About Us
The Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) follows the mandate to support the growth in the number of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry programs, in order to address the gap in the underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in health professions in Alberta and across Canada. Through our collaborative and holistic program, we provide wrap-around support to qualified Indigenous applicants as they enter into, and graduate successfully from, the U of A's health sciences programs.
Meet the Team
WAYNE INUGLAK CLARK, EdD, MA, BBA (ᐅᐊᐃᓐ ᐃᓄᒡᓚᒃ ᑲᓛᒃ)
Executive Director
Nicole Cardinal, MD
Clinician Lead, Education (PGME)
Liz Erasmus, MD
Clinician Lead, Education (UME)
Andrew Volk, MD
Clinician Lead, Student Mentorship and Support
Neill Fox, MD
Clinician Lead, Indigenous Program Outreach
Alyssa-Lynne Perry, B.Ed
Taylor Turvey, B.Ed
Community Engagement and Recruitment Coordinator
Mosom Rick Lightning
Elder in Residence, Circle of Elders
Hazel McKennitt
Circle of Elders
Alvina Lake, Eagle Woman
Circle of Elders
Our guiding principles
- Respect: Caring for others and being open and inclusive by having a good spirit.
- Reciprocity: Valuing cultivation of reciprocal relationships between humans and ecosystems.
- Relationship: Understanding and respecting relationships with the environment, animals, the spiritual realm, and to one another.
- Renewal: Examining epistemology and knowledge to restore the balance between people and nature that Indigenous people conceived.