide movement began as one person’s vision to create an international forum and movement focused on the alcohol and drug abuse issues and programs in Indigenous communities throughout the global community.

With the Second Gathering (1994) in Sydney, Australia and the Third (1998) in Rotorua, Aotearoa (New Zealand), HOSW established itself as the international cultural and spiritual movement celebrating the tenacity and resilience of Indigenous peoples around the world in the struggle against alcohol and drug abuse.

The fourth gathering of HOSW held in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2002), expanded the vision with the inclusion of health and governance issues. The Fourth Gathering provided two important developments:

  • The Covenant – a document to be designed for use at many levels, promoting health and healing and ensuring these issues have a prominent place in the everyday life of Indigenous peoples around the world – was formulated to provide guidance and direction for Indigenous peoples in developing models of healing, self-determination and wholeness.
  • The International Indigenous Council (IIC) for HOSW consisting of Indigenous leaders from different countries was formed.

The Fifth Gathering expanded the vision with the inclusion of health and governance issues in relation to alcohol and drug abuse Held in Edmonton, Canada (2006) saw increased participation of indigenous Peoples from the Pacific and expanded the vision of the Covenant of HOSW to make it one of the world’s most remarkable documents.

The Fifth Gathering’s Indigenous Delegation from Central and South America, sponsored by NNAPF set the stage for their full and active inclusion in the HOSW movement.

NNAPF and HOSW

Established in 2000 as a National Aboriginal Organisation, NNAPF offers a national perspective on a broad range of First Nations and Inuit addictions policy, research and program-specific issues and provides leadership with respect to First Nations and Inuit addictions knowledge development and transfer.

NNAPF’s Vision, mission and mandate are rooted in values reflected in the HOSW covenant. The Foundation has been a strong and active partner for the movement since its own creation.

It was during the Albuquerque HOSW 4th Gathering that Aboriginal people from Canada met and selected Chief Austin Bear from Saskatchewan, Allen Benson and Maggie Hodgson from Alberta, and Rod Jeffries from Ontario to lead Canada in the planning and implementation of the Fifth Gathering. As a result, the International Indigenous Council for Healing Our Spirit Worldwide was formed.

Chief Austin Bear is President and CEO of the Foundation, and, with NNAPF’s Executive Director, Sharon Clarke, the Spirit of HOSW has been nurtured and dynamized in the organisation. NNAPF was the organization who gathered and sponsored a South America delegation to HOSW 2006.

NNAPF has provided support to HOSW since its fourth gathering held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in September 2002. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF) combined efforts to maximize Aboriginal Canadian participation in the International Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference (HOSW) in the 4th annual Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

  • In partnership, AFN and NNAPF collaborated on the development and implementation of the Canadian work plan based on the International conference principles, objectives and international work plan. Their proposal to Heath Canada was successful and NNAPF and AFN were able to fully implement the support activities of the Canadian Participation at the 4th Gathering 2002.
  • As the result of this strong Canadian participation, Canada was able to win the bid for the 2006 HOSW 5th Gathering.
  • In 2006, NNAPF supported the Gathering by purchasing two conference tracks, collaborating on 4 conference tracks, sponsoring a South American Delegation, organizing a feast and a Canada-wide drumming project.
  • For the next 2010 HOSW – the 6th Gathering, hosted by Hawai’i, NNAPF participated in the meeting organised by the Hawaiian hosting organisation Papa Ola Lokahi September 8-12, 2008.
  • NNAPF Offered a proposal of support at the meeting (see NNAPF Support page).
  • NNAPF has also purchased the domain HOSW.ca to provide Canadian Friends of HOSW a place to obtain information, as well as to promote, support and share information on the HOSW movement.

Members of NNAPF’s Board, the Regional and territorial network of communities and organisations they represent, NNAPF’s own National, Provincial and International partners all participate in activities to support the human and financial resources aimed at insuring their contribution in the planning and participatory activities of each Gathering.

Useful Historical Information