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Health Sciences

We call upon all levels of government to provide cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals.

In Progress

Provide Culturally Safe and Supportive Dentistry

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Dentistry

Work in partnership with the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) to provide culturally safe and supportive dentistry and dental hygiene services to MNA members by our students at the School of Dentistry. Access for All is a student-led organization that provides this care is Indigenous-led by Métis faculty members and includes Métis (and Indigenous) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Dental Hygiene (DH) students when possible.

Activity Details
Work in partnership with the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) to provide culturally safe and supportive dentistry and dental hygiene services to MNA members by our students at the School of Dentistry. Access for All is a student-led organization that provides this care is Indigenous-led by Métis faculty members and includes Métis (and Indigenous) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Dental Hygiene (DH) students when possible. In collaboration with the MNA, the School of Dentistry has evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively the MNA adult and pediatric programs to ensure services and programming are meeting the needs of the MNA community.

Dental Public Health Elective

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Dentistry

Doctoral of Dental Surgery (DDS4) elective students participate in a dental public health elective that provides services in reserve communities.

Activity Details
Doctoral of Dental Surgery (DDS4) elective students participate in a dental public health elective that provides services in reserve communities.

Observe Indigenous Dentist

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Dentistry

Doctoral of Dental Surgery (DDS4) students have the opportunity to be mentored and observe an Indigenous dentist serving rural Alberta Indigenous communities.

Activity Details
Doctoral of Dental Surgery (DDS4) students have the opportunity to be mentored and observe an Indigenous dentist serving rural Alberta Indigenous communities.

Clerkship Education Training Pilot

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Dentistry

There is community input into a clerkship education training pilot that involves clerkship rotations in First Nations communities and emphasizes Indigenous health experiential learning opportunities.

Activity Details
There is community input into a clerkship education training pilot that involves clerkship rotations in First Nations communities and emphasizes Indigenous health experiential learning opportunities.

Work Directly with Elders

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
School of Dentistry

A designated process for student reflection as part of learning activities so that students can share their views on the topics being taught and work directly with Elders to advance further learning.

Activity Details
A designated process for student reflection as part of learning activities so that students can share their views on the topics being taught and work directly with Elders to advance further learning.

Métis Nation of Alberta Pediatric Program

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Dentistry

Student-led pediatric dental campaign has raised funds to support the Métis Nation of Alberta pediatric program.

Activity Details
Student-led pediatric dental campaign has raised funds to support the Métis Nation of Alberta pediatric program.

Access for All Program

School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Dentistry

Dental Student Association has raised funds at their annual charity ball to support the Access for All program.

Activity Details
Dental Student Association has raised funds at their annual charity ball to support the Access for All program.

Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) Members

Medicine & Dentistry

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - Institutional policy and praxis

Contributor
School of Dentistry

The School of Dentistry currently has one faculty member on the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) who can report current events from the IAC to the School of Dentistry to influence program and student aspects.

Activity Details
The School of Dentistry currently has one faculty member on the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) who can report current events from the IAC to the School of Dentistry to influence program and student aspects.

Indigenous Health Education

Other

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
College of Health Sciences

There is Indigenous health education offered across the health science disciplines but it is inconsistent and lacks common objectives, learning activities, and assessment criteria.

Activity Details
There is Indigenous health education offered across the health science disciplines but it is inconsistent and lacks common objectives, learning activities, and assessment criteria.

Land-based Education Student Electives

Medicine & Dentistry

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD)

Incorporation of land-based education student electives in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FoMD) educational programs exists in addition to up to 16 hours of pre-clerkship Indigenous health education in the undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry (MD) Program.

Activity Details
Incorporation of land-based education student electives in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FoMD) educational programs exists in addition to up to 16 hours of pre-clerkship Indigenous health education in the undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry (MD) Program.

Community Partnership Agreements

Medicine & Dentistry

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD)

Community Partnership Agreements - The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) continue to strengthen partnerships in Indigenous Health with Alberta Health Services, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations.

Activity Details
Community Partnership Agreements - The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) continue to strengthen partnerships in Indigenous Health with Alberta Health Services, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations.

Indigenous Health Content

Medicine & Dentistry and School of Dentistry

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Program

A designated process for all students to reflect on Indigenous health content as part of learning activities so that students can share their views on the topics being taught and work directly with Elders to advance further learning.

Activity Details
A designated process for all students to reflect on Indigenous health content as part of learning activities so that students can share their views on the topics being taught and work directly with Elders to advance further learning.

FRM Indigenous Advisory Group

Rehabilitation Medicine

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

The (Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine) FRM Indigenous Advisory Group was established in spring 2017 to provide leadership and support for FRM Indigenous activities.

Activity Details
The (Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine) FRM Indigenous Advisory Group was established in spring 2017 to provide leadership and support for FRM Indigenous activities. These activities have included participation in a number of events such as the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, the National Elders Gathering (2017) and the National Indigenous Cultural Expo (2018) as well as ongoing presentations by Indigenous health providers and scholars.

