Jenny James,
Southwestern Community College
library staff, will be a featured
presenter at the Animals:
Our Allies in Health Conference
Aug. 14-15 at the Mountain
Area Health Education Center
in Asheville.
SCC’s
Jenny James, connecting
here with her
rescue Sharpei
Sally, will be
a featured presenter
at the Animals:
Our Allies in
Health Conference
Aug. 14-15 at
the Mountain Area
Health Education
Center in Asheville.
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At the conference- which
focuses on interconnectedness
of human beings and animals
-James will present a session
on Animal Medicine- A Study
in Native American Mind/Body/Spirit
at 2:15 on Friday, Aug.
15.
“I wrote my dissertation
on animals and spirituality
in the Cherokee tradition
and that’s one of
the reasons I was invited,”
said James who received
her PhD from The University
of St. Michael’s College,
Toronto, Ontario.
In her study of Cherokee
history James found the
Great Mother archetype is
the first structure of the
conscious self. “It
is the Great Mother who
has power over birth, life
and death; disease and health;
vegetation and famine; etc.
Her major animal representative
is the dog, who accompanies
her, acting on her behalf,
and protecting her,”
James said. “The dog
is identified with corn,
fire, and the sun, and sacred
events, i.e., the flood,
the creation of the Milky
Way and death, in Cherokee
mythology. The dog plays
a providential role on behalf
of the Cherokee in their
sacred stories and medical
formulas.”
James said it is the dog
who overcomes rheumatism
sent by Little Deer to disrespectful
hunters; the dog who saves
the Cherokee from the primeval
flood; the dog who senses
witches and drives them
away; the dog who lies upon
the hearth, close to the
old Woman of the fire; and
the dog who creates, through
corn, the Milky Way, the
path of the souls to heaven.
“In all instances,
the dog represents the Great
Mother archetype,”
according to James.
Day one of the conference
will focus on public health
issues, from the risks associated
with factory farming to
the role of animals in search
and rescue. The second day
of the conference will cover
an array of topics, including
how animals partner with
and serve human beings in
a variety of therapeutic
ways.
Continuing education credits
are available. The cost
is $110 for one day or $189
for both days. MAHEC is
located on Biltmore Avenue
in downtown Asheville. For
more information call 828-257-4475
or visit www.mahec.net.
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