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NOSM Hosts Pathways to Well-Being Workshop in Thunder Bay

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Gathering Addresses Youth Suicide in Northern and Indigenous Communities

On Wednesday, June 28, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) hosted a one-day workshop titled Pathways to Well-Being to address the high rates of youth suicide in Northern and Indigenous communities. The event, held in Thunder Bay, brought together 90 participants, including Indigenous Elders, youth, leadership, community members, and community-based health-care providers, to develop an action plan to create a future in Indigenous communities without suicide.

The one-day workshop comes from a recommendation made during NOSM’s Indigenous Research Gathering in Sault Ste. Marie in June 2016—shortly after a state of emergency was declared in Attawapiskat. “It was noted during the Indigenous Research Gathering that there were not many youth in attendance at the Gathering in Sault Ste. Marie,” says NOSM Dean, Dr. Roger Strasser. “It was also observed that Indigenous youth suicide was too common in their communities. Those observations led to today’s Pathways to Well-Being workshop.”

After hearing about death prevention and life promotion from Dr. Ed Connors, an Indigenous psychologist and leader in his field, participants discussed in small groups topics such as Traditional Ways, meaningful conversations, the role of communities, and the role of health-care providers. One of the key outcomes of the Pathways to Well-Being workshop is a commitment to develop a multi-year plan, led by a Steering Committee with representation from across the Northern Ontario.

“As a medical school with an explicit mandate to be accountable to the peoples we serve, we continually seek the guidance of our Indigenous partners to ensure activities are directed towards the priority health concerns of Northern Ontarians,” says Strasser. “We hope the work started here today will support Indigenous communities in creating a future where youth thrive and envision exciting opportunities for themselves throughout their lives.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minster of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and MP, Thunder Bay-Superior North, spoke to Pathways to Well-Being participants. Philpott spoke to the federal government’s commitment to addressing the shortage of Indigenous health professionals in Canada and announced the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are investing $8 million to form a cross-country mentorship network for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples considering a career in health research.

Photo caption (left to right): Ms. Valerie Ooshag; Chief Arlene Slipperjack; Mr. Jason Smallboy, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief; Dr. Charles Branch, Co-Chair, NOSM Indigenous Reference Group; Hon. Jane Philpott, Minister of Health; Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean; Hon. Patty Hajdu, Minster of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and MP, Thunder Bay-Superior North; and, Mr. Don Rusnak, MP, Thunder Bay-Rainy River.

Indigenous Stories, Media Releases

NOSM Celebrates National Aboriginal Day

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Releases School’s Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action

Today, as individuals across Canada celebrate the summer solstice and National Aboriginal Day, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) releases a report titled NOSM’s Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. The report—a culmination of extensive consultation across the School undertaken in 2016—demonstrates the ongoing work of the portfolios and units within NOSM since 2003.

Dialogue with Indigenous Peoples is a key component of what makes the Northern Ontario School of Medicine unique. Even before NOSM’s Charter MD Class was welcomed in 2005, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine was committed to improving the health of the peoples and communities of Northern Ontario. At the earliest stages of development, NOSM engaged the Indigenous communities of Northern Ontario as part of its mandate to be accountable to the social, cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of the region.

“From its inception, the activities of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine have been created for the context of the North, specifically designed to meet the needs of Northern, rural, remote, Indigenous, and Francophone communities,” says NOSM Dean, Dr. Roger Strasser. “With our many partners and collaborators, we are proud to have built a medical school that strives to ensure that the School’s education and research reflect the needs of the peoples and communities of the region.”

The 94 Calls to Action, released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), urges all Canadians to work together to repair the harm caused by residential schools and move forward with reconciliation. NOSM addresses 19 of the 94 Calls to Action linked to health, education, language, culture, and youth. NOSM’s response serves as a living document accountable to all communities of Northern Ontario. Designed as a framework for ongoing work, the report will serve as a measure of progress with annual reporting to the NOSM community for input and guidance. In this way, the School will invite all collaborators for ongoing input as we continue to address the spirit and intent of the 94 Calls to Action.

The report, available in OjiCree, French, and English, can be found at nosm.ca/reconciliation.

Indigenous Stories, Media Releases

NOSM’s Indigenous Reference Group Elects New Co-Chairs

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The Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held a face-to-face meeting in Thunder Bay on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. A highlight of the one-day meeting was the election of the group’s two new Co-Chairs, Drs. Chuck Branch and Shannon Wesley. The two NOSM faculty members are husband and wife, and physicians practising at Aurora Family Health Clinic in Thunder Bay. The IRG also welcomed new member Mr. Gary Martin, a representative from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.

Members began the meeting with an opening prayer from Elder Cameron Burgess, followed by drumming and song by Dr. Chuck Branch, and reflections from Traditional Knowledge Keeper, Tom Chisel.

Outgoing Chair of NOSM’s Indigenous Reference Group, Dot Beaucage-Kennedy, was thanked for her significant contribution to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine over the past six years. Elder Beaucage-Kennedy reflected on her time as Chair and thanked members of the IRG and Circle of Elders and Knowledge Keepers for their support over the years. “We’ve come a long way since I first started here,” she said, “It has been so great working with everyone, Roger (Strasser, NOSM Dean) and Tina (Armstrong, Director of Indigenous Affairs)–we are all like family.”

Other highlights from the day included discussions on NOSM’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, upcoming Indigenous Gatherings, the MD Program curriculum, research incorporating traditional healings into Western treatments for addiction and trauma, and Indigenous Admissions.

Dr. Penny Moody-Corbett, NOSM Associate Dean, Research spoke on the upcoming Pathways to Wellbeing workshop. The workshop will take place on June 28 in Thunder Bay and will focus on the topics of promoting life and life skills in order to address the higher than average youth suicide rates in Indigenous communities, particularly those in Northern Ontario.

Reporting to the NOSM Dean, the Indigenous Reference Group was established to provide advice to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s initiatives, including research, administration, and academic issues in the promotion of excellence in higher learning and accommodation of the Indigenous worldview. The Indigenous Reference Group serves as a resource for the medical school in the fulfilment of its social accountability mandate as it relates to Indigenous health education.

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