Relationships

Medical schools focus on the development of meaningful relationships with the Indigenous communities that they serve using rights-based approaches to the co-creation of the terms of the relationship. This includes the development of accountability mechanisms. Indigenous communities are recognized as expert resources for the medical school and are provided with the opportunity and resources needed to participate in all aspects of the admissions process, teaching, hosting learners, research and scholarship, and faculty development.

 

  1. The IHIP hosts an annual Community Gathering on Indigenous Health in order to share information about the status of Indigenous Health in the FoMD, learn from community partners, and plan for the future about how best to meet community health priorities.
  2. The 2017-2021 IHIP Strategic Plan has five Strategic Pillars. Two of them are dedicated to advancing partnerships, relationships & commitments with partners and rights-holders such as First Nation, Metis and Inuit communities.
  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 IHIP, in partnership with the MD Program, is in the process of establishing an Elders Wisdom Council that will strengthen the relationship between Indigenous peoples and communities and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. Key partners on the Council will include Elders and Knowledge Keepers as well as faculty members, Indigenous physicians and current students.
  5. Dr. Cassandra Felske-Durksen and Tibetha Kemble worked collaboratively on a draft Principles of Engagement for increased accountability and transparency, and to guide and inform a rights-based respectful relationship between Indigenous peoples and all others within the FoMD.
  6. The MD Program and the IHIP recently undertook a review of Indigenous Admissions on March 5, 2019 to determine whether the existing process and procedures enabled the faculty to effectively meet its commitment to implementing TRC Call to Action 23(i).

    An Indigenous Admissions Action Plan Subcommittee (IAAPS) was struck with broad representation from members of the MD Program and IHIP communities. The IAAPS developed an action plan to implement meaningful and effective changes to Indigenous Admissions that are responsive to, and reflective of, the rights, needs, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples and communities.

Our future

We continue to work on strengthening our relationships with the communities. Over the coming 18 months, we will increase our emphasis on greater inclusion and partnership on priority concerns, and building Bridging/Pathways programs to ensure greater inclusion of Indigenous peoples in the IHIP and across all five undergraduate faculty programs.

The Action Plan for Indigenous Admissions will be advanced through FoMD governance into the fall/winter of 2019/2020.

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Indigenous students top priority for UAlberta's medical school