Learning across traditions

By Danica Hidalgo Cherewyk

In a small village in Ecuador, second-year doctor of pharmacy student Yasmine Yazdani visited a small birthing centre in the Amazon rainforest run by Amupakin Collective — a group of Kichwa health practitioners whose work is rooted in their land, culture and traditions.

While exploring the rainforest, Yazdani found herself brushing against local plants and having an allergic reaction.

“One of the mamas grabbed mud and put it on my leg, and the hive went away in seconds," she said. “It showed me we should be more open-minded as health-care professionals because traditional medicine does work.” 

Yazdani took part in two interprofessional experiential programs through the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences' Office of Interprofessional Collaboration (OIPC) that brings together students from across the health sciences.

The Amazon experience runs in February and from April to May, while Ndinawemaaganag (All My Relations) runs from June to August and involves students supporting Sundance ceremonies in Manitoba.

Lisa Mendez, collaborative health-care practice lead, OIPC, and an instructor in occupational therapy, leads both programs.

“It provides an opportunity for students from different health-care professions to learn together and get to know each other as humans,” she said.  

From the Amazon to Sundance grounds

The 12-day Ecuador experience also brought Cari Slayen to the Amupakin Collective village, where she learned about local medicine and traditional healing practices.

Slayen, who recently graduated from the occupational therapy program in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences on Oct. 20, also participated in the Shallow Bay Sundance in Grand Rapids, Man.

While in Ecuador, María Antonia Shiguango, founder of the Amupakin Collective, shared a vision that stood out to Slayen.

“Her dream is not for natural medicine to take over, but for both views of medicine to come together,” Slayen said.

Carter Bairos, a third-year nursing student in the University of Manitoba's Bachelor of Nursing program offered through University College of the North, said he enjoyed meeting the midwives and traditional healers.

“The mamas showed us different birth demonstrations," he said. "They took us on guided hikes and showed us their medicinal plants.”

In First Nations communities in Manitoba, students camp with community members for four days through the Ndinawemaaganag program.

Over the years, Mendez said the program has built strong relationships with these communities, leading to a more integral role in supporting Sundance ceremonies. During the ceremony, dancers go three days without food or water while staying in a lodge the students help build. Students support the dancers, Knowledge Keepers and organizers with whatever they need. 

Bairos, who participated in the Opaskwayak and Sakitowin Sundances, appreciated seeing the connections between Indigenous approaches to holistic care in Canada and the Amazon, and how much overlap exists between them.

He recalled learning about traditional medicines from one of the Sundance drummers, who is also a medicine man.

“He taught us that if you take the inner layer of birch bark and put it on sore spots, or make it into tea with herbs, it can help relieve pain,” he said. 

“It gave me a new perspective on the culture, as well as on helping Indigenous patients. It's not just about giving someone Tylenol. It's also about providing more holistic care and asking, 'Would you like birch tea?' and offering other Indigenous supports.”

Yazdani, who participated in the Sakitowin Sundance in Cross Lake, Man., said she learned a great deal about Indigenous culture through the program.

“Throughout those four days, I learned so much more about Indigenous culture than I ever did in my entire schooling,” she said. 

“My understanding had mainly centred on residential schools, and while those teachings are important, I also wanted to learn about the traditions, knowledge and resilience of Indigenous communities.”

Learning as one health-care team

Yazdani said the experience allowed her to step outside the "bubble" of Western medicine.

“In Western medicine, we tend to focus on medications first, but this experience taught me that healing goes beyond medicine,” she said. 

“It’s also about caring for the mind, body and spirit, and recognizing the connection between healing and nature.” 

In Slayen's two years in the occupational therapy program, she said the experiences gave her more opportunities to interact with students from other Rady Faculty colleges than any other part of her studies.  

“Lots of people don't fully know what OTs do, so I was explaining and advocating for my role,” she said. “We talked a lot during downtime about how we can work together. That was so important because in almost every health-care workplace, we work as a team.”

Slayen said her biggest takeaway was the importance of building relationships with clients before jumping to assessments and intervention plans.

“I really encourage all students to seek community experiences and not just learn through books or educators on campus, but to get into community,” she said. “Participate in a ceremony here in Manitoba, ask questions and engage with humility and respect. There is so much to learn once you establish a relationship.”