Articles
General · 19th January 2009
Lorna
The following was taken from artist/writer Michael Kluckner's book called Vanishing British Columbia. His website is: www.michaelkluckner.com. He has explained 'Don' very well when he says:
The pyramidal house beside the old courthouse is the most unusual of the new buildings in Atlin. Built by Dr. Donald Branigan sometime in the 1970s or 1980s, it was a holistic healing centre, its shape intended to channel the cosmic vibes to earth; the triangular walls are pierced by shed-roofed dormers on all three floors, and a circular wrought-iron staircase occupies the central core of the interior. The house is mentioned once on the web by “Cindy” who was led to it in 1985 by a huge UFO she spotted near Tagish [see http://www.ufobc.ca/yukon/gianttagish.htm].
Dr. Branigan established a clinic in Whitehorse, confusingly referred to sometimes as the Atlin Holistic Centre, in 1985. There, he used “a holistic approach to medicine including Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutritional counselling, herbal treatments, and energy healing. He is presently using Chondriana and 714X as alternative treatments for cancer.” [see “Bio-Energy Therapy”] His obituary, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal [October 19, 1999], noted that he graduated from the University of Alberta in 1963, was former staff at Whitehorse General Hospital and was elected mayor of Whitehorse four times. “His twin passions were medicine and politics. He embraced holistic medicine and was one of the first Canadian doctors to practise acupuncture. He cofounded the American Holistic Health Association in 1977 and was a controversial physician throughout his career. Died July 7, 1999, aged 66; survived by his wife, Sharon South, and 4 children. ‘Controversy followed him with the sting of a scalpel,’ the National Post commented upon his death. ‘His constituents were not a little taken aback when he suggested using an ultrasonic blaster to treat the city's sewage and when he appeared on national TV to perform “psychic surgery” at his ranch near Carcross. . . . Visionary or madman, he was an intensely sociable man of extravagant generosity. He felt a special affinity for native people, and many told tales of his reaching quietly into his wallet when a helping hand was needed.’”
The pyramidal house beside the old courthouse is the most unusual of the new buildings in Atlin. Built by Dr. Donald Branigan sometime in the 1970s or 1980s, it was a holistic healing centre, its shape intended to channel the cosmic vibes to earth; the triangular walls are pierced by shed-roofed dormers on all three floors, and a circular wrought-iron staircase occupies the central core of the interior. The house is mentioned once on the web by “Cindy” who was led to it in 1985 by a huge UFO she spotted near Tagish [see http://www.ufobc.ca/yukon/gianttagish.htm].
Dr. Branigan established a clinic in Whitehorse, confusingly referred to sometimes as the Atlin Holistic Centre, in 1985. There, he used “a holistic approach to medicine including Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutritional counselling, herbal treatments, and energy healing. He is presently using Chondriana and 714X as alternative treatments for cancer.” [see “Bio-Energy Therapy”] His obituary, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal [October 19, 1999], noted that he graduated from the University of Alberta in 1963, was former staff at Whitehorse General Hospital and was elected mayor of Whitehorse four times. “His twin passions were medicine and politics. He embraced holistic medicine and was one of the first Canadian doctors to practise acupuncture. He cofounded the American Holistic Health Association in 1977 and was a controversial physician throughout his career. Died July 7, 1999, aged 66; survived by his wife, Sharon South, and 4 children. ‘Controversy followed him with the sting of a scalpel,’ the National Post commented upon his death. ‘His constituents were not a little taken aback when he suggested using an ultrasonic blaster to treat the city's sewage and when he appeared on national TV to perform “psychic surgery” at his ranch near Carcross. . . . Visionary or madman, he was an intensely sociable man of extravagant generosity. He felt a special affinity for native people, and many told tales of his reaching quietly into his wallet when a helping hand was needed.’”
And more of the same...
Don was an excellent speaker, loved by audiences.
Permission obtained to use this image.
The following was written about Don Branigan
Comment by Lorna on 25th January 2009
The following was taken from artist/writer Michael Kluckner's book called Vanishing British Columbia. His website is: www.michaelkluckner.com. He has explained 'Don' very well when he says:
The pyramidal house beside the old courthouse is the most unusual of the new buildings in Atlin. Built by Dr. Donald Branigan sometime in the 1970s or 1980s, it was a holistic healing centre, its shape intended to channel the cosmic vibes to earth; the triangular walls are pierced by shed-roofed dormers on all three floors, and a circular wrought-iron staircase occupies the central core of the interior. The house is mentioned once on the web by “Cindy” who was led to it in 1985 by a huge UFO she spotted near Tagish [see http://www.ufobc.ca/yukon/gianttagish.htm].
