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College of B.C. researchers and Okanagan Population elders have introduced a brandnew parenting app providing a mixture of conventional, culturally suitable parenting recommendation and fresh sources for Indigenous folks.
The app, known as Two-Eyed Vision for Oldsters, has been a labour of affection for Dr. Wendy Corridor, UBC nursing trainer emeritus, who has been operating with participants of the Okanagan Population and the səxʷkn̓xitəlx ok̓l̓ c̓əc̓málaʔ Central Okanagan Aboriginal Early Years Desk at the app.
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“It felt like a very long gestation and now we’ve given birth,” mentioned Corridor with a snort. “I feel privileged to have worked with the elders at the table to reach this goal. We’ve created something that’s quite unique.”
Corridor was once operating with UBC trainer Patti Janssen, who had evolved an app known as SmartParent, which promotes wholesome kid construction and wellness all the way through a kid’s first era of past.
Via a laborer, Corridor was once hooked up to the Okanagan Population which was once within the SmartParent app however felt it was once now not adapted to their wishes. So that they labored with Okanagan elders to build one that might combine each Syilx parenting values and traditions with modern day parenting recommendation.
The app supplies knowledge on diet, condition, and protection arranged round other levels of kid construction as much as moment 1.
“We believe that children are sacred gifts who deserve the best possible start in life,” mentioned Elder Wilfred “Grouse” Barnes in a observation.
“Our app aims to empower Okanagan Nation parents with the knowledge, confidence and skills to nurture their children’s development while honouring our cultural heritage.”
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For instance, the app incorporates details about First Population doulas and directions on the way to check in an Indigenous kid for his or her situation card. It supplies details about the fix homes of cedar, conventional meals, and a step by step recipe for an ointment the usage of comfrey for diaper rash.
The app contains textual content within the nsyilxcən language, with English translations beneath, which might support revitalize the language throughout the Okanagan Population public.
The app additionally has movies and audio clips, together with Barnes and his daughter translating usual words old to speak to a kid in nsyilxcən and English.
Not like SmartParent, which delivers the schooling program by way of textual content messages despatched to the fogeys’ telephone and calls for connectivity to paintings, Two-Eyed Vision for Oldsters can also be old offline, lowering obstacles to importance because of restricted Web get entry to in faraway farmlands or dear information charges, mentioned Corridor.
Corridor is operating on a paper that outlines the method of constructing the app within the hopes it may be old as a blueprint for others who might need to develop a related useful resource for alternative Indigenous teams.
The app, which was once funded with a federal lend and UBC investment, is to be had for obtain on Google Play games and the Apple App Bundle.
chchan@postmedia.com
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