Relationship agreement ensures Indigenous priorities are included in future of health care

York University and the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council sign an agreement towards advancing equitable health care as a foundation of the new School of Medicine

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2024 – In a spirit of fostering healing and reconciliation, York University and the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) signed a relationship agreement today at Keele Campus as a first step toward developing joint initiatives and advancing Indigenous health priorities.

The agreement represents a path toward a fair and equitable, mutually beneficial, reciprocal, and culturally safe relationship that seeks to right the negative impact of colonial processes on Indigenous peoples' health and well-being and create space for Indigenous voices in governance and decision-making without prejudice or oppression.

“It is a privilege to be signing this agreement on behalf of York University reflecting the commitments we have made in our Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to advance calls for action toward truth and reconciliation,” says Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor. “Together in collaboration with the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, we will continue to strengthen our relationship and improve Indigenous health services and outcomes.”

In the context of truth-telling about the history of Indigenous peoples, the IPHCC and York University will develop joint initiatives that benefit from the process of two-eyed seeing – integrating the strengths of Indigenous and Western ways of knowing for the welfare of all.

“Today marks an important step in reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that Indigenous voices lead the conversation when it comes to Indigenous health. By formalizing this relationship with York University, we are creating a pathway for collaboration that respects and honours the knowledge and traditions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. This agreement is an acknowledgement to the strength of two-eyed seeing which blends Indigenous and Western knowledge to improve the health outcomes of our communities. We look forward to working together to advance Indigenous health priorities for today and for the generations to come,” says Caroline Lidstone-Jones, IPHCC, chief executive officer and York alumna.

The focus of IPHCC’s and York’s work together will be to advance Indigenous health priorities, engage with Indigenous research, while respecting the right of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples for data sovereignty. It builds on York’s growing strength in health and medical education, as well as health research, especially in light of the University’s future new School of Medicine.

York’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.

“This agreement is an important milestone that signals the beginning of a journey to advance Indigenous health priorities through a reciprocal relationship between IPHCC and York University, and also marks the first formal steps we are taking in the preparations for the new School of Medicine,” says David Peters, dean, Faculty of Health.

One of the goals of the new School of Medicine is to ensure a patient-centred, 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.

Today’s agreement is an example of York collaborating with communities to ensure equal access to health care.

Joint initiatives between York and the IPHCC may include:

● Input by the IPHCC on York’s medical education curricula with a focus on ensuring traditional knowledge is acknowledged.

● Possibility of York student and postgraduate placements to Indigenous primary health care organizations.

● Collaborations where students can engage in cultural events and activities that are in Indigenous communities and/or are hosted by Indigenous organizations.  

● Identify opportunities to collectively advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action through provincial initiatives, including opportunities for joint work on community driven research

Together, York and the IPHCC strive to make positive change that will not only make health care better for Indigenous lives now but those of future generations.