Upcoming Advocacy Events

Virtual Workshop: Strengthening Allyship in Action

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 is a time to honour Survivors and the children who never returned home, and to reflect on the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. It is also a time to consider how non-Indigenous people, especially those working in healthcare and education, can take meaningful action toward reconciliation.

Join us for a 90-minute Zoom workshop designed to support physicians, healthcare professionals, medical learners, and administrators in approaching this day with respect, humility, and intention.

This session will offer practical tools and guidance for engaging in responsible allyship, collaborating respectfully with Indigenous colleagues, and creating programming that moves beyond symbolic gestures.

Workshop Highlights:
✅ Thoughtful approaches to honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
✅ Best practices for engaging Indigenous colleagues and communities
✅ Tools for meaningful allyship and accountability in healthcare spaces

Reconciliation is not a single act or a one-day event, it is a lifelong responsibility.

Dates & Times:
Please select the session that best fits your schedule and click on the link to register. Want to be notified when more dates are added?

Past Advocacy Events

2025

Virtual Workshop: Strengthening Allyship in Action

Date: May 12 & 15
Zoom: Virtual (Zoom)

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, we hosted a two-hour virtual workshop focused on strengthening allyship in action. This gathering was an opportunity to celebrate the strengths and achievements of Indigenous Peoples in Canada while reflecting on our individual and collective roles in reconciliation.

Designed for allies such as physicians, healthcare professionals, medical learners, and administrators, the session offered practical tools for respectfully honouring the day and building stronger relationships with Indigenous colleagues and communities.

Workshop Highlights:
Best practices for engaging Indigenous colleagues
Ideas for impactful National Indigenous Peoples Day initiatives
Tools for meaningful allyship in healthcare

Thank you to everyone who joined us in this important conversation. Let’s keep moving forward together with respect, humility, and care.

Second Generation Cut-Off & Section 10 Voting Roundtables

Date: March 11 & 13, 2025
Location: Virtual (Zoom)

IPAC held two national roundtable discussions exploring the impacts of Second Generation Cut-Off and Section 10 Voting Thresholds. The sessions were co-facilitated by Dr. Ojistoh Horn, Dr. Alexa Lesperance, and Executive Director Melanie Osmack.

Who Participated:

• IPAC Physician Members with experience working with Indigenous patients with status cards
• IPAC Medical Students and Residents with an interest in Indigenous health and governance

Why It Matters:
IPAC held two national roundtable discussions on the impacts of the Second Generation Cut-Off and Section 10 Voting Thresholds. Insights from these sessions will help develop an Indigenous-led report for submission to Indigenous Services Canada.

2024

Environment Justice

On June 13, 2023, Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act became law. This bill is an amendment to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to, among other things, recognize that every individual in Canada has the right to a healthy environment.

The federal government has two years to create an implementation framework in consultation with Indigenous Peoples. IPAC is coordinating three projects with the goal of collecting as many voices as possible. These projects are funded by a grant from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Bill S-5 IPAC Member Survey
In March, IPAC Members received an invitation to complete the IPAC Bill S-5 Member Survey on March 4. This survey was created by one of our Indigenous student members, with the goal of ensuring that all IPAC members had the opportunity to give their input. Data from this survey has been complied into a slide deck available here.

Bill S-5 Elder Gathering
April 12, we gathered with seven Elders from coast to coast to coast in Vancouver, B.C. We listened and learned from our Elders, ensuring their voices were included in our report on Bill S-5, the amendment to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). We look forward to sharing what we learned. Videos are available here.

Bill S-5 Virtual Member Roundtables
April 24 and 25, IPAC hosted two virtual roundtables for all IPAC members. We envisioned a healthy dialogue where members could share their thoughts, ideas, and questions about Bill S-5 and CEPA. You can find the “What We Heard” report summarizing the discussions here.

Learn more about CEPA and Bill S-5
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/right-to-healthy-environment.html

2021

Culture is Medicine – A Social and Creative Workshop with Artist Sabian Rawcliffe.
On Thursday, April 29, 2021 IPAC Members joined Michael “Sabian” Rawcliffe to created medicine bundles and connect over Zoom, shaking off the stress of the pandemic and honouring the need for creativity, joy, and wellness.

Anti-Indigenous Racism

Anti-Indigenous Racism in Healthcare – A Canadian Perspective During COVID-19
Tuesday, May 4, 2021: Systemic Anti-Indigenous racism, the Opioid Crisis, and COVID-19 had Indigenous doctors in Canada working around the clock. We saw both tragedy and promise. IPAC President, Dr. Nel Wieman; Chair of the National Consortium on Indigenous Medical Education, Dr. Marcia Anderson; and Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Public Health, Dr. Evan Adams, as they shared an overview of what happened in Canada, and how Indigenous physicians and organizations made positive change. Q & A followed the panel discussion.

COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccine Myths
Thursday October 28, 2021: An opportunity for Indigenous people across Canada to ask questions about COVID-19 Vaccines. Invite your friends, family, community members and patients. This is a safe space for vaccine hesitant people to ask questions. Indigenous Doctors on the panel include: Drs Daniele Behn Smith, Lisa Richardson, Marcia Anderson, and Evan Adams.