The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians recognizes the importance of National Indigenous Peoples Day.

This is a time to celebrate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures and traditions. The summer solstice is a time of renewal and connection and has been recognized across Canada as a day to honour Indigenous peoples since 1996. The theme of National Indigenous Peoples Day for 2025 is, “Keeping the Circle Strong through the Sacred Relationship with Mother Earth”.

We encourage all emergency medicine physicians and learners to recognize this day and to consider one of the following 5 actions in the spirit of celebration and solidarity:

1. Find events in your own community to join in the celebrations, for example, through this list of upcoming activities on the west coast to explore and enjoy the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures and traditions.
2. Become a member of the Indigenous Physicians’ Association of Canada (IPAC). While membership is open to all Indigenous Medical Students, Residents, and Physicians, they also have an Associate Member category for allied physicians who are non-Indigenous.
3. Read the Calls to Action for Health from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 
4. Read a book by an Indigenous author or watch a documentary on an Indigenous topic, to learn how history and traditions have shaped the lives and communities of Indigenous peoples.
5. Find out more about National Indigenous Peoples Day here.

We also invite you to visit CAEP’s EDI Resource Centre and to contact gsnook@caep.ca if you are interested in joining CAEP’s Antiracism and Anticolonialism Committee.

The CAEP Antiracism and Anticolonialism Committee will provide advocacy, support, mentorship and networking opportunities for Emergency Physicians who are Black, Indigenous and persons of colour, and allies. It will work toward equity with a focus on addressing racism and colonialism in emergency medicine in the areas of patient care, physician advancement, professional development and medical education.

To develop partnerships with other equity-focused health care groups within and outside of CAEP (e.g., the CAEP Women in Emergency Medicine Committee, the CAEP 2SLGBTQ+ Committee, the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, Black Physicians of Canada) and to establish collaborations with community organizations and patient advocacy groups.

To provide a networking forum for CAEP members who are Black, Indigenous, and persons of colour, and allies.

To create opportunities for mentorship for medical students, residents and staff from Indigenous and racialized groups.

To develop guidelines for emergency medicine practice to promote equity specifically in addressing racism and colonialism in patient care, physician advancement, professional development and medical education and to recommend metrics for Canadian emergency departments to apply in assessing progress in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

To contribute to the resources available through CAEP’s EDI Resource Centre.

We welcome CAEP members at all levels of training (medical students, residents, and attending physicians) to reach out about joining the committee or ways to get involved. You can contact Ginette Snook (gsnook@caep.ca) at the CAEP Head Office.

ASL interpretation sponsored by Disability Without Poverty.

Jennifer Bryan
MD FRCPC
Chair
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Bryan is the founding Chair of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Antiracism and Anticolonialism Committee. Her work is focused on equity in emergency medicine and is at the intersection of global health with antiracism and anticolonialism. She is an emergency physician, Director of Research in Emergency Medicine at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She is the Director of Operations of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine (TAAAC-EM) and a founding member of the University Health Network emergency department sickle cell working group.

Jaspreet Khangura
Vice Chair
Toronto, Ontario

James Liu
MD CCFP(EM)
Member at Large
Langley, BC

Taylor Lougheed
MD CCFP(EM)
Member at Large
North Bay, Ontario

Dr. Taylor Lougheed is an Emergency Physician living and working on the traditional territory of the Nippissing First Nation Anishnabe in North Bay, Ontario, and is passionate about addressing racism, colonialism, and equity in our healthcare system.

Sara Alavian
MD
Resident Member
Hamilton, Ontario

Tharsini Sivananthajothy (she/her)
Medical Student Member
Calgary, AB

Janet Rodriguez

Community Representative

Betalihem Lemma 

Student Representative

Taylore Tiffany Jean Dupuis Shalovsky

Student Representative