Dr. Branigan established a clinic in Whitehorse, confusingly referred to sometimes as the Atlin Holistic Centre, in 1985. There, he used “a holistic approach to medicine including Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutritional counselling, herbal treatments, and energy healing. He is presently using Chondriana and 714X as alternative treatments for cancer.” [see “Bio-Energy Therapy”] His obituary, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal [October 19, 1999], noted that he graduated from the University of Alberta in 1963, was former staff at Whitehorse General Hospital and was elected mayor of Whitehorse four times. “His twin passions were medicine and politics. He embraced holistic medicine and was one of the first Canadian doctors to practise acupuncture. He cofounded the American Holistic Health Association in 1977 and was a controversial physician throughout his career. Died July 7, 1999, aged 66; survived by his wife, Sharon South, and 4 children. ‘Controversy followed him with the sting of a scalpel,’ the National Post commented upon his death. ‘His constituents were not a little taken aback when he suggested using an ultrasonic blaster to treat the city's sewage and when he appeared on national TV to perform “psychic surgery” at his ranch near Carcross. . . . Visionary or madman, he was an intensely sociable man of extravagant generosity. He felt a special affinity for native people, and many told tales of his reaching quietly into his wallet when a helping hand was needed.’”
The following was taken from artist/writer Michael Kluckner's book called Vanishing British Columbia. His website is: www.michaelkluckner.com. He has explained 'Don' very well when he says:
The pyramidal house beside the old courthouse is the most unusual of the new buildings in Atlin. Built by Dr. Donald Branigan sometime in the 1970s or 1980s, it was a holistic healing centre, its shape intended to channel the cosmic vibes to earth; the triangular walls are pierced by shed-roofed dormers on all three floors, and a circular wrought-iron staircase occupies the central core of the interior. The house is mentioned once on the web by “Cindy” who was led to it in 1985 by a huge UFO she spotted near Tagish [see http://www.ufobc.ca/yukon/gianttagish.htm].
Dr. Branigan established a clinic in Whitehorse, confusingly referred to sometimes as the Atlin Holistic Centre, in 1985. There, he used “a holistic approach to medicine including Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutritional counselling, herbal treatments, and energy healing. He is presently using Chondriana and 714X as alternative treatments for cancer.” [see “Bio-Energy Therapy”] His obituary, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal [October 19, 1999], noted that he graduated from the University of Alberta in 1963, was former staff at Whitehorse General Hospital and was elected mayor of Whitehorse four times. “His twin passions were medicine and politics. He embraced holistic medicine and was one of the first Canadian doctors to practise acupuncture. He cofounded the American Holistic Health Association in 1977 and was a controversial physician throughout his career. Died July 7, 1999, aged 66; survived by his wife, Sharon South, and 4 children. ‘Controversy followed him with the sting of a scalpel,’ the National Post commented upon his death. ‘His constituents were not a little taken aback when he suggested using an ultrasonic blaster to treat the city's sewage and when he appeared on national TV to perform “psychic surgery” at his ranch near Carcross. . . . Visionary or madman, he was an intensely sociable man of extravagant generosity. He felt a special affinity for native people, and many told tales of his reaching quietly into his wallet when a helping hand was needed.’”
Dr Don Branigan
Comment by Lorna on 19th January 2009
This is the quote from the Oct 19, 1999, CMA Journal about Don's passing:
Branigan, Donald W., Whitehorse,
Yukon; University of Alberta, 1963;
former staff, Whitehorse General Hospital;
elected mayor of Whitehorse 4
times. His twin passions were medicine
and politics. He embraced holistic medicine
and was one of the first Canadian
doctors to practise acupuncture. He cofounded
the American Holistic Health
Association in 1977 and was a controversial
physician throughout his career.
Died July 7, 1999, aged 66; survived by
his wife, Sharon South, and 4 children.
“Controversy followed him with the
sting of a scalpel,” the National Post
commented upon his death. “His constituents
were not a little taken aback
when he suggested using an ultrasonic
blaster to treat the city’s sewage and
when he appeared on national TV to
perform ‘psychic surgery’ at his ranch
near Carcross. . . . Visionary or madman,
he was an intensely sociable man
of extravagant generosity. He felt a special
affinity for native people, and many
told tales of his reaching quietly into his
wallet when a helping hand was
needed.”
This is the quote from the Oct 19, 1999, CMA Journal about Don's passing:
Branigan, Donald W., Whitehorse,
Yukon; University of Alberta, 1963;
former staff, Whitehorse General Hospital;
elected mayor of Whitehorse 4
times. His twin passions were medicine
and politics. He embraced holistic medicine
and was one of the first Canadian
doctors to practise acupuncture. He cofounded
the American Holistic Health
Association in 1977 and was a controversial
physician throughout his career.
Died July 7, 1999, aged 66; survived by
his wife, Sharon South, and 4 children.
“Controversy followed him with the
sting of a scalpel,” the National Post
commented upon his death. “His constituents
were not a little taken aback
when he suggested using an ultrasonic
blaster to treat the city’s sewage and
when he appeared on national TV to
perform ‘psychic surgery’ at his ranch
near Carcross. . . . Visionary or madman,
he was an intensely sociable man
of extravagant generosity. He felt a special
affinity for native people, and many
told tales of his reaching quietly into his
wallet when a helping hand was
needed.”