Aaniin Boozhoo, Tan’si, Greetings from IPAC,
On behalf of our Board of Directors and Staff we hope you enjoyed your summer and had time to enjoy the beauty of our lands and waters that make up Turtle Island. I was so grateful to spend time on the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish: Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations at PRIDoC 2022 this July. I was also able to reconnect with my cousin after 30 years. In July and August, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the lake, making memories, in the beautiful Canadian Shield in Northwestern Ontario, with my son, Riddick.
The period between summer and fall was a huge transition – more specifically the end of PRIDoC, and with that, IPAC’s election of a new Board of Directors. PRIDoC was such a memorable occasion and it was filled with Spirit, Love, Friendship and Support. I can’t think of a better way to start off my new role with IPAC as President and I am so grateful to be working alongside Dr Mike Dumont (Vice President), Dr Alexa Lesperance (Secretary), Dr Rebekah Eatmon (Treasurer), Dr Ojistoh Horn (Physician Director), Dr Randi George (Resident Director), and Laney Beaulieu (Student Director). They are all so dedicated and passionate about working to improve the health outcomes for our families and communities and improving the experience of our students, residents and physicians learning and working within the health system. I also want to acknowledge and honor outgoing board members Dr Nel Wieman, Dr Evan Adams, Dr Sarah Funnell and Dr. Josha Rafael for their years of leadership and mentorship to IPAC.
As we just had our Fall Equinox last week, I reflect on the teachings I have learned about this season. Fall teaches us about balance where, on September 22, the day and night fall into balance. Fall is a beautiful gift from Gitche Manitou (Creator) that teaches us about change. Change can be difficult as we transition from summer to winter, as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer, but nature teaches us that change is inevitable. If we look at the trees in the fall we see the beautiful colors of their leaves but the tree must let go of its beauty as it no longer needs its leaves – it knows to let go of things that will weigh it down in the winter. For the leaves, they have a new purpose, to provide shelter and warmth for those little creatures on the ground. In the spring, those leaves will provide nutrients for the earth to help support new life. For me, this is a time to reflect on those things in my life that weigh me down and no longer serve me and what things need nurturing to grow. I look forward to warm bonfires and cozy nights inside snuggling with my son watching movies. I look forward to nurturing relationships with friends, family and colleagues that have been challenged through the COVID-19 pandemic. I also look forward to the new relationships that will grow through this new role with IPAC.
I want to give a special thank-you to our Mentorship Manager Sara Ayaruak-Thomson in the successful launch of this seasons’ IPAC Mentorship Gatherings. The gatherings started in September and will continue throughout October. I was able to be a part of the gathering that occurred in Winnipeg, at the University of Manitoba. I really enjoyed meeting and talking with our medical students and sharing my own experience as an Indigenous physician. It was also an opportunity to connect with Indigenous Colleagues in Manitoba and to listen and learn from them. We often get busy in our lives and don’t have enough opportunities to connect and support each other in this way.
I am so proud of our Indigenous Medical Students who have established the Indigenous Medical Student Association of Canada (IMSAC). They are showing exemplary leadership early in their careers and providing safe space for our students. They were able to hold their strategic planning weekend in Manitoba that had coincided with the mentorship event.
I would also like to congratulate Dr. Alika Lafontaine on his new Presidency of the Canadian Medical Association. Dr. Alika Lafontaine is the first Indigenous president in the CMA’s 155-year history.
To close, I want to reflect on the various events that have occurred in the past month: September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and October 4: National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. These both happened right after the two-year anniversary of Joyce Eshaquan’s tragic death. I want to honor her life, and all of our sisters, mothers and aunties who are missing or murdered, and all those little ones who never made it home. We will remember them in the work we do to end Anti-Indigenous Racism within and outside of the healthcare system.
Chi Miigwetch,
Dr. Mandy Buss, President
