Hello,
On behalf of Lisa Mendez, Office of Interprofessional Collaboration, RFHS, I am letting you know of this experiential learning opportunity engaging with rural or remote Indigenous communities. Importantly, do check your academic program calendars for any conflicts.
Please read below.
Laura MacDonald, RDH, PhD (she/her) School of Dental Hygiene Associate Professor Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry & School of Dental Hygienehttp://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/dentistry/index.html 780 Bannatyne Ave., and College Lead, Office of Interprofessional Collaborationhttp://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/education/ipc/about_ipc.html Rady Faculty Health Sciences [cid:image004.png@01DC9AAC.01BC1CB0] University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W2 Laura.MacDonald@umanitoba.camailto:Laura.MacDonald@umanitoba.ca
I acknowledge that the University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene, and Inuit, and on the national homeland of the Red River Métis. I respect the treaties made on these territories. I acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and present. With a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration, I move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities. In all my actions, I am grounded in salutogenesis and aim to contribute to health creation within places and settings where people live, learn, play, work, and love.
From Lisa:
Applications are now open for "Ndinawemaaganag" a unique opportunity to participate in an interprofessional community engagement experience within a rural or remote Indigenous community in summer 2026. Ndinawemaaganag (All my relations) Summer 2026 - Fill out formhttps://forms.office.com/r/ZkDAAS6ShJ
The program was named Ndinawemaaganag by Elder Margaret Lavallee and translates to "All My Relations." This meaning speaks to the connections the students make with the community, each other, and the land and guides the interprofessional and social accountability opportunities within this program for Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
The experiences are all directed by the community partners to provide opportunities for students to learn about their community, its people, and health and well-being. Some of the experiences are anchored in a Sundance ceremony, while others include opportunities to spend time in their nursing stations and health centres. All experiences include land based experiences.
Some experiences involve camping with the community while in others, students will stay in cabins on the water (and in some you'll do both!). All communities have road access, however in some scenarios students may fly.
All expenses (travel, food, accommodations, ceremonial contributions etc) are covered by the RBC Experiential Learning Travel Fund.
Sundances:https://news.umanitoba.ca/sundances-offer-students-crash-course-in-culture/
For the various sundances, we play important helper roles (picking/preparing medicines, cutting trees, building the lodge, helping the kitchen staff with communal meals, assisting with cleanup). In most cases we camp with the community, however there is an option to commute to the Blacksmith Sundance (near Spruce Woods) or stay in a hotel in The Pas for the Opaskwayak. Ideally students will be available from early Friday morning to help build with lodge and then Saturday and Sunday to support/observe/participate in other ceremonies within the sundance.
* Blacksmith Sundance (Spruce Woods): June 11-14, 2026 * Opaskwayak Sundance (OCN/The Pas): July 2-5, 2026 * Shallow Bay Sundance (Grand Rapids): July 9-12, 2026 * York Landing Sundance (York Landing) August 6-9, 2026 * Sakitowin Sundance (Cross Lake/Pimicikamak): August 20-23, 2026 * Two Spirit Sundance (Near Portage): To be confirmed
Longer community experiences:
There are communities offering one or two-week opportunities:
Norway House: Students will have a wholistic opportunity to learn about the community and health and well-being. Students will spend time in the newly built Health Centre of Excellence, in community programing, and in land-based experiences. Expect to spend time on and around the water and to be in ceremony. Students will be in community for the Indigenous Peoples day. Accommodations are a cabin on the water. Priority will be given to students who can attend for 2 weeks, however one week options may be available to accommodate clinical/academic schedules.
Grand Rapids: Students will have a wholistic opportunity to learn about the community and health and well-being. Students will spend the first week at the nursing station and with the community health programs. The weekend will spent at the Shallow Bay sundance. Week two is scheduled based on opportunities available and student preference (may involve the nursing station, a land based camp, treaty days etc). Accommodations are a cabin on the water during the week and camping on the weekend. Priority will be given to students who can attend for 2 weeks, however one week options may be available.
Tobacco camp (SERDC)https://serdc.mb.ca/health/commercial-tobacco-reduction-strategy in the Whiteshell: Students will be helpers at a camp for youth where the focus is to provide smoking cessation strategies, teachings re: traditional uses of tobacco/cultural practices, and harm reduction/health promotion strategies. Youth come from the communities in the South East Region to Brereton Lake in the Whiteshell; students will stay in cabins.
Norway House Cree Nation: June 15-26, 2026
Grand Rapids: July 6-17, 2026
Tobacco Camp: August 10-14, 2026 (anticipated, not yet confirmed)
Why is this being offered?
The RFHS is committed to offering interprofessional education to enhance the provision of integrated care, and is dedicated to actively building and enhancing partnerships to contribute to the communities it serves, including Indigenous Health partnerships, for collaborative care.
What costs will be covered?
Costs for students' travel, food and accommodations will be covered by the RBC Health Sciences Student Travel Initiative.
What is the deadline to apply?
The first deadline to apply will be Monday April 6th at which point Lisa will begin confirming matches. The application will continue to stay open as long as spaces remain for students.
Where will students stay? How will they get there?
Depending on the experience, students will either stay in the professional accommodations at the health centre, a hotel, or a cabin in the area. If attending a sundance it is likely you will camp with the community. Camping equipment is available if needed. Students will either fly or drive to the experience; carpooling will occur where possible.
Will students receive credit for this experience?
In most cases these experiences do not contribute to a specific course. For UGME students, the experience is approved as an "Early Exposure" if the hour requirement is met.
Who can apply?
Students enrolled in the health profession programs in any of the five Colleges of the RFHS who have completed at least one term of their program are eligible are prioritized. If space permits, students from other programs outside of Rady may be considered.
Where can I get more information?
General questions about this opportunity can be directed to the RFHS Collaborative Healthcare Practice Lead Lisa.Mendez@umanitoba.camailto:Lisa.Mendez@umanitoba.ca. Updates will be posted here: https://umanitoba.ca/health-sciences/student-experience/interprofessional-co...
Quotes from previous students:
It was amazing to see how significant the ceremony was for the people and their connection to the land. With each ceremony done, there were many lessons to be learned, but one important lesson was how well the non-pharmacological intervention assisted the Indigenous people in healing and coping with their grief.
These ceremonies were beautiful and moving, and I felt honored to be a part of them.
The value of such spiritual practice was clear to me and helped show me that there is a great need for our society to support people to look after their own and their community's spiritual wellbeing.
This weekend was one of the most memorable experiences I have had throughout my time at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. There were many powerful learnings that I would have never experienced inside a classroom nor reading through books.
It was evident to me that a sense of belonging in community, language, culture and traditions have a huge role to play in healing.
If you are considering this experience but are on the fence, just go for it... this experience has been one of the most valuable to me as a person and professional, as it has given me insight into Indigenous culture, health care in the North, and interprofessional practice that I could not have gotten anywhere else.
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Lisa Mendez, O.T. Reg. (MB)
Collaborative Health Care Practice Lead Office of Interprofessional Collaboration
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
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Lisa.Mendez@umanitoba.camailto:Lisa.Mendez@umanitoba.ca