Faculty and Staff Completion of MOOC

Rehabilitation Medicine

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - Institutional policy and praxis

Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (FRM)

Faculty and staff members have completed education such as the Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), the Alberta Health Services Indigenous Peoples in Alberta learning module and the San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety program. Ongoing opportunities for faculty/staff learning are being organized through the FRM and individual departments.

Activity Details
Faculty and staff members have completed education such as the Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), the Alberta Health Services Indigenous Peoples in Alberta learning module and the San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety program. Ongoing opportunities for faculty/staff learning are being organized through the FRM and individual departments.

Required Completion of MOOC

Rehabilitation Medicine

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSc OT) program)

Required: The Master's of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) and the Master's of Science in Speech and Language Pathology (MScSLP) Programs implemented a new requirement that all incoming students must complete the UA Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) or an equivalent Indigenous History course. This serves as an appropriate pre-requisite for the Rehab 502 course Indigenous Health – Interprofessional Practice. Instituted 2018).

Activity Details
Required: The Master's of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) and the Master's of Science in Speech and Language Pathology (MScSLP) Programs implemented a new requirement that all incoming students must complete the UA Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) or an equivalent Indigenous History course. This serves as an appropriate pre-requisite for the Rehab 502 course Indigenous Health – Interprofessional Practice. Instituted 2018).

Indigenous Focus Option

Rehabilitation Medicine

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSc OT) program

Indigenous Focus option - Since 2018 the Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSc OT) program has offered an embedded Indigenous Focus. The Focus aims to build awareness and capacity in future healthcare providers in order to intentionally honour and explore the vast and unique perspectives, assets and preferences of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Activity Details

Indigenous Focus option - Since 2018 the Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSc OT) program has offered an embedded Indigenous Focus. The Focus aims to build awareness and capacity in future healthcare providers in order to intentionally honour and explore the vast and unique perspectives, assets and preferences of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

This focus is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students who want to explore and integrate Indigenous health knowledge with occupational therapy and act as allies with Indigenous peoples in current healthcare, education, justice and other systems. The MScOT Program also offers an elective module for all students entitled Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Occupational Therapy: Building Culturally Reflexive Practice.

Funding for Interprofessional Fieldwork Practicum Experience in Northern Treaty 8 Territory

Rehabilitation Medicine

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine secured funding for interprofessional fieldwork practicum experience in northern Treaty 8 territory to explore clinical placement opportunities for rehabilitation medicine students (Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Speech and Language Pathology (SLP)) in Indigenous communities, to strengthen existing relationships with Treaty 8, and look to provide ongoing clinical experiences for students and services for Treaty 8 communities.

Activity Details
The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine secured funding for interprofessional fieldwork practicum experience in northern Treaty 8 territory to explore clinical placement opportunities for rehabilitation medicine students (Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Speech and Language Pathology (SLP)) in Indigenous communities, to strengthen existing relationships with Treaty 8, and look to provide ongoing clinical experiences for students and services for Treaty 8 communities. This initiative will also raise awareness of OT, PT and SLP and promote the rehabilitation medicine professions as a career choice for students in the area.

Indigenous Wellness Clinic Placements

Rehabilitation Medicine

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSc OT) program

Several Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine students have had the opportunity to complete placements at the Indigenous Wellness Clinic in Edmonton and at Indigenous-run organizations.

Activity Details
Several Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine students have had the opportunity to complete placements at the Indigenous Wellness Clinic in Edmonton and at Indigenous-run organizations.

Indigenous Wellness Clinic Placements

Nursing

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Nursing

The Faculty of Nursing aims to honour and acknowledge Indigenous Ways of Knowing that will inform curriculum, build capacity among students and faculty and develop reciprocal relationships with northern Alberta Indigenous communities.

Activity Details
The Faculty of Nursing aims to honour and acknowledge Indigenous Ways of Knowing that will inform curriculum, build capacity among students and faculty and develop reciprocal relationships with northern Alberta Indigenous communities. A strong partnership has been formed with the First Nations Inuit Health Branch – Alberta Region due largely to the significant role Nursing 323 and 433 community health nursing students had in the COVID-19 immunization clinics serving indigenous communities and clients around the Edmonton area.

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society and Maskwacis Health Services

Nursing

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Nursing

The Faculty of Nursing placed students with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society and Maskwacis Health Services in the undergraduate program. In the graduate program, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) student was placed with Maskwacis Health Services in the winter 2022 term, and we are exploring several other Indigenous-focused placements for NP students.

Activity Details
The Faculty of Nursing placed students with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society and Maskwacis Health Services in the undergraduate program. In the graduate program, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) student was placed with Maskwacis Health Services in the winter 2022 term, and we are exploring several other Indigenous-focused placements for NP students. The First Nations Inuit Health Branch has shared with us a desire to support more nursing students within their local programming and community partnership. The faculty will continue to work with them to develop more opportunities for nursing students.

