Opportunities

The IMN-O will offer annual opportunities including summer institutes, webinars, scholarships and seed grants. Please contact us if you have questions about how the IMN-O can support you!

IMN Digital storytelling summer institute participants 2023

Scholarships

Expandable List

The Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario (with funds from the Ontario NEIHR located at the University of Toronto) provides financial support for Indigenous graduate students (master’s or doctoral degrees) or health professional students (MD, OT, PT degrees) pursuing research in applied community-based Indigenous health and based at an Ontario institution. Financial support is provided in the form of scholarships.

All scholarships/fellowships are considered for a one-year term. Applicants may re-apply for each year of their program; however, awards are limited to two years per degree. Students pursuing a Master’s, Doctoral, or Professional degree are eligible to receive up to $20,000 per year. The amount will be pro-rated at 50% for part-time students.

IMN-Ontario will award a minimum of 4 scholarships in 2026/27. The CIHR scholarships will be paid by IMN-Ontario via McMaster University. All other awards will be paid by the awarding institution and only students enrolled at that institution will be eligible, for example, only Western University students are eligible for the Western University Scholarship.

Graduate Level Scholarships Available from IMN-Ontario for 2025-26 Scholarship Amounts
CIHR Research Scholarships $20,000 X 4
Western University Scholarship* $20,000
ICES Scholarship** $20,000
Other Institutional funding TBD
*Students must be enrolled at awarding institution to be eligible

**The ICES scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled at any Ontario institution with interests in quantitative research and use of ICES data to support their research.

 

A student may hold another scholarship concurrently awarded by other major granting agencies, i.e., CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC, OGS; however, the total amount of all scholarships accepted must not exceed $35,000. It is the student’s responsibility to consider how success in this funding opportunity may impact other sources of financial support.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to qualify for an IMN-Ontario scholarship:

  1. The applicant must self-identify as an Indigenous student.
  2. The applicant must be accepted by an accredited graduate or professional program in province of Ontario for the 2026-27 academic year. Proof of acceptance is not required at the time of application, but is mandatory before any award funds can be released.
  3. The applicant must be undertaking or planning to undertake study in the area of community-based Indigenous health and well-being research.
Application deadline

All applications must be received by Thursday, April 20, 2026, at 5pm EST. No late applications will be accepted. All applicants will be notified of their result by mid-June.

For full information package (including evaluation criteria), please download the 2025 IMN Graduate/Health Professional Scholarship Information for Applicants document.

To apply, please complete the following form: 

IMN-O Graduate/Health Professional Scholarship Application Form (2026/2027) (cognitoforms.com)

The Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario invites applications for scholarships from Indigenous students enrolled in an undergraduate program at an Ontario university. These awards are intended to support Indigenous students who are pursuing academic studies with the future goal of utilizing their degree within an applied Indigenous health community context.

All scholarships are considered for a one-year term. Applicants may re-apply for each year of their program; however, awards are limited to two years per degree. The amount will be pro-rated at 50% for part-time students.

Undergraduate Level Scholarships Available from IMN-Ontario for 2025/2026
Scholarship Amounts
Undergraduate Scholarships $2,500.00 X 2
Eligibility Criteria

In order to qualify for an IMN-Ontario scholarship:

  1. The applicant must self-identify as an Indigenous student.
  2. The applicant must be accepted by an accredited undergraduate program in province of Ontario for the 2026-27 academic year. Proof of acceptance is not required at the time of application, but is mandatory before any award funds can be released.
Application deadline

All applications must be received by Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 5pm EST. No late applications will be accepted. All applicants will be notified of their result by mid-June.

For full information package (including evaluation criteria), download the 2026 IMN Undergraduate Scholarship Information For Applicants Document.

To apply, please complete the following form:
IMN-O Undergraduate Scholarship Application Form (2026/2027) (cognitoforms.com)

 

These scholarships are made possible with financial support from the CIHR-funded Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) – Ontario.

For more information on the Ontario NEIHR, please see their website by clicking here or scanning the QR Code.

We gratefully acknowledge that the institution-specific scholarships are funded by those institutions.

Research Grants

The Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario (IMN-Ontario) is pleased to provide research grants for Indigenous PhD students, resident physicians, Postdoctoral Fellows, and New Investigators pursuing research in the area of applied community-based Indigenous health and well-being.

All research grants are considered for a one-year term. Indigenous PhD students, resident physicians, Postdoctoral fellows, and new investigators are eligible to receive a research grant of up to $5,000 per year.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to qualify for an IMN-Ontario research grant:

  1. The applicant must self-identify as an Indigenous PhD student, resident physician, Postdoctoral Fellow or New Investigator. A New Investigator is a scholar within the first 60 months of a faculty appointment;
  2. The applicant must be enrolled or must hold a faculty and/or physician appointment at an Ontario university or hospital; and,
  3. The applicant must be undertaking research in the area of applied community-based Indigenous health and well-being.
Application deadline

All applications must be received by Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 5pm EST. No late applications will be accepted. All applicants will be notified of their result in July, 2026.

For full information package (including evaluation criteria), please download the 2026 IMN Research Grant Information For Applicants Document.

To apply, please complete the following form:

IMN-O Research Grant Application Form (2026/2027) (cognitoforms.com)

 

Summer Institute

The Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario (IMN-Ontario)  has hosted three summer institutes at McMaster, in 2023, 2024, and 2025.  Please visit this site for information on future summer institutes.

2025 Summer Institute

The 2025 IMN-Ontario Summer Institute brought together Indigenous graduate students, community researchers, and mentors from across the province for three days of connection, learning, and skill-building. Hosted at McMaster University and in Six Nations of the Grand River, the Institute focused on relational research practices, community-led methodologies, and pathways for Indigenous scholars in academia and beyond. Participants engaged in hands-on jam-making workshops, cultural grounding, peer mentorship circles, and sessions led by established Indigenous faculty and community knowledge-holders. The Summer Institute continues to strengthen a growing network of Indigenous scholars committed to supporting one another and advancing Indigenous health research.
 

Awardees

The Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario (IMN-Ontario) is pleased to honour all past and present scholarship and grant recipients.

Expandable List

Research Grant Recipients

Apt’sqi’gnn
Apt’sqi’gnn is from Ktaqmkuk (the Island of Newfoundland) and their maternal family are members of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. Their paternal ancestry is settler Canadian, originally from the United Kingdom. They are currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Social and Behavioural Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), University of Toronto. They hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University. Since May 2024, Apt’sqi’gnn has been a Research Assistant at the Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous Health, where they are receiving training in Indigenous research methodologies, and providing graduate student mentorship. In this role, they contribute to a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded research project titled Impacts of Climate Crisis on Indigenous Young Adults’ Mental Health. Apt’sqi’gnn is the recipient of both the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) and the 2025–2026 Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario (IMN-Ontario) Graduate Scholarship.

Research Grant Recipients

Vanessa Ambtman-Smith
Vanessa Ambtman-Smith (she/her/they/them) is of Nêhiyaw-Métis, treaty 6, and a proud mother of two children. Vanessa is an Assistant Professor at Western University (Geography and Environment/ Indigenous Studies). They are a former Indigenous health leader with 22 years’ experience in the field and a champion for Indigenous cultural safety and health equity.

Indigenous traditional healing spaces within hospital contexts: Examining relationships to health, healing and reconciliation at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Since 2019, Vanessa has been working closely with the Senior Director of Shkaabe Makwa, and 4 other Indigenous staff plus one allied health leader, to develop and undertake a community-engaged Indigenous health research project, entitled: Indigenous traditional healing spaces within hospital contexts: Examining relationships to health, healing and reconciliation at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Joshua Manitowabi
Joshua Manitowabi (BA McMaster University, MA McMaster University, PhD ABD Brock University) is an assistant professor of Indigenous history. His research has centered on Indigenous histories and Indigenous education. Josh’s master’s thesis, It sometimes speaks to us: Decolonizing Education by Utilizing Our Elders’ Knowledge, explored the experiences and recommendations of elders in introducing Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into the curricula of Anishinaabe schools. His doctoral dissertation, Anishinaabek Knowledge and Power on Manitoulin Island, is an ethnohistoric study of Odawa agency and perspectives regarding 18th and 19th century treaties made with the British Crown.

Anishinaabek Knowledge and Power on Manitoulin Island

Knowledge of gathering traditional food and medicines native to Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island) and the North Shore of the Lake Huron region in Northeastern Ontario have always been passed down from family and Elders in community. However, during the 18th century, Anishinaabek were starting to depend on Europeans for many things, like guns, clothing, and food such as pigs, dairy, sugar, lard, white flour, and salt. As a result, between 1760 and 1812, Anishinaabek prophecies such as Neolin, Pontiac, Tenskwatawa, Trout, and Handsome Lake shared the same messages in their travels around Turtle Island: for Indigenous Peoples to return to their old ways of living and become less reliant on settlers. These prophets had envisioned sovereignty for Anishinaabek and are considered part of the early decolonization movement. To this day, Anishinaabek individuals help each other plant gardens; tell each other stories through visiting; and trade food, meat and fish, medicines, fruits, and vegetables with one another. In addition, community members help each other cook when it’s time to feast (Cajete, 2015).

 

 

Graduate Student/Health Professional Award Recipients

Tristan Bomberry
 Tristan Bomberry is a Lower Cayuga member from Six Nations of the Grand River. He is dedicated to advancing Indigenous health and community well-being through impactful research. After earning his Bachelor of Health Sciences from McMaster University in 2022, he continued at McMaster to pursue a Master of Science in Health Research Methodology. For the past four years, Tristan has contributed to his community by working in a research and epidemiology capacity within Six Nations.

Currently, Tristan is completing his graduate studies while working as a Data Specialist Intern with Six Nations, where he combines his academic training with hands-on experience to support community-led health research. He is deeply committed to Indigenous research ethics and fostering culturally relevant healthcare that honours the values and traditions of Indigenous communities. Outside his academic and professional pursuits, Tristan is an avid badminton player and a fan of true crime podcasts.

Kiera Kowalski
 Kiera Kowalski is a Michif (Red River Métis) woman and citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation from Fort Frances, Ontario. She is a PhD student in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Chelsea Gabel. Her proposed PhD project aims to investigate Red River Métis experiences of neurodiversity, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) through digital stories. She also holds a Master’s degree in Development Practice from the University of Winnipeg and combined Bachelors in Journalism and Communication studies from Carleton University. Kiera has extensive experience coordinating community-based research projects in both the academic and private sector, including community-led health research projects. She values storytelling, and the arts as important sites of knowledge exchange and discovery.

Velma Noah-Nicholas
 I am known as Velma Noah-Nicholas, but my real and true name is Medweanakwedokwe and I am of the turkey clan, from Eelunaapeewi Lahkeewiit. I currently hold the position within my community as the Cultural Coordinator. My work includes archival, documentation and repatriation duties as well as providing relevant cultural programming for community growth and education.

I have been an Ontario certified Teacher for 19 years and have worked in all areas and levels of Education. I began my language learning journey as a college student and haven’t looked back since. I have spent about 15 years with some of the last fluent speakers of my community and have gained tremendous knowledge from them.

I have graduated from Lakehead University with a Native Language Instructors Diploma in 2009. Following this I attended Queens University to complete a Diploma in Education. I am just finishing up a course at University of Western Ontario, where I will receive my Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a major in Indigenous Studies.

This July I have begin my Masters in Language Revitalization Program at the University of Victoria. I am honoured to be on this educational journey, as a mother and a grandmother. It’s never too late to learn, learning is a life-long journey.

Cade Nolan
 Cade Nolan is Anishinaabe Ojibway from Garden River First Nation. Currently he is pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Nipissing University under the supervision of Dr. Mark Bruner and the Groups for Youth Development Lab. Additionally, Cade is the Strength and Conditioning coach for the varsity Women’s Basketball and Men’s Hockey teams at Nipissing U. He holds a B.A. in Physical and Health Education from Nipissing University, a B.Sc. in Applied Strength and Conditioning from the Limerick Institute of Technology and Canadore College.

