Twenty-five Tribal Members earn CWIS-CTM Certificates in Herbal Medicines

Twenty-five Tulalip, Muckleshoot and Colville Tribal members earned Center for Traditional Medicine Herbal Medicines Certificates after nine-months of intensive studies under the instruction of Valerie Segrest from the Muckleshoot Tribe.

Ten members of the Tulalip Tribes in Washington State, USA were awarded the Center for World Indigenous Studies Center for Traditional Medicine Herbal Medicines Certificate. Dr. Rudolph Ryser presented each of the certificates during a ceremony conducted at the Hibulb Cultural Center’s Longhouse at Tulalip on 4 December 2016. On December 9, 2016 fifteen Muckleshoot and Colville tribal members received CWIS/CTM Herbal Medicines Certificates as well. The twenty-five learners studied for the intensive Herbal Medicines Certificate from April 2016 through December 2016. 

Center for Traditional Medicine Herbal Medicine Certificates were awarded at Tulalip’s Hibulb Cultural Center to Sara Andres, Inez Bill, Andrew Gobin, Summer Hatch, Domonique Houle, Courtney Jefferson, Virginia Jones, Joy Lacy, Sheila McCoy, and Monica Ordonia.

Center for Traditional Medicine Herbal Medicine Certificates were awarded to Candice Bennet, Janet Emery, Cinnamon Enos, Lorena Harnden, Rhonda Harnden, Janay Joseph, Autumn Judge-McCloud, Leslie LaFontaine, Rosalinda Maldanado, Virginia Marquez, and Noreen Milne at Muckleshoot Tribal College on 9 December.

Valerie Segrest from the Muckleshoot Tribe delivered the Certificate over a nine-month period resulting in each learner engaging in 250 hours of study. Certificate awards were given for studies in:

• History of Salish Health Systems and Herbal Medicine – Digestion
• Skin and Musculoskeletal System – the “Gut connection.”
• Heart and circulatory system – the heart and inflammation
• The Nervous System – nervous system disorders
• Immune and Lymphatic System – immuno deficiencies
• Liver and Endocrine System – liver and endocrine conditions
• Respiratory System – “The Lungs of the Earth”
• Ruler of Waters – UTI Health and the Heart Connection
• Reproductive System 

Every learner engaged the herbs, medicines and tinctures created in class from Salish country sources to explore their applications to whole health medicine.

Valerie Segrest and Dr. Rudolph Ryser are surrounded by the Certificate winners at Tulalip and Valerie is in the center surrounded by Muckleshoot Certificate awardees. Dr. Leslie E. Korn is the Director of education at the Center for World Indigenous Studies.