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What We Are; A Little Reminder

Kristine Dewar, M.A., R.P., C.C.C.
Dec 20, 2025
1 min read

I came across this lovely poem by Erin Hanson about what we are and what we aren't:

Not.

You are not your age,

Nor the size of clothes you wear,

You are not a weight,

Or the colour of your hair.

You are not your name,

Or the dimples in your cheeks.

You are all the books you read,

And all the words you speak,

You are your croaking morning voice,

And the smiles you try to hide,

You're the sweetness in your laughter,

And every tear you've cried.

You're the songs you sing so loudly,

When you know you're all alone,

You're the places that you've been to,

And the one that you call home.

You're the things that you believe in,

And the people that you love,

You're the photos in your bedroom, 

And the future you dream of.

You're made of so much beauty,

But it seems that you forgot,

When you decided that you were defined,

By all the things you're not.

- Erin Hanson

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Land Acknowledgement

The West Champlain Family Health Team acknowledges it is located upon the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin People and respects the traditional knowledge and healing developed over generations. We have the privilege and responsibility to serve First Nations, Inuit, and Métis of many backgrounds and from many treaty and non-treaty lands and territories, and to demonstrate respect for the contributions and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.

 

Iye West Champlain Family Health Team ogíkikenindánáwá taniziwadj ondaje Algonquin Anishinábe tanakíwin ega ka mígiwewadj iyo kichi Anishinábewakí ashidj odapítenindánáwá kikádjichigewin ashidj mino nódjimowin ka pamíkán pinawígo. Nínawind d’ayánánán shawenimigoziwin ashidj inenindágoziwin kidji wídókáwadag Anishinábeg, Abitawizíg ashidj Kíwedinóg máneg wendjibáwadj ashidj níbina nakondiwin ashidj ega akíng ashidj tanakíwinan ashidj kidji wábandayá apítenindagoziwin ondji ka mígiwewadj ashidj pimádjiwowinan ogo Anishinábeg Pemádizidjig.

 

The West Champlain Family Health Team is grateful to the Indigenous Health Circle (which works in collaboration with The Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn and the Ottawa Valley Ontario Health Team) for sharing a meaningful land acknowledgement both in English and Omámíwininímowin (the Algonquin Anishinábe language), which is the basis of our own.

© 2023 by West Champlain FHT

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