APH Newsletter January 2012

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Very often we hear of how manystudents at UBC are interested inworking in Aboriginal and ruralcommunities when they graduate,but are often unsure where tostart. In order to meet the chal-lenges in providing health care toFirst Nations in this province, wemust encourage more students toseek out opportunities to learnabout Aboriginal health and workin communities.

The following pages detail some ofour work in the past few months.We hope you enjoy!

Huy ch qu,

Leah May Walker

James Andrew

A happy new year to everyone!

As we look back, we realize thatAPH has now been in existence forten years! Not only has our divi-sion looked at building excellencein education, but to expanding our

research initiatives and offeringsto both the university and ourFirst Nations. Most recently inDecember we arranged a tour ofSeabird Island Health Centre forthe International Medical Gradu-ate Program (IMG) in the Depart-ment of Family Practice. Wewould like to thank the staff of thehealth centre for the deliciousfood and for being such amazinghosts! We are continually thrilledto be working in partnerships witha variety of BC First Nations com-

munities and organizations. It ispersonally very meaningful foreach of us, as we draw ourstrength for this work from theseongoing relationships.

As we all know, the new year isoften a time for transition andchange, which we have seen muchof in the remaining months of

2011 with the beginning stepstowards the creation of a newFirst Nations Health Authority.The First Nations Health Councilwill hold their annual GatheringWisdom in Vancouver in May,where key figures in First Nationshealth and governance will cometogether to help shape and de-velop these new changes in Abo-riginal health.

We at the Division of AboriginalPeoples Health look forward tosupporting these historic changesand working with other groups atUBC to support the self govern-ance and health of First Nations,while also working to overcomethe challenges in health care thatAboriginal peoples often face. We

understand that the UBC Facultyof Medicine wants to engage in along overdue Aboriginal process,which we look forward to sup-porting. Weve been encouragedby our ongoing work in researchand teaching with organizationsat UBC such as the Department ofFamily Practice and the School ofPopulation and Public Health.

Directors Message

Welcomes & GoodbyesThe Division of AboriginalPeoples Health said good-bye to our research assis-tant, Tanu Gamble, who leftfor maternity leave in No-vember. Congratulations toyou and your family, Tanu!

We are pleased to welcome

our new research assistant, JoParker. Jo Parker is a socialscience researcher at UBC,and has recently taken over asResearch Assistant on theEducating for Equity project.Jo is originally from Halifax,Nova Scotia and just moved toVancouver this year. She has a

Masters in Health Promotionfrom Dalhousie University, and herbackground is in community-based health and social justiceresearch.

January 2012Volume 2, Issue 1

Aboriginal Peoples

Health

The Division of AboriginalPeoples Health, within theFaculty of Medicine at UBC,

exists to support and de-velop Aboriginal health pro-

grams, curriculum, researchand advocacy with Aboriginal

communities and partnerson local, national and inter-

national levels.

Inside this issue:

Welcomes & Good-byes

1

IHHS 409 at UBCTRC Dialogue

2

Educating for Equity 2

The UBC Learning Circle 3

Youth Circle 4

Aboriginal Admissions 4

IHHS 408 5

Speaker: Dr. PeterCrampton

Acknowledgements 7


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Educating for Equity (E4E) is a collabora-tive, international research project focusedon diabetes among Aboriginal populations.Together with our international partners inAustralia and New Zealand, we are workingto improve chronic disease outcomes andenhance access to equitable care for Abo-riginal peoples.

Here in Canada, the lead investigator is Dr.Lindsay Crowshoe, Director of the Under-graduate Medical Education AboriginalHealth Program at the University Of Cal-gary. In British Columbia, the Co-Investigators are Leah Walker (AssociateDirector, UBC Division of Aboriginal Peo-ples Health), Dr. Betty Calam (Director, St.Pauls site UBC Family Residency Pro-gram) and Dr. Kendall Ho (Director,eHealth Strategy Office). Jo Parker of UBChas been hired to provide research supportfor the BC site.

