How Two Indigenous Students Are Shaping the Future of Chiropractic in Canada

Date:  May 5, 2025

At the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC), two fourth-year students are doing more than earning their Doctor of Chiropractic degrees—they’re helping to reshape what the future of chiropractic looks like in Canada. Nathan Dunn and Chett Monague are working to make the profession more inclusive, more connected, and more representative of Indigenous communities.

Nathan, who grew up in Peterborough, Ontario, is a member of Saugeen First Nation, along the shores of Lake Huron. He completed his undergraduate studies at Trent University and originally set his sights on medical school—until a community placement during his fourth year introduced him to chiropractic care. Mentored by chiropractor Dr. Jennifer Martichenko, Nathan discovered a different side of healthcare—one that emphasized relationships, movement, and prevention.

“I hadn’t experienced that kind of energy in healthcare before,” he says. “Patients wanted to be there. It was a whole different atmosphere.”

Nathan now leads CMCC’s Indigenous Student Association (ISA), a student-run group focused on creating space for Indigenous students to connect, share lived experiences, and foster belonging on campus. “It’s crucial to have a unified voice for Indigenous chiropractors,” he says, “to foster understanding and promote diversity within the profession.”

Chett’s path to chiropractic took a different shape. A member of Chimnissing (Beausoleil First Nation) on the southern shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario, Chett began his career in education, promoting post-secondary pathways to Indigenous students across Canada. After a motor vehicle accident, he experienced chiropractic care firsthand—and the experience, combined with being personally impacted by a health loss in his family, brought into focus the lack of preventative healthcare options in many Indigenous communities.

“I started thinking more critically about healthcare access and how to be part of the solution,” Chett says. “Chiropractic offered this proactive, consistent relationship with patients. It was the kind of care I wished had been more available in the community I come from.”

With support from faculty and mentors in the Indigenous Chiropractic Caucus (ICC) in collaboration with the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA), Chett launched the ISA alongside Nathan. While Chett has since stepped back to focus on an externship, Nathan has continued to lead the group, organizing events like beading workshops, documentary screenings, and opportunities to connect with Indigenous leaders.

Their message to future students is clear: chiropractic is a meaningful, fulfilling career path for Indigenous youth—and one that can align with the values of community care and connection.

“Indigenous students bring incredible resilience to this profession,” Chett says. “They already have the strength and consistency it takes to succeed. We just need to keep creating space and opportunity.”

Looking ahead, both Nathan and Chett envision careers rooted in community. Nathan aims to return home to practice in Peterborough, offering chiropractic care to surrounding Indigenous communities, and hopes to eventually serve his own community in Saugeen First Nation with accessible healthcare. Chett is building partnerships with Indigenous-led health teams and urban Indigenous health centres, while preparing to speak at the Indigenous Physical Activity & Wellness Conference this spring.

As Chett puts it, “Being present matters. It’s not just about being a provider, it’s about building trust, building relationships, and showing up.”

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