The Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada’s annual meeting was held in Halifax

NationTalk: CBC News – Dr. Annelind Wakegijig has been working in the medical field for nearly three decades. Yet, this is the first time in 20 years that she’s been back at the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada’s annual meeting.

Held this year in Halifax, under the theme “Our Stories, Our Medicine,” this national conference aims to bring more young Indigenous people into healthcare by providing medical students and established physicians the opportunity to share stories of their journeys, grow their networks and participate in cultural activities. 

Wakegijig, who is the lead physician at Baawaating Family Health Team in Batchewana First Nation, near Sault Ste. Marie, told CBC Radio’s Morning North that she last attended IPAC’s annual conference when she was still in medical school. 

“I had attended IPAC meetings when it was called the Native Physicians Association, I had attended as a medical student. So to be back in those walls as an “experienced physician” was very surreal,” she says.

How medicine has changed 

Wakegijig says for young Indigenous people in medicine, having role models to pave the way is invaluable. 

She says the biggest difference she noticed at the conference — compared to when she was training to be a doctor — is that the number of Indigenous health professionals has grown exponentially. 

“When I was a medical student,” she says, “that number, I could probably count on one hand. I find that very exciting”

Wakegijig  says having more Indigenous physicians doesn’t just benefit patients, it also boosts the confidence of young Indigenous people entering the field.

“Indigenous medical learners now have a multitude of role models that they could reach out to or at least look up to and approach if need be,” she says.

Transforming care for Indigenous people

It’s no secret that historically, trust in the quality of healthcare has been less than stellar among Indigenous peoples in Canada. 

Wakegijig hopes that knowing there are more Indigenous providers working in the Canadian healthcare system brings Indigenous communities comfort.

“I hope [we can] foster a growing trust in those providers because we come from the same place and there is comfort in familiarity,” she says. “That comes inherently with trust. So I really hope that is what our people see when they see an Indigenous provider is out there.”

In her own practice, Wakegijig says just by being Anishinaabe-kwe, she is providing culturally informed care. From years of trial and error, she says she’s familiar with what works and what doesn’t work. 

“When it comes to my own people, I think part of that is embracing the language and learning as much as you can about it. Even if they’re small phrases, it goes a long way,” she explains.

Wakegijig also has some advice for young Indigenous people who are looking to go into medicine. 

“I’d like to really encourage the youth out there to embrace their gifts, to realize their potential and know that there are people out there that will be willing to support them. And if it is in a career in healthcare, we have more and more of our people that are in those healthcare professions that they can reach out to. They don’t have to do this journey alone.”

With files from Morning North