We are collecting qualitative data througha series of in-depth focus groups with Abo-riginal people living with diabetes, andseries of one-on-one interviews with physi-cians across Canada. A key outcome of thisproject will be to develop and implement acontinuing medical education (CME) inter-

vention for prac-ticing physicians.

Weve made a lotof progress sinceour last update inthe January 2011APH Newsletter.Urban, rural andreserve siteswere identifiedfor data collec-tion in BC, Al-berta and On-tario. In eachsite, we con-ducted a series of five in-depthfocus groups with diabetes pa-tients. Here in BC, the participating commu-nitys health centre and its staff were a bigsupport, and the participants shared manyimportant stories and insights. In December2011 we started our one-on-one interviewswith physicians. Data analysis and plans forsharing the studys findings are ongoing.

Also this December, the Canadian E4E re-searchers had the opportunity to travel toNew Zealand and meet with our internationalpartners. They attended the Leaders in In-

digenous Medical Education (LIME) Net-works fourth biennial conference inAuckland, NZ. Following the conference,the E for E researchers gathered for anenjoyable and productive internationalmeeting.

For more information or to get involvedwith E4E, please contact Leah Walker (orJo Parker ([email protected]).

Page 2Volume 2, Issue 1

Educating for EquityEducating for Equity: Exploring How Health Professional education can reduce dis-

parities in chronic disease care and improve outcomes for Indigenous Populations

E4E International Team, meeting at Waipapa Maraein Auckland, New Zealand. December 2011.

On June 11, 2008, Prime Minister StephenHarper apologized in Parliament for thegovernment policies that resulted formore than a century in the Indian Resi-dential School system. This system haddevastating effects on First Nations andAboriginal people in Canada, which con-tinue to this day. Following the apology,the Truth and Reconciliation Commissionof Canada was established to provide aframework for acknowledging the experi-ence of survivors and the history of theschools, and to establish a basis for recon-ciliation. On November 1st 2012, in col-laboration with the Indian ResidentialSchool Survivors Society and the westcoast liaison for the Truth and Reconcilia-tion Commission, UBC conducted an ex-ploratory dialogue and strategy session onthe history and legacy of the Indian resi-

dential schools and the role of UBC and othercontemporary educational institutions in ad-dressing them. For those who could not at-tend in-person, the event was available bywebcast. Primarily by invitation only, theevent included a range of presentations anddiscussions between professors, students,elders and community members.

In response to this call, Leah Walker, Associ-ate Director of APH, presented the conceptsand outcomes of IHHS 409: Is the Past Pre-sent at the UBC First Nations Longhouse. Isthe Past Present is a 3 -unit intensive, online,cross-institutional course that provides stu-dents the opportunity for comparative inquiryof Indigenous experiences of colonization andthe manifestations of that experience in thecontemporary socio-cultural environment.Through the use of digital interactive technol-

ogy, students work togetherwith educators from across the globe.

This course was, and continues to be, apartnership among many individuals,groups and organizations: UBC Division ofAboriginal Peoples Health, Arts Instruc-tional Support and Information Technol-ogy (ISIT), First Nations Studies, the Col-lege of Health Disciplines; Onemda Vi-cHealth Koori Health Unit, The Universityof Melbourne; Xay:tem Longhouse Inter-pretive Centre; and Indian ResidentialSchool Survivors Society. We also wish toacknowledge the contributions fromfaculty members and students at UBC.Most importantly, we honour the contri-butions of Elders and survivors who will-ingly told their stories for us to learn,understand, grow and heal.

IHHS 409 Presented at Truth and Reconciliation Commission Dialogue at UBC


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The UBC Learning Circle opened its 5 th year witha workshop on Lateral Violence in First Nationscommunities with Chameleon Strategies. Par-ticipants discussed the origins and effects oflateral violence in First Nations communities,while drawing upon questions and concerns intheir own communities.A big thank-you to Cha-meleon Strategies forleading such a thought-provoking circle!

