Commitees, Community Relations and Partnerships

In 2020, NOSM University celebrated 15 years working with Local Community Coordinators. First-year medical students at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) spend four weeks in an Indigenous community as part of their Integrated Community Experience (ICE). Since 2006, NOSM University has relied on Local Community Coordinators (LCC) to guide and support medical students while they are there. The LCC role is key to the success of the community placement experience. For more information, contact our Community Coordinator.

Remote First Nations Residency Stream: This stream comes with a two-year Return of Service (ROS) obligation to Matawa Health Co-operative (MHC). The MHC serves multiple Matawa communities in both urban and remote locales and there is an expectation that physicians would spend approximately 1 week a month in a remote setting, such as Eabametoong First Nations, alongside their other duties as assigned by the MHC.

Laurentian University is located in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. With a population of 155,000, Greater Sudbury is located in Northeastern Ontario, approximately 400 km north of Toronto or 500 km northwest of Ottawa (5 hour drive). It is a full-service city situated on the Trans-Canada Highway. Check out Laurentian University Indigenous Student Affairs. 

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students that are or will be taking studies at Laurentian can register with our office to gain access to our services by filling out our online student intake form by clicking Register Now!

Lakehead University is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, (population 117,000) on the shores of Lake Superior.  Our faculty, staff, programs and services team up to provide an extensive range of learning choices and alternatives, offering an unbeatable combination of quality education at one of the most beautiful campuses in Canada. Check out Lakehead University Indigenous Initiatives.

The Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) recognizes the importance of providing spaces for Indigenous voices to be centered within NOSM University. As such, there is a commitment to address broader concerns within Indigenous health including governance, and advocacy. This means ensuring accountability within our own internal processes, within the NOSM University, and all other areas of Indigenous health. 

The Indigenous Reference Group is established to provide leadership to the NOSM University in the areas of research, administration and academic issues in order to promote excellence in higher learning and ensure appropriate reflection and inclusion of the Indigenous worldview(s). The Indigenous Reference Group will serve as the primary resource for NOSM University in fulfillment of its social accountability mandate concerning inclusion of both Indigenous learners and the Indigenous worldview(s) in the education it provides. 

Terminology: Indigenous is a collective name for the Original Peoples of North America and their descendants. The Canadian Constitution, Constitution Act 1982, recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples – First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. These are three separate Peoples with unique heritages, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. 

• NOSM University Adopts Indigenous Peoples Terminology 

Indigenous Reference Group Terms of Reference Updated November 17, 2022

The Academic Indigenous Health Education Committee (AIHEC) functions in collaboration with other committees of Academic Council to advance the social accountability mandate of the school with respect to academic issues related to Indigenous Health Education.

Academic Indigenous Health Education Committee Terms of Reference Updated December 15, 2022

The Indigenous Admissions Sub-Committee recommends and advises the Admissions Committee on culturally safe and appropriate admissions policies and procedures related to Indigenous candidates. The Sub-Committee assists with the review of candidates applying to the UME Program through the Indigenous Admissions Stream.