Honouring Community
The Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional, ancestral, unceded and unoccupied territory of the henqeminem speaking xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People. The Centre would like to take this space to thank our elders, partners and those who have come before us in our community as their knowledge of traditions and practices have been the foundations and pillars for the Center of Excellence in Indigenous Health (CEIH).
After an extensive one-year consultation process with Aboriginal communities, the First Nations Health Authority, educational partners, government and non-profit groups, the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health was formally established at UBC on January 1st, 2014.
The Centre is a single coordinating point for Indigenous health initiatives within UBC and acts as a contact for communities and organizations external to UBC. The Centre is dedicated to advancing Indigenous people’s health through education, innovative thinking, research, and traditional practice. It will work to improve wellness, health care and patient outcomes, and promote self-determination that includes increasing Indigenous leadership in all aspects of health and health care.
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Advisory Councils & Faculty
The Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health is currently forming two Advisory Councils: a University Advisory Council and a Community Advisory Council. Both of these Advisory Council will provide guidance to the Centre as the Centre develops the Students, Education and Research “pillars”.
The University Advisory Council is comprised of UBC faculty and staff who are appointed by the heads of the various health units.
The Community Advisory Council is made up of members from different First Nations across BC or who have long standing relationships with Indigenous peoples in the area of health.
These two Councils are vital to ensuring that the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health develops respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities. The Centre must be relevant to and consistent with Indigenous communities’ objectives and intentions with respect to health and will respect the First Nations Health Authority’s 7 Directives.
University Advisory Council
The following individuals were appointed by the head of each of the health units at UBC. Their role as the University Advisory Group for the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health is to support the Centre as it builds relationships across the university with respect to the health of Indigenous peoples. Each member will bring the unique perspective of their home faculties that will inform ways in which the Centre can be supportive and facilitate the good work that is already happening.
University Advisory Council
TBD Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Ian Cavers Associate Dean, Academic, Faculty of Science
Dr. Leanne Currie Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science
Dr. Alanaise Goodwill Assistant Professor, Dept. Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Faculty of Education
Dr. Donna Kurtz Associate Professor, School of Nursing, UBC Okanagan
TBD School of Social Work, Faculty of Arts
Dr. Eduardo Jovel Associate Professor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Dr. Kavita Mathu-Muju Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Division Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry
Dr. Louise Nasmith, Associate Provost, Health, UBC Health
Dr. Judith Soon Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Bob Sparks Professor, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education
Faculty
More information on Indigenous faculty members at UBC can be found on the UBC Aboriginal Portal website.