Education and Indigenous Health Unite: IPHCC and York University Form Alliance to Advance Indigenous Health
Posted on September 12, 2024
IPHCC and York University sign an agreement towards advancing equitable health care as a foundation of the new School of Medicine in the hopes of developing joint initiatives and advancing Indigenous health priorities.
This agreement represents a path towards a fair and equitable, mutually beneficial, reciprocal, and culturally safer relationships. This agreement seeks to right the negative impact of colonial processes on Indigenous Peoples’ health and well-being and to create space for Indigenous Voices in governance and decision-making without any oppression.
Through this agreement, IPHCC and York University will develop joint initiatives that benefit from the process of two-eyed seeing approach that integrates the strengths of Indigenous and Western ways of knowing for the welfare of all.
The focus of this agreement will be to advance Indigenous health priorities together, engage with Indigenous research, while respecting the right of First Nations Inuit, and Métis Peoples for data sovereignty. It builds on York University’s growing strength in health and medical education, as well as health research, especially in the light of the University’s future new School of Medicine.
York University’s Commitment to Advancing Indigenous Health
York University’s School of Medicine will respond to student interests and community needs for high-quality health care, while enhancing access and student diversity in health fields. It leverages the University’s ongoing leadership in advancing cross-disciplinary health programming and research. One of the goals of the new School of medicine is to ensure a patient-centered, community-based approach to improving equitable access to high quality health care in northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, the District of Muskoka, as well as adjacent rural areas. This agreement bolsters the school’s ability to foster equitable health care by preparing the next generation of primary care physicians to work collaboratively within inter-professional health care teams at diverse learning sites.
Looking Ahead: Establishing a Culturally Safer and Equitable Health Care Services for Indigenous Peoples
As Partners, both IPHCC and York University aim to focus on ensuring that traditional knowledge is brought to the forefront in their collaborations and programs. They aim to introduce programs where students can engage in cultural events and activities that are in Indigenous communities and/or are hosted by Indigenous organizations. Both partners also commit to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action through provincial initiatives, including opportunities for joint work on community driven research. Therefore, both IPHCC and York University strive to make a positive change that will not only make health care better for Indigenous lives but also for those of future generations