Brynn Wuttunee Practicum Placement at Te Toho o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa

As I come to the end of my practicum placement at Te Toho o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa, I wanted to take a moment to say farewell and to thank you all for the kindness, support, and care you have shown me during my time here.

Tansi / Kia ora, my name is Brynn Wuttunee. I am from Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, and also from Thunderchild First Nation. My traditional name is Wapakwanees Iskwew (Rosebud Woman) in my Cree language. I am currently completing the final year of my Bachelor of Social Work and have finished all of my academic requirements, with graduation taking place in June 2026 in Regina, Saskatchewan. I feel incredibly proud to have reached this milestone and to represent my people in a good way through my studies and practice. My learning has been strongly grounded in First Nations approaches to wellbeing, community care, and culturally grounded practice.

I was drawn to Aotearoa because of the deep respect and visibility of Māori culture within everyday life, and the opportunity to learn in a place where Indigenous knowledge is truly lived and honoured. When considering my final practicum placement, it was important to me to be in an environment with strong cultural values, where I could continue learning how to carry my own beliefs and values into practice with care and respect.

This journey has also been deeply personal for me. Twenty-four years ago, my dad, Sheldon Wuttunee, came to Aotearoa through an Indigenous internship, where he was fortunate to be mentored by Sir Hirini Moko Mead. The relationships and learning he gained here shaped him into the leader he became for our people back home. His experiences always stayed with our family, and I think he knew long before I did that I would one day walk this path too. Being here has felt very full-circle and has meant more to me than I can easily put into words.

Through these whānau connections and the support of many people, everything came together so quickly. I am especially grateful to Olivia, without her advocacy and hard work, this opportunity would not have been possible. I am also incredibly thankful to Joseph and Enid for welcoming me into their home as a whāngai daughter and making Aotearoa feel like a second home. Being so far from my own family could have been difficult, but because of your kindness, it never felt lonely. Thank you as well to everyone across the organisation for welcoming me so openly and helping me feel comfortable not only in a new workplace, but in a new cultural space.

There have been so many moments during my time here that I will always carry with me. I have truly valued the strong sense of whānau within the team, the openness to learning, and the genuine care shown not only to clients, but to one another. Being immersed in a Māori environment has been incredibly meaningful, and I found many similarities to my own culture, especially the emphasis on connection to whenua and land, spirituality, community, and relationships. These shared values helped me feel grounded, supported, and inspired.

Participating in and observing tikanga Māori in practice, whether through hui, Karakia, or everyday interactions, has deepened my understanding of what culturally safe and responsive practice really looks like beyond theory. I am also very grateful for the patience, guidance, and encouragement that was shown to me as I navigated a new cultural context and continued learning along the way.

As I leave, I will carry with me not only new skills and knowledge, but also a deeper appreciation for Indigenous worldviews and the responsibility we hold as practitioners to embed culture meaningfully into our work. This experience has strengthened my confidence and reaffirmed why I chose social work.

Thank you all so much for welcoming me, sharing your knowledge, and supporting me throughout my practicum. I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of Te Toho o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa, even for a short time, and I will always look back on this experience with warmth and appreciation.

Ngā mihi,

Brynn Wuttunee

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