Founded by Indigenous medical students, the Indigenous Health Outreach Club (IHOC) creates a space to learn about Indigenous cultures and practices, as well as healthcare disparities.
On the anniversary of Joyce Echaquan’s death and two days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, 15 McGill medical students gathered to run and reflect. Donning orange shirts, the group tackled a five-kilometre loop in Parc du Mont-Royal to honour residential school survivors and all those who never made it home.
The event was the third McGill Reconciliation Run, one of several activities organized by the Indigenous Health Outreach Club (IHOC).
Co-founded by Craig Sky and Mélodie Levesque, two fourth-year medical students, IHOC aims to create a space to learn about the cultures of Indigenous peoples, as well as the healthcare disparities they face. Sky hails from Kahnawà:ke, while Levesque is a member of Wendat First Nation.
Sky, an Elaine Kilabuk Award recipient, says IHOC gives future doctors an opportunity to connect with their Indigenous peers while expanding their knowledge outside of the classroom.
Promoting cultural appreciation
Through its events, IHOC focuses on raising awareness of various Indigenous cultures and practices within medical contexts, as well as bridging gaps in understanding and promoting cultural appreciation.
The McGill Reconciliation Run was one such activity and was led by IHOC member, Elaine Kilabuk Award recipient and McCall MacBain Scholar Bryden Bukich.
The Reconciliation Run initiative was founded by Bukich’s cousin, Tréchelle Bunn, who recently became Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation’s youngest-ever chief. To honour her great-grandparents and uncle, who were residential school survivors, Bunn held the first run in Birtle, Manitoba. Since then, satellite Reconciliation Runs have been organized across Canada, the United States and even as far away as Australia.
The McGill Reconciliation Run began with a medicine ceremony, which allowed attendees to learn about Indigenous traditions and practices related to health and well-being.
“We pass the medicine around to show them what sweetgrass, tobacco and sage look like, smell like, and teach them the purpose of all four traditional medicines,” explains Bukich, who is Red River Métis and a fourth-year medical student. “Then, everyone can participate in the smudge ceremony.”
This moment of learning and reflection is particularly important for medical students, who will go on to serve Indigenous patients, Bukich says.
“Lots of people are going to do rural community placements,” he adds. “If you get a chance to work with an Indigenous doctor or an elder in a community, even bringing a bit of tobacco for appreciation can go a long way.”
At the end, attendees came together to share a meal of bannock, bison and wild rice salad (above) prepared by Indigenous caterer Chef Swaneige Bertrand.
Promoting Indigenous medicine, cultures and languages is at the forefront of every IHOC event, says Sky. At a recent IHOC trivia night, he shared a few words of Kanien’kéha with medical students in attendance, including how to greet someone.
“That’s kind of our whole goal – we want to ease them into this conversation of how to interact with Indigenous patients. That way, not only are they comfortable with it, but the patients are comforted as well.”
Future outreach to peers and Indigenous youth
Since its founding, IHOC continues to grow and has partnered with other medical student clubs on some activities.
The Indigenous Health Professions Program has also been a champion of the club’s work, providing funding and logistical support for its events throughout the year.
In the coming months, IHOC plans to host more trivia nights, while exploring the possibility of organizing a documentary screening and outreach activities.
“We’re also in the works of organizing a mini-medicine camp for the local community of Kahnawà:ke – to go into the community, focus on high school students and expose them to what medicine is and how they could potentially pursue a medical career,” Sky says.
Stay up to date with IHOC by following them on Instagram.