Cade’s research will seek to understand how participation in sport and recreation can impact the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health of Indigenous youth in Ontario. His academic journey has allowed him to form a greater connection to his Anishinaabe roots and culture by understanding Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

Shanna Peltier
 Shanna Peltier (she/her) is an Anishinaabe kwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory located on the beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Shanna is a Ph.D. candidate in School and Clinical Child Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – University of Toronto. Shanna’s research seeks to foster Indigenous mental wellness and prevent suicide through wise practices that are anchored in an Anishinaabe philosophy: Mino-Bimaadiziwin or “Good Living/The Good Life.” Her work highlights the life-promoting practices enacted within Indigenous communities, which are built upon local Indigenous knowledge and theories of wellness and utilize community action and cultural practices. Shanna is a psychological consultant at the NAANDWECHIGE-GAMIG Wikwemikong Health Centre. Shanna provides psycho-educational assessment services to children, youth, and their families in this role.

Olivia Thom
 Shekoli swakweku. Olivia Thom ní yukyáts. I am a bicultural Haudenosaunee woman of mixed settler descent and a proud member of Oneida Nation of the Thames. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Currently, I am in the second year of my master’s program at the University of Guelph, in the department of Geography, Environment, and Geomatics, under the supervision of Dr. Diana Lewis.

My master’s research focuses on collaborating with my home community to develop of a community-specific, Indigenous-led environmental health risk assessment approach. My academic and research interests include data sovereignty, Indigenous-led community-based participatory research, and the broader application of Indigenous worldviews in research methodologies.

I am deeply passionate about advancing Indigenous environmental health equity and feel fortunate to pursue a career path that reflects my culture, passion, and personal journey. Yaw^ko to IMNO.

Maja Wetzl
 Maja Wetzl (she/her) is a Band member of Serpent River First Nation. Her paternal side is mixed – Ojibwe and Austrian – and her maternal side is German. Maja has a HBSc in Mathematical Science in the statistics stream with an emphasis in bioinformatics from the University of Guelph. Continuing at the University of Guelph, she has started her Master of Science in Applied Statistics. Maja started as a Research Assistant in the IndigenERA Lab (https://www.indigenera.ca/) in November 2023, where she will contribute to the development of the Indigenous Environmental Health Risk Assessment (IEHRA) approach. Her thesis will focus on updating the reporting of cancer incidence in Fort Chipewyan communities (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation). Maja will be comparing and analyzing data from Statistics Canada, which she has access to through the Guelph Branch Research Data Centre. Maja is honoured and grateful for the support of the IMN-O, which will help her to continue this research, while pursuing her passions for Indigenous equity and the environment.

 

 

Undergraduate Award Recipients

Brianna Dokis-Belanger
 Aanii! My name is Brianna Dokis-Belanger, I am an Anishinaabe kwe from Dokis First Nation. I am a dedicated member of my community and passionate about language and cultural revitalization. I am going into my second year at Nipissing University for a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies. After this I plan to further my studies to get a master’s in education. I want to use my education to not only give back to my own community but help other communities across Canada. I want to use my voice to uplift and advocate and show Indigenous youth what we can achieve. In school it was my culture and language teachers who inspired me to complete school and my goal is continuing that cycle to inspire the next generations.

Cameron Hare
 Cameron Hare (he/him/his), of mixed Scottish, British, and Métis ancestry, with roots in the Red River Métis Settlement and membership with the Métis Nation of Ontario, is in his final year of a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Queen’s University. As an emerging researcher in Indigenous health promotion, Cameron focuses on community mobilization for chronic disease prevention. His research journey began with a personal exploration of how his Métis identity shapes his understanding of wellbeing and its connection to diabetes within his family. He currently works with the Kahnawà:ke Schools Diabetes Prevention Program’s (KSDPP) Community-to-Community project, exploring aspects of Indigenous community resilience through concept mapping. He is also training as a facilitator for an Indigenous community mobilization program focused on health promotion and diabetes prevention. After graduation, he plans to continue his research in graduate studies at Queen’s.

Research Grant Recipients

Stephanie McConkey
 Stephanie McConkey is Oneida nation, a member of Six Nations of the Grand River and has mixed European settler ancestry. Stephanie grew up in Brantford, Ontario and moved to London in 2010 to pursue post-secondary at Western University. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology (Honours Specialization), a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a Master of Science in Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Currently, Stephanie is a Vanier-CGS scholar and a Ph.D. student in Epidemiology at the University of Toronto, supervised by Dr. Janet Smylie. In partnership with local Indigenous community, Stephanie’s PhD research is focused on using Indigenous understandings and frameworks of homelessness to develop, pilot, and validate a new population-based survey tool that measures risks of chronic and episodic homelessness among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis adults living in urban and related homelands. Stephanie also works part-time as a Research Program Manager at the Well Living House.

Using Indigenous worldviews and understandings of homelessness to develop and validate a new population-level assessment tool that measures chronic and episodic homelessness among Indigenous peoples living in Toronto, Ontario

Indigenous peoples living in urban areas are more likely to experience homelessness compared to non-Indigenous peoples. Colonial definitions of homelessness do not consider Indigenous perspectives and understandings of homelessness and therefore likely underestimates the prevalence of chronic and episodic homelessness impacting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) living in urban and related homelands as well as the risk factors associated with homelessness.

In partnership with Native Men’s Residence (Na-Me-Res) and with guidance of a local Reference Circle, a new survey tool that measures risks of chronic and episodic homelessness using Indigenous worldviews and understandings of homelessness will be developed, piloted, and validated. The new survey tool will be piloted across a random subsample of FNIM living in Toronto in the form of a follow-up WeCountCovid-19 (WCC-19) study. Statistical validation and reliability testing on the new survey tool will be performed. Based on feedback from the pilot, results of the statistical validity and reliability tests, and under the direction of Na-Me-Res and the local Reference Circle, the survey tool will be revised.

To date, an indicator that measures risks of chronic and episodic homelessness among Indigenous peoples living in urban and related homelands does not exist. The same measures are used to describe homelessness for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, thereby ignoring the impacts of colonialism and unique understandings and experiences of homelessness as they pertain to Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. An indicator that measures risks of chronic and episodic homelessness through an Indigenous lens will provide a culturally appropriate and relevant quantitative ‘evidence-base’ of the scope and severity of Indigenous peoples experiences of homelessness.

Shanna Peltier
 Shanna Peltier (she/her) is an Anishinaabe kwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory located on the beautiful Mnidoo Mnis (Manitoulin Island), Ontario. Shanna is a Ph.D. candidate in School and Clinical Child Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – University of Toronto. Shanna’s research prioritizes Indigenous wellness through critical appraisals of dominant approaches to suicide prevention. Her work is invested in highlighting the life promotion practices enacted within Indigenous communities which are built upon local Indigenous knowledges. Shanna is a psychological consultant at Kinark Child and Family Services – a community-based mental health clinic which supports children and youth with complex needs. As a psychological consultant, she provides psychological intervention and assessment services to children, youth, and their families.

“The Way of the Good Life: An Anishinaabe Approach to Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention.”

Shanna is researching with(in) her community of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory to explore historical and contemporary Anishinaabe life promotion and suicide prevention practices. Her dissertation acknowledges that Indigenous suicide is a complex form of death that necessitates a response type that is appreciative of this complexity and integrative in terms of diverse sources of intervention and prevention. The following question guides her work: “Aaniish Ge-zhi Naad-monh-naam-baa Wii Mina Bimaadiziyn?” Or how can we help you live well? Mino-Bimaadiziwin is an Anishinaabe philosophy that translates to “living a good life/the good life.” Her dissertation builds upon Indigenous philosophies of health, such as Mino-bimaadiziwin, as well as Indigenous and First Nations-specific frameworks of wellness (e.g., Indigenous Wellness Framework and First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework). Specifically, Shanna’s dissertation has two main objectives: 1) to explore Anishinaabe young peoples’ understandings, lived experiences, embodiments, and imaginings of good living for themselves and their community, and 2) to deepen understandings and co-theorize with Anishinaabe community members about how the community-based responses to suicide in the late 1970s enacted, practiced, or brought into being mino-bimaadiziwin, promoted life and prevented suicide.

 

 

Graduate Student/Health Professional Award Recipients

Tristan Bomberry
 Tristan Bomberry is Cayuga Nation and a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River.

Growing up in Hamilton, Tristan pursued his journey at McMaster University, where he successfully obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences in 2022. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Health Research Methodology under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Walker.

Throughout the last few years, Tristan has actively engaged with research initiatives within the Six Nations community. Prior to pursuing his M.Sc., Tristan served as the project coordinator for the Onkwehón;we Health Check-in, one of the largest community health studies ever conducted solely by a First Nations reserve’s health authority.

In addition to a dedication to community-driven Indigenous health research, Tristan is passionate about Indigenous research ethics. As a member of McMaster’s REB, he works towards preventing a repetition of historical injustices, where research had previously exploited Indigenous communities.

Outside of school, Tristan enjoys playing badminton, listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time with his dachshund, Cooper.
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Victoria Bomberry
 E. Victoria Bomberry is Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River, an “Isten” (Mom) of one and a second-language speaker of Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk). Victoria earned her Hon. BSc. in Geography and Environmental Sciences at McMaster University and, under the supervision of Dr. Chantelle Richmond, her M.A. in Geography at Western University. Drawing from her Indigenous research experience with the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton, McMaster Indigenous Research Institute and Western University, Victoria has worked with and for Indigenous communities in numerous roles, most recently as an Indigenous Data & Policy Analyst for the Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership.

Victoria will begin her doctoral studies at Western University in fall of 2023. Her research will explore the health and well-being implications of Indigenous peoples who are contemporarily reclaiming and asserting their rights as Indigenous peoples in urban settings.

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Arielle Bressette

My name is Arielle Bressette, and I am Anishinaabe from the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in Southwestern Ontario. I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree and am currently completing a Master of Professional Education Degree in Social Justice, Equity, and Diversity, both from Western University. My research will investigate how to bolster and leverage culturally relevant and positive mental health and wellness initiatives as essential building blocks for success in formal education programs for Indigenous youth. Longstanding needs within Indigenous communities and organizations have revealed a critical need for culturally appropriate programming and resourcing. Essentially, my academic, professional, and personal goal is to support Indigenous youth in their academic endeavours through an exploration of factors experienced by successful Indigenous students and their families during their studies in secondary and post-secondary schools.
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Taylore Miller
 Aanii! Waasese Bidishkwanjegehkwe nindigoo, Nimkii Binesi nindoodem, Sagamok Anishnawbek nindoonjii, Anishinaabekwe endow.

My name is Taylore Miller, my clan is Thunderbird, I am from Sagamok Anishnawbek, and I, as my ancestors before me, am an Anishinaabe woman. I also happen to be a third year Medical Student at Schulich School of Medicine in London, Ontario!

Growing up, my family called ourselves “Urban-Nish”. We lived around Toronto and struggled to find cultural connections outside of our homes. However, as I’ve gotten older, I have been welcomed into many different communities and have learned more about reconnecting with my Traditional roots. In my family, we now have a younger generation growing with teachings we once thought would be lost to us.

As a Medical Student on Turtle Island, I have been incredibly fortunate to have access to different opportunities. In particular, I have found myself growing passionate about learning to deliver both research and clinical care in an Indigenous way. My hope is to find ways to be both a Doctor and a Traditional Healer to provide quality care for Indigenous communities. I also want to bring more traditional teachings and Indigenous voices into medicine to ensure that quality care is received all over Turtle Island.

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Cade Nolan
 Cade Nolan is an Ojibway from Garden River First Nation. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Kinesiology program at Nipissing University. He started his educational journey at Canadore College in the Strength and Sport Conditioning program to earn a college diploma. He then had the opportunity to enroll into a bridge program with the Limerick Institute of Technology in Ireland to study a Bachelor of Science in Applied Strength and Conditioning. Through Covid he was unable to return to Ireland, so he decided to transfer to Nipissing University in the Bachelor of Physical and Health Education program where he completed his undergraduate degree. Cade has plenty of experience working with athletes as a strength and conditioning coach, as he is the current strength and conditioning coach for the Nipissing Lakers varsity Women’s Basketball and Men’s Hockey teams. He is also a proud member of the Groups for Youth Development Lab at the university where this team has cultivated a number of projects
for positive youth development and Indigenous youth mental and physical wellness. Cade’s graduate research will continue this trend of helping Indigenous positive youth development through sport and physical activity.

