Maaym Binben, Berry Bellies

This Sm’algya̱x (Ts’msyen Language) story is about two supernatural beings on a berry eating journey. This arts-based learning tool was developed for health care professionals, however anyone is welcome to participate and learn from it.

Before you listen along to Maaym Binben, Berry Bellies, go to the storybook to move through the pages with the audio. As well, download the Workbook to respond to the prompt questions and scenarios designed to help you think about the bias’s being addressed in the story. The true and relevant scenarios explain how these bias’s negatively affected the care provided to Indigenous peoples seeking help.

By presenting these lessons about biases within a story, the author is staying true to the Ts’msyen cultural practice of teaching through multi layered stories that challenge the individual to find the meaning within. The author has also chosen to feature supernatural beings and animals which is an important lesson pertaining to our inherent connection to the land and all our relations. Learning through story takes patience, self-reflection and an abandonment of unhealthy ego. Wayi Wah.

Visit the Maaym Binben, Berry Bellies page on the H.E.A.L. Healthcare website for author and illustrator information and further resources and learning opportunities. 

The Hearts-based Education and Anti-colonial Learning Project brings together artists, writers, activists, and people with lived experience to create arts-based anti-oppression curriculum and learning materials for healthcare educators, professionals, and practitioners wanting to address biases and ‘-isms’ that permeate healthcare systems and culture. The curricula provided on this site address the longstanding and well-established health disparities exist because of racist, colonial, able-body/minded, geographic, economic, and gendered inequities.

For more learning opportunities, visit healhealthcare.ca