Curriculum

Medical schools commit to the development and implementation of a longitudinal Indigenous health course with anti-racism/ anti-colonialism as the core pedagogical approaches.

 

  1. Shortly following the release of the TRC Final Report and 94 Calls to Action in 2015, the University of Alberta's Health Sciences Council established an Indigenous Health Course working group in 2016 to take up the meaningful implementation of the TRC Call to Action #24.

    Following two years of community engagement and partnership, a 12-module course in Indigenous Health was finalized that addresses the history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices.

  2. In 2018, all five faculty undergraduate programs agreed to implement the Indigenous Health course with the first six modules being delivered in the first year, followed by the remaining six in the second year.The course structure and content was developed and implemented by Indigenous peoples and paid explicit attention to the history and contemporary manifestations of the nature and impacts of colonialism.

    The Indigenous Health Course also introduced students to robust theories and conceptual frameworks to examine and understand the history of colonialism as the foreground for the manifestations of the current poor health outcomes experienced disproportionately by Indigenous peoples    .

  3. The faculty and IHIP continue to strengthen partnerships in Indigenous Health with Alberta Health Services, the Metis Nation of Alberta, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations.

  4. The MD Program and IHIP organized a Clerkship Conference on Indigenous Health for third-year medical students in December 2018, which included sessions designed to provide students with resources and tools to build their capacity to work safely and respectfully with Indigenous peoples in their future clinical work.
    Partners from the Awasisak Indigenous Health Program at the Stollery Children's Hospital and the Indigenous Wellness Clinic presented information about their work with Indigenous children, families and communities.

    A half-day session was also organized for fourth-year medical students in March, 2019.


    Related stories:
    Indigenous Health Initiatives Program a personal passion for new director