Placements in Remote Communities

Nursing

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Nursing

The Faculty of Nursing has been exploring placements in remote communities to increase our focus on rural health experiences. We are working closely with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) to pilot group clinical placements for nursing students in rural settings. The first pilot will be in Hinton with 6-8 students for the term, in a group placement with a clinical teacher present for two different courses involving acute clinical and community experiences.

Activity Details
The Faculty of Nursing has been exploring placements in remote communities to increase our focus on rural health experiences. We are working closely with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) to pilot group clinical placements for nursing students in rural settings. The first pilot will be in Hinton with 6-8 students for the term, in a group placement with a clinical teacher present for two different courses involving acute clinical and community experiences. We continue to investigate accessible housing for the students. Future rural experiences will be based in areas where more Indigenous populations can also be incorporated.

Volunteer Opportunities

Nursing

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Nursing

Volunteer opportunities in the Indigenous context are available for all nursing students throughout the year including USchool, Discovery Days, Horizon Days, TAWOW events, and the annual U of A Round Dance.

Activity Details
Volunteer opportunities in the Indigenous context are available for all nursing students throughout the year including USchool, Discovery Days, Horizon Days, TAWOW events, and the annual U of A Round Dance.

Canadian Association of Student Nurses Task Force on Cultural Competency

Nursing

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Faculty of Nursing

Two faculty members participated with the Canadian Association of Student Nurses Task Force on Cultural Competency and Cultural Safety on a document to increase the integration of Indigenous knowledge aligned with the cultural safety framework for faculty and students.

Activity Details
Two faculty members participated with the Canadian Association of Student Nurses Task Force on Cultural Competency and Cultural Safety on a document to increase the integration of Indigenous knowledge aligned with the cultural safety framework for faculty and students.

The Truth and Reconciliation Working Group

Public Health, School of

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - Institutional policy and praxis

Contributor
School of Public Health

The Truth and Reconciliation Working Group informs the School's strategic goals and action plans for responding to eight specific Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action through education and training, community-engaged scholarship and relationship-building with Indigenous communities.

Activity Details
The Truth and Reconciliation Working Group informs the School's strategic goals and action plans for responding to eight specific Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action through education and training, community-engaged scholarship and relationship-building with Indigenous communities. Co-chaired by Stephanie Montesanti and Jeff Johnson, the working group consists of elders and professors.

Northern and Indigenous Health

Public Health, School of

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
School of Public Health

The School of Public Health has identified northern and Indigenous health as a research and public health priority and has created a Northern and Indigenous Health Strategy. We have appointed five Indigenous adjunct professors who are recognized Knowledge Holders in their communities, and two Indigenous elders from the Northwest Territories.

Activity Details
The School of Public Health has identified northern and Indigenous health as a research and public health priority and has created a Northern and Indigenous Health Strategy. We have appointed five Indigenous adjunct professors who are recognized Knowledge Holders in their communities and two Indigenous elders from the Northwest Territories. The adjunct professors bring expertise in Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing. As educators, co-investigators and advisors the adjunct professors will help students incorporate traditional knowledge into their research, develop respectful relationships with Indigenous people and better understand northern communities.

Appointment of Northern Indigenous Adjunct Professors

Public Health, School of

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
School of Public Health

The School has appointed five northern Indigenous adjunct professors (non-faculty instructors) from Northwest Territories and four elders and knowledge keepers to our newly-established Elders and Knowledge Keepers program.

Activity Details
The School has appointed five northern Indigenous adjunct professors (non-faculty instructors) from Northwest Territories and four elders and knowledge keepers to our newly-established Elders and Knowledge Keepers program. Appointees play a key role as cultural mentors by participating in orientation sessions for the School, providing advice on incorporating traditional knowledge into School planning and research, contributing to the supervision of graduate students and lecturing on a variety of topics to students, faculty and staff.

Institute for Circumpolar Health Research

Public Health, School of

Type
Indigenous Community/Organization Relationships

Contributor
School of Public Health

A Memorandum of Understanding between the School and the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research [16] provides a strong partnership to enhance northern student recruitment efforts and research opportunities in the areas of health and well-being for northern populations.

Activity Details
A Memorandum of Understanding between the School and the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research provides a strong partnership to enhance northern student recruitment efforts and research opportunities in the areas of health and well-being for northern populations.

Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers

Public Health, School of

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
School of Public Health

Mentorship and Training - Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers play a key role as cultural mentors to our students. Together, we considered the ideal environment needed for success, identified principles by which we will operate, and co-created a shared vision for strengthening Indigenous research capacity through mentorship and training.

Activity Details
Mentorship and Training - Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers play a key role as cultural mentors to our students. Together, we considered the ideal environment needed for success, identified principles by which we will operate, and co-created a shared vision for strengthening Indigenous research capacity through mentorship and training.

The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)

Other

Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - curriculum

Contributor
Women and Children's Health Research Institute

The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) management team has developed a series of learning modules for staff to enable improved cultural competence in supporting health research.

Activity Details
The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) management team has developed a series of learning modules for staff to enable improved cultural competence in supporting health research.