Our second LearningCircle of the year,Gathering Wisdom,Now What? , provided

an update on the deci-sions made and events following the GatheringWisdom conference in May 2011. Communitiesheard from Chief Federal Negotiator Ian Potter,Grand Chief Doug Kelly, and Arlene Patton(ADM Population and Public Health). During the

two-hour presentation, the speakers dis-cussed the Tripartite framework agreement,evolving relationships between First Nationsand the federal government, and the nextsteps in transition with First Nations healthcare professionals and community mem-

bers.

We at the Learning Circle were alsoexcited to re-launch the youth com-ponent of the Circle in November2011. More about the Youth Circlefollows below. We will be expand-ing our offerings in the new year tomultiple sessions a months, to in-creased trainings and courses for

health professionals in topic areassuch as palliative care and program evalua-tion. Keep watching the UBC Learning Circlewebsite for more information!

The UBC Learning Circle is a partnership

among the UBC Division of Aborigi-nal Peoples Health (DAPH), the FirstNations Health Council (FNHC) andFirst Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH).Our community partnerships andweekly discussions strengthen theLearning Circle and continue to makeit a valuable asset to Aboriginalhealth practices. The Circle currentlyruns every Wednesday from 10 to11:30am with a facilitator and in-vited expert guests to discuss topicsrelating to health and healing. A fulllist of our past and upcoming ses-sions can be found at: http:// learn-ingcircle.ubc.ca If you would like to

be added to the Learning Circle mail-ing list or have more information,please contact Jamie Witt at [email protected] .

The UBC Learning Circle

Page 3 Aboriginal Peoples Health

The UBC Youth Sharing Circle is back! The YouthCircle is an extension of the Learning Circle andis geared towards an audience of Aboriginalyoung people, ages 29 and under. The YouthCircle is a series of interactive videoconferenceepisodes specifically for Aboriginal youththroughout BC. It is available to communities allover the province, thanks to the support ofHealth Canada who has sent the required equip-ment to 80 BC communities. For communitiesthat are not able to access the videoconferencelocations the Youth Circle can also be viewedonline through streaming. We have a chat roomavailable for online viewers to communicatedirectly with the speaker.

The Youth Circle first ran in 2009 with muchsuccess (including speakers Gil Lerat and WarParty) but at that time we werent able to dedi-cate more time to keeping it going. The revital-ized Youth Circle started in November 2011 andthere are now two per month. Some of the top-ics for the 2011-2012 season will be on: sexualhealth, hip-hop, fashion, self-esteem, sports,gang life, racism, education, youth-elder rela-tions, and traditional teachings.

The Circle is held during school time toencourage teachers to bring their c lassesto participate and to allow students classcredit. We also encourage teachers tocreate assignments on the Circle topics,which meet BC Prescribed Learning Out-comes.

The Circle gives young Aboriginal peoplea place to learn from their peers andfrom individuals who have lived experiencewith the subjects they are talking about,such as changing ones life around fromgang life. Youth in the Circle have the oppor-tunity to express themselves, to be enter-

tained and to learn and teach their peers allover BC about whats going on and whatthey want to do in their communities.

You and groups in your community can alsopresent to the Youth Circle! You are invitedto share with the Youth Circle about theevents you have going on, the challengesthat youre facing and initiatives that youwant to get going. The Circle is an opportu-nity for you to seek advice from others and

to see how we can help each other,be inspired by each other and com-municate on a regular basis.

The Youth Circle, like the Learning

Circle, has the potential to createchange, empower youth and bringdialogue between communities thatwould otherwise be difficult tomaintain on a regular basis.

How to participate in the YouthCircle: Contact Genevieve [email protected] or call604-682-2344 extension 63475.

by Genevieve Leis
http://learningcircle.ubc.ca/http://learningcircle.ubc.ca/http://learningcircle.ubc.ca/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://learningcircle.ubc.ca/http://learningcircle.ubc.ca/


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On October 17, 2011, the Aboriginaladmissions subcommittee reviewedapplications from 18 Aboriginal stu-

dents for the MD undergraduateprogram. Fifteen of the 18 will beinterviewed in February 2012.

