At the College of Rehabilitation Sciences’ latest retreat with First Nation community partners, long-time emcee Michael Redhead Champagne said the group is “lucky to have such strong Indigenous women leading us.”
For the first time since the two-day retreats began in 2016, the event was organized by Margaret Hart, Indigenous scholar (Ininiw) in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Debra Beach Ducharme, director of Indigenous health integration at Ongomiizwin – Education under the general guidance of a committee of Elders and community representatives.
They took over the role from Dr. Reg Urbanowski, whose term as dean of the college ends on June 30. He will start his leave in July and over the course of the next year will be working on projects with First Nation communities and completing writing on topics related to health and occupational therapy.
The retreats are a key element of the partnership called Kiga mamo anokimin onji minoayawin / Ka mamawiatoskatenow minoyin (translated from Ojibwe and Cree as “We will work together for health and wellness”).
Champagne, an Ininiw community leader from Winnipeg’s North End, has hosted the gatherings since the beginning.
As usual, the event allowed each community to share some of the successes of their health and wellness projects, discuss challenges and possible solutions.
In attendance were delegates from 12 First Nations in Manitoba. Invited guests included deans from the College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Faculty of Architecture.
Other guests included representatives from UM’s Office of Vice President (Indigenous), Riverview Health Centre, Pharmacists Manitoba, Red River College Polytechnic and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.
The retreat included workshops and panel discussions on “tiny home” initiatives, stroke, pharmacy storage and palliative care with representatives of the Collaborative Housing Alliance, Treaty One Nations, Opaskwayak Health Authority, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the University of Toronto and Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc.
One of the workshops, led by Hart and Ducharme, was on the prevention of elder abuse, titled “Sahkitowin: Ketiyatisak” (translated from Cree as “Love for the Elders, and older adults.”
“The topic was chosen to reflect Wahkotowin, a strengths-based approach and an accountability to our Elders and older adults. As we move this work forward, we are intentionally shifting our mindset to follow Ininiw and Anishinabe practices and protocols when working with difficult knowledge, such as abuse,” Hart said.
The second day featured a performance by Niighanii Bizhew, meaning Leading Lynx, a female drum group from St. John’s High School. Centered around their Grandmother Drum, the group represents strength, voice and cultural pride. Formed in 2025, the group has quickly grown into a dedicated circle of young women who gather regularly to sing, drum, heal, support one another, and have fun together.
