ousosteopathy.org
HISTORY
Osteopathy is a Heritage of Indigenous Peoples
American physician Dr Andrew T. Still, founder of osteopathy health profession worked over 20 years in the Shawnee Tribes Reservation Land in the United States. There he was introduced to Cherokee Bodywork and Healing Arts. Dr. Still selected the physical body work techniques that included manipulation, mobilization, and soft tissue therapy techniques and organized it into a new manual therapy profession called osteopathy. As osteopathy was created from and has roots in the Cherokee traditional indigenous medicine, it is considered a heritage of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples Association of Osteopathy (IPAO) represents the interest of Indigenous Peoples in Canada in this healthcare profession.
Indigenous Root of Osteopathy Founder
Dr Blanche Still, DO, (1876-1959) daughter of Dr Andrew T. Still, founder of osteopathy, similar to his father had a stroke later in life and no longer she could speak English. After her stroke she could only speak in Shawnee tribe language, giving rise to the idea that English may have been her second language and Shawnee language was the first language she learned, indicating the Indigenous roots of the Still family.