Charmaine Whitman, RMT in Indigenous Communities
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Charmaine Whitman has focused her career as a Registered Massage Therapist on the health of Indigenous communities. Making a difference in the lives of Indigenous people is a very rewarding experience for her, and it is even more meaningful due to her own Indigenous heritage – She is Ojibway from Beausoleil First Nation.
“Due to my own Indigenous heritage, I feel very connected to the people and the land wherever I’m working,” Charmaine said. “There is always a sense of community and I feel my ancestors are there with me.”
Ten years ago, Charmaine was asked to provide services at Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre in Victoria Harbour, Ontario. Four years ago, she started providing massage therapy on her own reservation of Christian Island – Beausoleil First Nation. Earlier this year, she became part of the Allied Health Professional team at Chigamik Community Health Center in Midland, which is an urban-based health hub that is able to offer Indigenous specific programs and services to the public free of charge.
Throughout all these experiences, whenever she had the chance to help indigenous people, she felt like she was coming home. She always felt that it was more of a community than a job, and it has always made her proud to be Anishnaabe and give back to her community.
“Massage can help someone begin to feel how their own life experiences and traumas have been trapped inside the physical body,” Charmaine said. “It gives them a way to begin to take responsibility for their own well-being and to begin their healing journey.”
At Enaahtig Healing Lodge, Chamaine primarily treats people going through the trauma recovery program. She finds that massage therapy is a great way for people to release the trauma that is trapped within their physical bodies.
“Massage therapy can help one connect to their emotional, spiritual, and mental self,” she said. “It can create a seed of hope for people.”
Charmaine completed both the Indigenous Community and Social Development and the Massage Therapy programs at Georgian College simultaneously. She saw a need for an Indigenous holistic health practitioner to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive services, and she felt that she could combine her two passions to make a difference in Indigenous communities. She has particularly enjoyed connecting to the people in her community and hearing their stories.
“I have had the unique pleasure of listening to many stories and witnessing the strength of our communities rebuilding,” she said. “Seeing how the right intention and energy can help people open up to the courage to heal themselves is very rewarding.”
Charmaine’s day at Enaahtig would always start in a sharing circle, which is led by the community Elders and open to everyone in the centre. In the circle, they pass a sacred object around, typically a feather. Anyone who has the feather gets to speak, and they would have the complete attention of all participants and no one can interrupt while they’re speaking. They use this opportunity to share their struggles and journey. They then sing a traditional song, which is chosen by the Enaahtig residents attending, and which has a special meaning to the group as it’s meant to act as an inspiration. They then all gather in the circle, wrap their arms around each other and sing or sway to the song. At every health conference or fair she attends, there has always been an opening prayer in the language from one of the respected Elders and usually a drum song.
“I was always so honored to be welcomed into the circle and to be part of their healing journey,” Charmaine said. “I also have had the pleasure of treating many of our Elders and medicine people. I believe we all have a unique journey but I also believe massage has helped every person I’ve seen to take a small step forward towards their health and to a better life.”
Charmaine emphasizes that the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components of the self are equal and all must be in balance and healthy in order to live what is called Mino-bimaadiziwin (the good life), and this is something that she focuses on in her practice.
Learn more about Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre.