NAN and NOSM partnership will support capacity-building initiatives and strengthen health system within NAN territory

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) signed a Relationship Accord on March 23, 2021 during the NAN Chiefs Assembly on Health Transformation and Governance.

The accord will guide NAN and NOSM as they move forward in supporting the NAN Health Transformation process with the goal of developing mutually supported initiatives that will build capacity and strengthen the health system within NAN territory.

“We are grateful that these dedicated experts are committed to working with us and our communities in the design and function of an effective health system. These Accords are significant steps to achieving health equity and the removal of barriers to safe and effective health care across NAN territory. Miigwetch to our partners for their dedication and support. We look forward to working together to build capacity and improve health outcomes for our communities,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory encompasses James Bay Treaty No. 9 and the Ontario portion of Treaty No. 5, a landmass covering two-thirds of the Province of Ontario. NAN represents 49 First Nations with a total population (on- and off-reserve) of 45,000.

“We know the health challenges that these communities face,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM Dean, President and CEO. “We know that structural social inequities such as colonization, racism, social exclusion and repression of self-determination are important social determinants of health. We are committed to promoting innovation, discovery, and academic and clinical excellence within our School while building a culture of diversity, inclusion, integrity and empowerment.”

The School’s new strategic plan—The NOSM Challenge 2025—NOSM commits to renewing its commitment to social accountability and its relevance to partnerships with community. The School is committed to addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls (MMIWG) Inquiry’s Call for Justice and the NOSM Expert Panel Recommendations.

To learn more about the relationship accord, visit NAN’s website.

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About NOSM

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is an award-winning socially accountable medical school renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for health equity, NOSM relies on the commitment and expertise of the peoples and communities of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote and underserved communities.

NOSM is making health equity a core strategy. Health equity is a leader-driven priority where health-care leaders articulate, act on, and build the vision into NOSM’s values. The School is developing structures and processes that support equity—a new Associate Dean Equity and Inclusion, the Respect The Difference movement, a commitment to curricular renewal, and a reform of our admissions to address equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility to medical school. NOSM is taking specific actions that address the social determinants of health that include Indigenous, Black and Francophone realities, while confronting institutional racism within the organization to identify, address, and dismantle the structures, policies, and norms that perpetuate race-based advantage. By collaborating with communities and socially responsive organizations who are leading in the social justice movement, NOSM will boldly implement a culture of anti-racism at all levels of the School.

For further information, please contact: news@nosm.ca