Attention IPAC Medical Students – Paid Research Opportunity

BiIl S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which includes the right to a healthy environment, was passed June 2023. 

IPAC is committed to listening to our Elders, knowledge keepers and members’ thoughts on this new bill and what it means for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Some questions we would like to explore include: How do we define a healthy environment? How should this right be upheld? 

We will be gathering this information in three key ways, one of which is a survey of our members. We are also hosting an in-person Elder Roundtable and two online roundtables for our members. 

We designed this paid research opportunity with Indigenous medical students in mind. We understand the challenges of completing research while attending medical school. More information

The TRC Calls to Action 23 & 24 Medical School Report Card

The idea for this project was conceived by the medical students at our 2019 IPAC National Mentorship Forum and AGM in St. John’s Newfoundland and brought to life by a small group of volunteer students with the support of IPAC staff and board members. Indigenous medical students across the country are given the opportunity each year to provide feedback on how they feel their schools are implementing the TRC’s 23/24 Calls to Action. In this way, students can help schools identify what they are doing well and how they still need to improve. The results are collected and analyzed, and each school receives a report card of the collated and anonyzed feedback from their own students. Since September 14, 2020, medical schools have received a report card with recommendations on how to better implement the TRC’s 23/24 Calls to Action, with the ultimate goal being reconciliation and closing the healthcare gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. To learn more and see summary reports from previous years, please click here.

The student volunteers who began this project have mentored new students to carry on the project. The results of the 2021/22 have been released and the results of the 2022/23 survey will be released soon. Those involved are committed to repeating the survey annually, so that the medical schools will continue to have the opportunity to hear the voices of Indigenous students.

Please forward any inquiries you may have to trcreportcard@gmail.com