Media

OTTAWA, September 14, 2010  —  The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine welcomed its new class of first-year students with an aboriginal-style celebration. More than 150 students gathered on Victoria Island on the Ottawa River for the event.

The purpose of the event is to help new students become familiar with the health issues facing aboriginal Canadians and to make them aware of traditional healing methods in aboriginal communities. This celebration allowed our future physicians to better understand the culture, tradition and history of Canada’s aboriginal peoples.

For the first time, the celebrations took place on Victoria Island, a sacred worship and meeting place for aboriginals. The new students participated in activities such as dance, enjoyed traditional foods and were exposed to both aboriginal culture and two types of medicine, traditional and modern.

The festivities were opened by Jacques Bradwejn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ottawa, and sponsored by elders Albert Dumont (First Nations), Reta Gordon (Métis) and Ruby Arngnana’naak (Inuit). Chief Gilbert Whiteduck of the Kitigan Zibi community of Maniwaki and James Cutfeet, Director of Education, Ontario Region, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada spoke at the event.