Physical therapy program introduces Indigenous welcoming ceremony

The physical therapy department at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences held its first Indigenous welcoming ceremony for all students, faculty and staff on Aug. 5 on the Bannatyne campus.

Fifty-two second-year students attended, along with 60 first-year students who make up the largest incoming class in the program’s history.

Associate professor Dr. Moni Fricke said the ceremony was held as a way to decolonize the classroom and recognize the college’s role in working toward reconciliation.

“We want our students to feel like this will be a safe, respectful teaching and learning environment in which all worldviews are acknowledged and respected,” she said.

The event included a pipe ceremony led by Elder Charlotte Nolin and Knowledge Keeper George Muswaggon, both from Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

“It is an honour for me to be here with you and share in these ceremonies, so that you begin to learn who we are as Indigenous people [and] you begin to understand what we are about, what we feel, what we love, what we look after,” Nolin said.

Chantal Daniels, director of Ongomiizwin – Education, led a water ceremony, which included an offering of berries. Daniels was assisted by Chris Trimble, Indigenous cultural co-ordinator, Andrea Young, Indigenous student support, and four student volunteers.

“Water is one of our most sacred medicines,” Daniels said. “Water is essential to every living thing. That includes all of our plant relatives, our four-legged relatives, our flying relatives, and us as human beings. When you are carried in your mother, you are in water. It is the first place that you know. It is your first caregiver.”

The 75-minute event also included a smudge and an opportunity for students to give a tobacco offering.

“I thought the ceremony was great. I really like what the Knowledge Keeper said about how fast-paced this campus can be and it’s always good to take a step back and reflect on our upbringings and what got us here,” said second-year student Calvin Reimer.

Reimer was one of the students who volunteered to assist with the water ceremony. He was joined by first-year student Tristen Hutter, who was moved by starting his student journey into physiotherapy in such a meaningful way.

“It was nice to be welcomed by lots of different cultures into this program. I felt that it was a really good way to bring everyone together, and introduce me to my new family in physiotherapy,” he said.

“We were told this morning by one of the staff members that there is actually a shortage of physiotherapists in the province, so I feel that I have an amazing opportunity and a privilege of being part of that solution, to fill that role where it is needed.”

Physical therapy department head Dr. Mark Garrett said the plan is to make the welcoming ceremony a permanent part of the program’s student orientation.

“This is leading the way for future years, to develop a sense of community right from the first morning,” he said.

Alan MacKenzie