The objective of the Inter-professional Day in Education: Indigenous Health (IPE) is to develop skills, knowledge and attitudes that will improve competence to practice inter-professional health care in a culturally safe manner. The IPE is part of the Indigenous Health Elective that is open for participation to all students, staff and faculty of McMaster.

Speakers:

Dr. Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson is Mohawk from Six Nations, ON.  She grew up mostly off-reserve with strong family and personal ties to Six Nations.  She is passionate about her community, Hamilton’s urban Indigenous community and her identity as a Mohawk woman.  She is currently completing her final year as a psychiatry resident in the Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University.  She completed medical school at Western University in London, ON in 2014. 

Prior to pursuing a career in medicine, Ashley completed a Master of Arts degree in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON.  The Community Psychology program was pivotal in her professional development and aligned very well with her Indigenous values.  She has always been passionate about understanding and/or advocating for Indigenous social issues, Indigenous determinants of health, Indigenous ways of knowing and being and education of Indigenous students.  As such, her Master’s thesis entitled “Understanding Academic Success of Onkwehonwe (Indigenous) students through the use of an Onkwehonwe’neha (Indigenous methodology)” explored factors which led to academic success for post-graduate Indigenous students.  In the process of this (re)search, students inevitably shared the barriers and challenges, including systemic/institutional/academic racism and cultural dissonance they experienced in their academic journeys.   This (re)search strengthened Ashley’s passion in advocating for Indigenous students.

Ashley currently participates in the Indigenous Health Initiative (IHI) with the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Indigenous Mental Health Initiative with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University.

She provides psychiatric care in multiple settings, including work with De Dwa Da Dehs Nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre.  She is passionate about providing culturally safe, sensitive and appropriate care to Indigenous populations.  She also presents, educates and consults on topics related to Indigenous Mental Health Care. 

Dr. Amy Montour

Amy Montour is an Oneida woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She has completed Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Medicine degrees at McMaster University. Amy works clinically as a palliative care physician and family physician for the elderly. In addition, she currently sits as the Indigenous Health Consultant to the Department of Family Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, the Regional Aboriginal Clinical Lead for Juravinski Regional Cancer Program and Regional Palliative Care Clinical Co Lead for the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network.

Dr. Jill Roberge

Jillian Roberge is an Emergency Medicine Resident at McMaster.  Jillian is a Métis woman originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Prior to medical school, Jillian worked as a sexual/reproductive health educator at a community health agency in Winnipeg.

Throughout medical school, Jillian has been active in the ISHS mentorship program, providing information and support to Indigenous students pursuing careers in medicine. Jillian has also lent her time to support the annual Medical School Entrance Interview (MSEI) workshop. The MSEI prepares Indigenous students interviewing for medical school to give their best performance in the interview process. 

During medical school, Jillian has also pursued a research project aimed at investigating Indigenous Peoples’ experiences in emergency departments. Upon completing her undergraduate medical education in May 2016, Jillian is looking forward to continuing to incorporate an emphasis on Indigenous health in both her residency training and her career going forward.

Danielle Bourque

Danielle Bourque from Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Treaty Six Territory in Alberta. She grew up in many small communities in rural Alberta. She found a sense of belonging in nursing leadership and research through the inspiration she found in other Indigenous researchers, and solidified her area of research advocating for the improved access to health for Indigenous populations.

Being one of the few Indigenous nurses throughout her nursing undergraduate degree and her place of work has left a critical impact in her areas of interest for research. She is part of a unique and underrepresented population within nursing, including academia, and as an Indigenous person of Canada and an Indigenous nurse she has experienced and faced many challenges that have stemmed from the lack of knowledge, such as the social and cultural barriers that currently exist and have affected her through prejudices; stereotyping; feelings of being unsafe; lack of personal and financial support; and historical, language, and cultural misunderstandings.

In spite of these challenges, finding strength in her Indigeneity within nursing has been an influential aspect in her transformation into a nursing leader and researcher.  As literature continues to identify the multitude of disparities and inequities present within Indigenous communities, she hopes she can begin to better apply and build on this area of research to improve access to health care, retention and recruitment of indigenous nurses, Indigenizing nursing curricula, and improving health outcomes of Indigenous peoples in the healthcare setting.

Stephanie George

Stephanie is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and an Aboriginal Canadian Midwife.  She is well known for her work as an advocate for Indigenous health, women’s health, mental health, and as a breastfeeding educator. Stephanie continues to share her knowledge with health care providers and students through her roles on the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives, the Baby-Friendly Initiative Strategy of Ontario and as an expert panel member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. Stephanie is on the Board of Directors for Haldimand Norfolk Women's Servcies. Stephanie teaches future and current health care providers and IBCLC’s by working as a Sessional Instructor of Indigenous Health at McMaster’s University and as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Lactation Consultants Association (ILCA). 

Where:

Celebration Hall, KTH Building, McMaster University

Lunch Provided

Agenda: