What?
The main objective of this workshop was on cultural safety and stereotyping especially indigenous community. It was delivered by Allan and Donna, two culturally sensitive and passionate individuals. Donna was the instructor for my other workshop, and I was very happy to see her again. Allan is a two-spirited first nation from Kelowna and North of BC. First, Allan got all of us to participate in a series of rhythmic movement. It was weird at the begging but soon everyone fell into the rhythm, and we all made unified movements and sounds. Then, he told us a few personal stories of everyday struggle with stereotyping and prejudice. Allan told us about an incidence just the night before the workshop when he was checked by the security in Shoppers drug mart. He also explained how he approached these problems in a systematic manner away from frustration because he is well aware of the roots of a problem. My group was consist of few female medical students, a male nursing student and I. We worked on topics of stereotyping, humility, vulnerability, and power. We discussed how all of us could be stereotyped. For example, I am perceived as a person who must eat healthily and not touch the cake! A female Dr. Could be stereotyped as “physically weak and less important”. We all came up with many stereotypes and of course, some were very funny. Later, we worked on ways to use those stereotypes as the power to make a difference in our profession. For example, a female medical Dr. can serve other women who are more comfortable to be seen by a woman and other similar practices. I could use my stereotype as an education tool about a balanced diet.
So What?
This workshop was interesting because through activities we realized most of us are stereotyped in some way; however, some minority groups experience it in ways not comparable to any. Education and becoming consciously aware of those stereotypes helps all of us to stay away from prejudice in practice. The class rhythmic performance very minded opening to me in the sense that we are part of one culture and country regardless of our colour, religion, and gender. I was touched by that experience because it was led by an indigenous person. He invited us to do his ancestral dance with him in his land. It gave me a feeling of belonging and unity. It reminded me this poem by Saa’di, a Persian poet that
“Human beings are members of a whole,
In the creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.”
Now What?
Personally, I have always been conscious of the indigenous people of Canada and their cultures. These people are the ancestors of this country, where we all call home. As an immigrant to this land, it is my responsibility to do what I can to preserve this land and respect its people. Regardless of where I serve in Canada, I will always be aware of the indigenous vulnerability and treat everyone the same. Last not least, I love my class of Dietetics 2021 because of its cultural diversity! We are all from a multicultural background, serving multicultural communities in Canada. I am equally happy to have Mike and Tatyana in our class! We learn together and serve side by side!
The poem retrieved on November 4th, 2018 from:https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saadi