The Faculty of Medicine hosted its 8 th annual Aboriginals into Medicine:Preadmissions Workshop at UBCsVancouver campus July 26-28, 2011.Thirteen Aboriginal premed studentsattended the workshop which in-cluded 2 students from the LowerMainland, and 11 from outside ofVancouver. The 9 th annual workshop

will be held July 11-12,2012 at UBCs Okanagancampus in Kelowna, BC.

For May 2012, the Facultyof Medicine is on track tograduate 12 Aboriginalphysicians. Specialties areyet to be determined. Thiswill bring a total of 36Aboriginal physician gradu-ates.

Aboriginal Admissions at UBC Medicine


Southern Medical Programs Health Science Centre on UBC

Okanagan Campus. (Photo provided by James Andrew)

IHHS 409 begins onFebruary 27th, 2012!Register today asspace is limited!

Is the Past Present is a 3 -unit intensive, online, cross-

institutional course which provides students the opportu-nity for comparative inquiry of Indigenous experiences ofcolonization and the manifestations of that experience inthe contemporary socio-cultural environment. Throughthe use of digital interactive technology, students willwork together with educators from across the globe.

For course inquiries, please contact: Jamie Witt([email protected] ), and cc Leah Walker([email protected] ).
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Page 5Volume 2, Issue 1


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Location:#201 1190 Hornby Street

Vancouver, BCV6Z 1Y6

Mailing Address:1081 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BCV6Z 1Y6

Phone: 604-682-2344 x62242Fax: 604-806-8499

http://aboriginalhealth.med.ubc.ca

Email:[email protected].

c

Dr. Jay WortmanLeah May Walker

Clinical InstructorsJames AndrewDr. Gary BaumanShaunee CasavantJudith GohnDavid HendersonLeanne KellyDr. Rose LenserDr. Payam SazegarDr. Krista M. StogrynMaureen Tommy

Honorary InstructorsGerry Oleman

Other InstructorsDr. Rif KamilDoreen LittlejohnDr. Betty Calam

Institute for Aboriginal HealthDr. Lee BrownKerrie Charnley

UBC

Dr. Linc KeslerRick Ouellet

School of Population & PublicHealthDr. Patti SpittalDr. Nadine Caron

Health CanadaAl WiebeJennifer RappStephen PrevostJeffrey YuDr. Shannon Waters

Community MembersRose Point, ElderShane PointGreg Sam, ElderJewel Thomas, Elder

Aboriginal Peoples Healthwould like to recognize all ofour staff, partners, and won-

derful people that make ourwork possible. Thank You!

Division StaffDr. Evan AdamsDirector (On leave)

Leah May WalkerAssociate Director

James AndrewAssociate Director

Bertie GlusmanProgram Assistant

Jamie WittProgram Assistant

Genevieve LeisProgram Assistant

Tanu GambleResearch Assistant

Jo ParkerResearch Assistant

Aboriginal ResidencyProgramDr. Daniele Behn-SmithCarlea Remodo

Adjunct ProfessorDr. Dennis A. Wardman

Clinical AssociateProfessorsDr. Veronica McKinneyDr. David Tu

Clinical AssistantProfessorsDr. Evan AdamsDr. Laurel Shugarman

PHSALeslie VarleyCheryl Ward

IHHS 408 CommunitiesThe staff of the Mt. CurrieHealth CenterCedric JonesVickie Louis

The staff of the CowichanHealth CenterJudith Gohn, Health DirectorLeanne KellyCharlotte Williams

The staff of theEsketemcHealth CenterJoyce JohnsonIrene JohnsonStella Nilsson

The staff of the SeabirdIsland Health CenterCarolyne Neufeld

IHHS 409 ContributorsLyana PatrickGerry Oleman, ElderChief Robert Joseph, ElderCharon Spinks, ElderWilliam Blackwater, ElderArchie Patrick, ElderLinnea Battel, ElderLauren MclennanNegin MirriahiShaun Ewen

Acknowledgements

ABORIGINALPEOPLES

HEALTH
http://aboriginalhealth.med.ubc.ca/http://aboriginalhealth.med.ubc.ca/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://aboriginalhealth.med.ubc.ca/http://aboriginalhealth.med.ubc.ca/

APH Newsletter January 2012

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