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Indigenous Health Advisory Committee

Version 1, August 2024 

Purpose 

The Indigenous Health Advisory Committee for the York University School of Medicine is being established to provide Indigenous based and focused feedback, suggestions and recommendations on multiple aspects of the new medical school including admissions, curriculum, assessment, student supports, research and other aspects of the new medical school and a proposed undergraduate Bachelor of Interprofessional Health (BIPH). The School is committed to working towards truth-telling, reconciliation, and the decolonization/Indigenization of our work. 

This committee will provide advisement to the following individuals: Dean of Record/Institutional Lead for the School of Medicine; Faculty Lead, Curriculum and Accreditation; Advisor, Curriculum and Accreditation; Advisor, Curriculum and Operations, Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME); Advisor on Research; and the Co-Chair of the BIPH working group or a delegate. 

Acknowledgement 

York University recognizes that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships with the territories upon which York University campuses are located that precede the establishment of York University. York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit and Metis communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region. The School is committed to embedding Indigenous knowledges, ways of knowing and concepts of health and wellbeing in its’ educational program and to working collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples and their communities.  

Vision of the School 

York University’s School of Medicine will prepare the next generation of talented frontline primary care doctors — who represent the diversity of the communities in which they live — to not only thrive in a new, interprofessional, team-based health care environment but to continue to adapt to evolving patient, community and health system needs.  

Term 

The Terms of Reference is effective from October 1, 2024 and will continue until October 1, 2025, after which they will be reviewed and revised, as appropriate. 

Membership 

Full members: 

  • Faculty Lead, Indigenous (Co-Chair) 
  • One (1) representative from the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council 
  • One (1) Undergraduate medical student from the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada 
  • One (1) Postgraduate Resident from the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada 
  • Two (2) Physicians from the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada 
  • Two (2) faculty members at York University with expertise in Indigenous Health 
  • One (1) representative of the National Consortium on Indigenous Medical Education 
  • One (1) Indigenous Knowledge Keeper/Elder* 
  • Two (2) representatives from an Indigenous organization/Nation served by the School in the North & South 

Ex-officio members: 

  • Faculty Lead, Curriculum and Accreditation 
  • Advisor, Curriculum and Accreditation 
  • Advisor, Research 
  • Co-Chair of the BIPH working group or delegate 
  • Advisor, UGME Curriculum and Operations 
  • Indigenous Health Programming & Indigenous Community Relations 
  • Chair, Community Relations & Accountability Committee 

Operations 

  • The Committee will be Co-Chaired by the Faculty Lead, Indigenous and a member selected by the membership who is an Indigenous member of the Committee 
  • The Indigenous Health Advisory Committee will meet monthly or at the call of the Co-Chairs 
  • Most meetings will be held virtually with the occasional in-person meeting with advance notice e.g., an opening ceremony 
  • The meetings will be 90 minutes in duration  
  • Meeting minutes reflecting the activity of the committee shall be recorded 
  • If Committee members are unable attend a meeting, send advance notice of their absence. 
  • In the event the Faculty Lead, Indigenous (Co-Chair) is unable to be present, advance notice will be provided to the second Co-Chair to chair the committee. 
  • Key parties of interest, such as advisors internal or external to York University, will be invited to attend on an as-needed basis with the approval of the Co-Chairs 
  • The Indigenous Health Advisory Committee reports to the Dean of Record/Institutional Lead for the School 
  • *The Knowledge Keeper/Elder will provide support to the committee for opening and closing the committee and provide general guidance/conflict resolution 

Committee Member Expectations 

  • Attend at least 75% of the meetings 
  • Prepare for meetings in advance 
  • Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner 
  • Solicit collegial input, as appropriate 

Roles and Responsibilities  

  • The Indigenous Health Advisory Committee is an advisory body providing advisement from an Indigenous Health perspective on the new School including 
  • Curriculum 
  • Admissions 
  • Student support 
  • Research 
  • Community partnerships 
  • In the event advisement from this committee has not been accepted, written rationale will be provided 
  • Provide feedback on policies and procedures within the School 
  • Provide suggestions on which community agencies/organizations should be engaged in the School 
  • Provide any recommendations around educational programs on Indigenous Health that could be utilized by the School 
  • Provide any recommendations for the proposed BIPH program