Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Training and Employment Centre

FirstStoryTO (2013, February). Dr. Oronhytekha. First Story Toronto: Exploring
Indigenous History of Toronto:
https://firststoryblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/dr-oronhytekha/

The mural depicts the life and work of Ornhyatekha (Burning Cloud in Mohawk) also know as “Doctor O”.

• He was born at Six Nations Reserve in 1841 and attended a residential school as a child.
• He studied at Oxford University, where he completed only one semester due to not obtaining permission to leave his reserve. He continued his studies at The University of Toronto which eventually led him to become the second Indigenous doctor in Canada.
• He received his medical degree in 1867 as one of the first Aboriginal people to graduate as a medical doctor and practiced and advertised the use of Indian cures and herbal medicine.
• While remaining true to his Aboriginal culture, heritage, and language, Dr. O became recognized as a Canadian Figure of National Historic Significance with a plaque created by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in August of 2005.
• Dr. O continues to be an important individual in Canadian and First Nations history with a special collection dedicated to him in the Royal Ontario Museum.

Hamilton, M. (2017). Canada’s first indigenous physician? The Story of Dr. O (1841-1907). Can J Sung, 60(1), 8-10: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5373735/

• In 2005, Parks Canada erected a plaque near Dr. Oronhyatekha’s (Burning Sky) grave at the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and designated him a national historic
  person, partially because he was believd to be the first accredited Indigenous doctor in Canada.
•  A phrenologist, A. O’Leary toured North America. In 1854, he was in Brantford and visited Oronhyatekha at home. After assessing his skull, O’Leary concluded Oronhyatekha should pursue further education, but also offered to take him on tour. Oronhyatekha ended up working at the O’Leary family farm for 5 months before enrolling in school.
• The Grand River council chose him as its representative for the 1860 royal visit of the Prince of Wales. Legend says that the prince encouraged Oronhyatekha to join him as a student at Oxford University,
• By late 1875, he had been appointed DIA physician for the Oneida of the Thames, and opened a practice in downtown London, Ontario.
• In London, he joined the Independent Order of Foresters (IOF), a fraternal organization that offered its member’s life insurance. First elected medical examiner, Dr. Oronhyatekha quickly moved through the ranks to become the Supreme Chief Ranger in 1881, a position he held until his death.

Miziwe Biik: https://miziwebiik.com/

• Miziwe Biik was created in 1991 to assist and provide training in regard to the employment needs of Aboriginal peoples in the GTA.
• Miziwe Biik aims to work with employers to secure employment opportunities for Aboriginal peoples and provide and deliver federal and provincial programs to promote development in Aboriginal communities.
• The organization aims to provide a supportive environment by promoting equality and strengthening the Aboriginal community through traditional cultural practices and values.