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Maggie Yakorenni:yo Powless-Lynes
 Shé:kon! My name is Maggie Yakorennio Powless-Lynes. I’m Mohawk Nation wolf clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, with Scottish ancestry through my dad’s side. I grew up on Grand River territory, and got my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from McMaster University. I am a recent graduate from the University of Toronto, where I completed my Master of Public Health, specializing in Indigenous health. My interest is in health research that operates with Indigenous methodologies, prioritizes community empowerment, and uplifts Indigenous cultural knowledge and sovereignty. I am also a beader, musician, and language-learner. I am honoured and grateful to be an IMNO Scholar and acknowledge the immense support I’ve received from my community and many Indigenous organizations, which has allowed me to continue my education.

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Darienne Russell
 Hello, my name is Darienne Russell. I am Lusilyoo (frog) clan from Tl’azt’en Nation in Northern British Columbia. I am a graduate student at the University of Toronto completing a Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health. My research interests include womens health, gender-based violence, homelessness, and language revitalization. My lifelong goal is to be a strong advocate for Indigenous communities by promoting Indigenous rights and health. I am honored to be receiving this award and would like to thank the organizers for this amazing opportunity. Musi cho (thank you).

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Olivia Thom
 Olivia is Oneida on her maternal side and comes from mixed settler descent. Her family comes from Oneida Nation of the Thames, in southwestern Ontario. She has a BA in Indigenous Studies with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. She has started her MA at the University of Guelph in the Geography, Environment, and Geomatics program, under the supervision of Dr. Diana Lewis. For her master’s thesis she is working with her home community to develop an environmental health and wellness survey that is going to adequately account for Indigenous environmental health and risk assessment in the community. The assessment will include the environmental contamination and other health and wellness impacts the community experiences and how their mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health and wellness is impacted. Olivia is very passionate about Indigenous environmental health equity and feels lucky to be able to pursue a career path that aligns with her culture, passion, and personal journey.

 

 

Undergraduate Award Recipients

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Brooke Gelinas
 Brooke Gelinas is a health sciences student at Western University. She strives to promote diversity, equity, and social inclusion at Western University and in the community to build respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with students, community members and Indigenous communities. As Western University’s Métis Nation of Ontario Infinite Reach Facilitator, she helps incoming students adjust to university life while encouraging the maintenance of traditional Métis values and practices. Brooke’s research interest is rooted in Indigenous health promotion. She is currently assessing health behaviours during COVID-19 and the knowledge of dementia and dementia risk factors among Indigenous older adults in the Exercise and Brain Health Mobility Laboratory. Study findings may help highlight areas for improved dementia literacy and healthy lifestyle resources for the Indigenous population to promote improved physical and cognitive health. Her personal interest stems from a desire to find ways to improve the health of Indigenous populations and her passion for health sciences.
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Emma Gelinas
 Emma, a second-year Health Science student at Western University, is driven by a profound commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and social inclusion both on campus and within the broader community. Her dedication extends to cultivating respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with students, community members, and Indigenous communities. In her role as Western University’s Métis Nation of Ontario Infinite Reach Facilitator, Emma helps incoming students transition smoothly into university life. She also takes great pride in promoting the preservation of traditional Métis values and practices among her peers. A visionary and compassionate leader, Emma was instrumental in establishing her school’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Through this initiative, she actively seeks to enhance awareness and understanding of Indigenous cultures among students and community members of all ages, aiming to foster a spirit of lifelong allyship with Indigenous people. Emma’s dedication to making a positive impact on Indigenous youth is further exemplified by her efforts in organizing camps tailored to their needs. Her personal interests are grounded in a profound desire to contribute to the improvement of Indigenous populations’ health, and her unwavering passion for health sciences fuels her pursuit of these important goals.

To see awardees from 2018-2022, please visit the IMN-O at Western University website.