EVS aide’s healing journey stems from Indigenous roots – Niagara Health
Sep 13th, 2023
When Cherie Bernard embarked on a journey toward mental health, she chose to heal to the beat of her own drum.
The Environmental Services (EVS) aide in the St. Catharines Emergency Department did it by picking up an Indigenous hand drum, and in the years since Bernard began striking a rhythm to heal, she’s used drumming to help others along their own path to well-being.
“The sound unblocks things that are in the way of healing,” Bernard says. “For me, when I use my drum, it’s not about performance. It’s about sending prayers and connecting to Creator.”
It was about 20 years ago when Bernard hit a roadblock in overcoming past traumas and reached out to the local Indigenous community for help.
