Indigenous Health Committee

At a 2018 meeting of the Indigenous Health Committee, members participated in a smudging ceremony conducted by Elder Emil Durocher.

The Indigenous Health Committee was established in early 2018 to develop, implement and promote the recommendations contained in the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health. The IHC reports to the AMA Board of Directors indirectly through the committee’s senior management member, AED Professional Affairs.

The committee includes:

  • Four AMA physician members
    • Minimum of two must be Indigenous physicians (one designated as committee Chair) and the remaining physician(s) should have experience working with Indigenous communities.
  • Three non-physician Indigenous public members from each Treaty area in Alberta to provide community, non-medical input
  • Representatives from Alberta Health Alberta Health Services First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada; Medical Students Association; Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta
  • Other resource members as determined necessary
  • AMA staff

Sweat lodge and teepee in Alberta. Photo by Marty Landrie, Indigenous Health Committee.Objectives:

  • To bring together medical and non-medical expertise focused on health status and delivery of health services to Alberta’s Indigenous population and on AMA actions/strategies in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
  • Within the framework of the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health, to prioritize strategies and areas for action.
  • To support liaison with external groups and communities on issues pertinent to Indigenous health (e.g., Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, Health Canada, Alberta Health Co-Management Committee, etc.).
  • To provide AMA members with access to an Indigenous Health Committee-curated bank of informative and educational resources on Indigenous health, sourced from First Nations and Indigenous organizations, government/government agencies and academia. See Indigenous health and cultural resources.

Questions and comments

  • Please contact Shannon Rupnarain, Assistant Executive Director, Public Affairs, AMA, if you have questions or comments regarding the public affairs component of the AMA Policy Statement on Indigenous Health or require information regarding the Indigenous Health Committee function and/or membership.

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.