b'INDSPIRE YOUTH LAUREATEYou were recently recognized withthat was really where I fit andmy face and realizing that Im also an Indspire Youth Award. Whatwhere I felt like I belonged [in termsIndigenous, and then me seeing was your reaction to this news andof] a career. that joy and safety that they what does it mean to you? immediately feel. Its them saying, It was definitely an honour, and itDo your Red River MtisOh my gosh, are you Indigenous? was very surprising. I rememberexperiences and culture inspireMe too! and the gratefulness they getting the phone call while I was inyour approach to medicine? And ifexpress at having someone in their the middle of a training workshop,so, how? community in a place where they and I was floored by the call. I didntThe biggest way is by being ablereally need it. know how to go about the restto bring a diverse perspective to of my day having this knowledge!the field of medicine. Health careIn more specific ways, I know Ive Then, as I learned more about thehas been very Westernized withinconnected with people by asking [Indspire Laureate] event, what thisthe country we live in. Its one ofwhat types of things they needed meant, and the community I wasthose things where theres a largewhen someones in a situational being welcomed into, I just becameIndigenous patient populationcrisis. Okay, are you connected to very flattered. It was hard to seethats being served by a system thatyour community? or I know were all these incredible and amazingisnt exactly built for them and isnttalking about medical treatments people who are also Laureates andexactly a safe place for them, either.or facilities that you could attend, think, Im one of you now? By coming in as an Indigenousbut is there any ceremonial element person and having more of a diversethat would be important to you? You chose a medical career andlife perspective, that changes theIs there a way we could try to are now a practising doctor. Whatway I approach patients, and itget you into a smudging space, if brought you to the medical field? changes the way I might understandthats something thats important I was always very interested insome of the things theyve beento you? science. I found it something thatthrough and why they might be I excelled at and enjoyed. Its soreacting the way they are withinIts about me understanding how diverse and theres many differentthe health-care system. I find thatculture and community relate to areas you can go into. As I wasreally allows me to connect withhealth care and making sure that exploring the field, I realized Ipeople and provide more of a safeIm being aware of that and giving wanted more of a human touch toenvironment for them to interactthem that option as part of their the work that I was doing and towith the system and to ideally getcare plan.see more of an immediate tangiblebetter treatment.effect on the people I was tryingYouve talked before about facing to help. I had started in a researchCan you elaborate on how exactlycultural challenges during your background and then moved intothis approach looks in practice? medical training. Specifically, medicine when I realized that IIn a broad sense, its walkinghearing from others that being wanted to interact with people andinto a room with an IndigenousIndigenous meant you didnt need help them in that way. I realizedpatient and them seeing me andto be as smart or as accomplished The Leaders in Railway Maintenanceand Construction Services Across CanadaREMCAN is committed to building positive, respectful, and sustainable relationships withWhere community and career come together Indigenous communities. Our focus is on promoting employment opportunities, pre-employmentwww.remcanprojects.com/careers training, and business ventures or partnerships through community engagement.LEADERS IN ONGOING SKILLS COMPETITIVE CUTTING-EDGESAFETY AND CAREER COMPENSATION EQUIPMENTDEVELOPMENT AND BENEFITS2024indspiration25'