Our annual workshop began with a pre-event designed by the DAC Indigenous Patient Circle: “Cultivating Equity: Advancing Anti- Racism in Healthcare.” This day-long session, attended by trainees, Patient Partners and staff, featured a diverse program incorporating traditional Indigenous knowledge and practices with presentations addressing unconscious bias, racism in healthcare, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

Councillor Leslie Maracle, who oversees the Nation Wellbeing and Wellness portfolio for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, opened the event by sharing her experiences as a frontline worker in the community.

Invited guests included members of the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM), as well as Dr. Barry Lavallee, a Métis and Anishinaabe physician and advocate for culturally appropriate healthcare. Dr. Lavallee delivered a powerful message emphasizing the deep connection of Indigenous Peoples to the land and the ongoing harm caused by systemic racism and colonial structures that continue to affect Indigenous communities today.

Breakout sessions and role-playing exercises highlighted the uncomfortable truths of misconceptions, stereotyping, and racist behaviors in healthcare settings. One session, led by Cheryle Dreaver, Carla Cochrane, and Mike Alexander, revealed the disappointing and harmful experiences many Indigenous Peoples face when accessing care, and the extra efforts required to combat unconscious bias and racism in their healthcare interactions.

The event concluded with a sharing circle where participants discussed the impact the day had on all attendees personally and professionally. This session effectively spotlighted the systemic barriers that persist despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and how research can better integrate Indigenous knowledge and practices.

The evaluation from this workshop was very positive, and the session is ready to be scaled to larger audiences.