Saskatchewan health policy requires consent to cut hair of Indigenous patients – CTV
August 06, 2025
SASKATOON — Saskatchewan’s health authority is requiring staff to get consent before cutting the hair of Indigenous patients, nearly a year after a Métis man’s ponytail was cut without his approval.
A message sent to health employees says the new policy aims to respect the spiritual and cultural significance of hair to Indigenous people.
It says staff must not cut the hair of Indigenous patients unless they have consent from the patient, family or decision-maker involving their health.
The policy says hair should only be cut when medically necessary, such as for head trauma and brain or head surgery.
The direction comes about a year after Ruben St. Charles’s ponytail was cut before he received hip surgery at a Saskatoon hospital.
Bonnie Marwood, a patient advocate for St. Charles, says the policy is a step in the right direction but he has not received an apology for his ponytail being cut.
