b'INDSPIRE YOUTH LAUREATEits very important to get motiva-tion both from within yourself and outside of yourself and your community, if you can.You are a co-founder of the Indigenous Medical Students Association of Canada (IMSAC). What was your motivation for creating this group, and what impact have you seen it make? That started when I was part of an organization for all medical students in the country. There were a few Indigenous medical students who faced racism while being a part of this organization, and one of them ended up connecting with a few people across the country to be accepted into medicallines of, Oh, its nice that theyrewho were upset by this. [They] had school. Can you speak to that? picking more diverse people nowbeen hoping to build a network out Yeah, unfortunately its a prettyand letting people like you in. Iof this organization but realized common [viewpoint] thatsalways found that very frustrating,it wasnt a safe place for us and it expressed to Indigenous people,especially knowing that my peerswasnt meant for us. We realized specifically when theyre goingand I are very academically accom- the only way we could kind of get through the [medical training]plished and very accomplished inaround that was to create our own journey. Theres an Indigenousother ways, but thats kind of over- space and create our own organiza-pathway to admission to medicallooked as were just seen as diver- tion for connection. schools and people just assume thatsity picks. And unfortunately, thatAnd so I ended up connecting with they dont look at your academicis still something thats happeninga med student from Albertahis merit as part of that.now that Im in residency. name is Jesse Lafontaineand Theres a misconception that as anthe two of us, from the ground Indigenous student, you dont needWhat advice, then, would youup, found a little crew of people to have the best grades or have aoffer for other Indigenous womenwe could work with, and we were high score on the MCAT in order togoing through similar journeys andable to start this organization. get in, which is not true. Even whenencountering the same biases?Luckily, the Indigenous Physicians it comes to going into residencyBuilding your self-confidence isAssociation of Canada was very programs and choosing yoursomething thats difficult to do, butsupportive of us in the creation of specialty, there are people whoit is very important. You need to bethis. We also had some support will think youre a diversity pick asable to hear these things and thenfrom the Canadian Medical opposed to being chosen on merit,keep being who you are and keepAssociation in making this work. which is what they assume for thesucceeding. I know that can be hard average medical person. I find thatwhen you hear these things thatIm no longer a medical student, so tough to deal with because it is akind of get to you and get insideIm not part of the organization, but very common thought that peopleyour head. My advice would be thatsee that its still active and still has express, sometimes very outwardly,if you do face a barrier or a chal- members and theyre still creating even though sometimes they dontlenge and then you start hearingspace for connection and events realize their own bias when theyrethose voices in the back of yourand mentorship, which I think is expressing these views. head, find people who can remindreally cool considering that its one you that those things are not trueof those things thats hard to let In what ways did you encounterand help you work through it.go of when you move. Its really these biases through yourcool that [IMSAC] is still making a training? And then, just ask for that support.difference and allowing Indigenous I encountered it a lot in medicalIts okay to get support. Its amazingmedical students to connect school and then in residency whereto have people and things thatwith each other and support people would say things along thecan get you through that, becauseone another.26indspiration2024'