Indigenous health
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada issued several calls to action to help recognize and rectify some of the wrongs committed to the Canadian Indigenous population in the past and which continue to affect Indigenous peoples today. The AMA developed the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health to support the calls to action on health from the TRC’s final report. The policy aligns well with the AMA’s mandate of being leaders in the health care system. The policy was approved by the AMA Board of Directors in July 2017 as a means to support the TRC calls to action on health, and for the AMA as an organization to support improvements in accessing quality care for Indigenous populations. Download the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health.
The AMA formed the Indigenous Health working group to determine how to best address the TRC calls to action. This working group included Indigenous physicians, Indigenous members of the public and physicians with experience working with Indigenous populations. The Indigenous Health Committee has since been established to promote and operationalize the recommendations in the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health. Learn more about the Indigenous Health Committee.
- Watch Educating our youth - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (YouTube).
- Download the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health.
Indigenous Health Committee
The Indigenous Health Committee has been established to promote and operationalize the recommendations in the AMA Indigenous Health Policy Statement. It is an ongoing ad hoc committee of the AMA that reports to the AMA Board of Directors indirectly through the committee’s Senior Management member, Gayle Burnett, Chief Strategy Officer/Interim AED Professional Affairs
Indigenous health and cultural resources
Informative and educational resources on Indigenous health and culture, sourced from First Nations and Indigenous organizations, government/government agencies and academia.
News and Events
AHS launches navigation service for Indigenous Peoples
October 14, 2020
AlbertaHealthServices.ca - Lethbridge – Indigenous Peoples in the South Zone of Alberta Health Services can now receive one-on-one help to access the health services they need with the launch of a new Indigenous Patient Navigation service.
Indigenous nurse who became a cancer patient strongly encourages self-advocacy
October 13, 2020
CBC News | Indigenous nurse Lianne Mantla-Look says if people advocated more for themselves, there would be less people who would fall through the cracks of the health care system
All Alberta lawyers must take Indigenous cultural competency training
October 8, 2020
CBC News | The Law Society of Alberta has decided that all lawyers in the province must take a course on Indigenous cultural competency starting next year. The new course stems from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action in 2015, which included a request that Canadian lawyers be educated on the history and legacy of residential schools as well as treaties, Indigenous rights and Indigenous legal issues.
Indigenous leaders, minister to discuss racism in health care as coronavirus cases rise
October 8, 2020
The Canadian Press | Maan Alhmidi - Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says he’s convening a high-level meeting with Indigenous leaders to tackle systematic racism in health care as communities brace for the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem gained new attention with the death of Joyce Echaquan, who livestreamed racial slurs directed at her by the nurses in a Quebec hospital last month.
Orange Shirt Day
Created in 2013, Orange Shirt Day is a day for Canadians to come together to recognize our country’s residential school survivors, and those who did not survive. The day is intended to raise awareness and encourage a desire to learn about Canada’s Indian residential school system and the effect it has had on Indigenous communities for over a century; an impact that continues today. September 30 was chosen as OSD day because it was the day/time of year when Indigenous children had to leave their homes and communities to attend residential schools.
Questions and comments
- Please contact Gayle Burnett, Chief Strategy Officer/Interim AED Professional Affairs AMA, if you have questions or comments regarding the AMA Indigenous Health Policy Statement.
- Please contact Shannon Rupnarain, Assistant Executive Director, Public Affairs, AMA, if you have questions or comments regarding the public affairs component of the AMA Indigenous Health Policy Statement or require information regarding the Indigenous Health Committee function and/or membership.
