Waakebiness-​Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health

The Institute aims to promote the health of Indigenous peoples — one of the biggest inequity issues facing Canadians — in Canada and globally using multidisciplinary, population and community-based participatory research approaches. Established in 2014 with a $10-million gift from Michael and Amira Dan, the Institute aspires to have a major impact on society by providing innovative solutions to promote thriving Indigenous communities. Following the gift, the School established an advisory committee dedicated to community-based collaboration, including key voices from Indigenous communities, to shape the Institute’s mission.

Learn more about the Institute. Read more.

Our Commitment

  • DLSPH commits to providing access to Indigenous content and support for the integration of Indigenous worldviews into our curriculum
  • DSLPH commits to developing and enacting a policy to enable smudging within the School
  • DLSPH commits to offering Indigenous cultural safety training for learners
  • DLSPH commits to an annual review of our progress on previous commitments to ensure accountability, and establish new commitments

School Initiatives

The School alongside researchers and leaders at the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health developed a series of events to honour The National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

  • Tuesday, Sept 28, 2021 –  Indian Horse: Film Review and Discussion – DLSPH provided access to staff, students and faculty to watch the film Indian Horse. The school then hosted a film review and discussion for all members of the DLSPH community and was lucky enough to be joined by Indigenous Elder and actress in the film, Edna Manitowabi. In this virtual conversation, Edna shared lessons and learning from her life and personal experience with the residential school system with the group as discussions continue on other themes that surface throughout the film.
  • Wednesday, Sept 29, 2021 –  Shingwauk Residential School Centre (SRSC) – the SRSC provided a virtual tour of the former Shingwauk and Wawanosh Indian residential schools which have since been transformed into a research and educational centre. The virtual tour provided historical context specific to the site, using current and past photos and experiences. The event was open to all members of the DLSPH community and professional therapeutic support was provided for any members that needed it.
  • Thursday, Sept 30, 2021 –  Honoring Truth and Reconciliation Day
    • Garden on McCaul Presentation – The audience was led through a virtual presentation by Liat Margolis, Associate Professor and Director of the Masters of Landscape Architecture Program and two graduate students. The presentation shared a new street planting design on McCaul St. which was developed in partnership with the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health. The new planting design replaced the existing lawn and daylilies with 100 native understory trees and shrubs that have a variety of medicinal gifts and remind us of vast Indigenous knowledge systems and connection to the land and all of our relations.
    • Campus Walk – After Dean Brown began the event with opening words, a personal story and an acknowledgement of the land DLSPH inhabits, DLSPH community members that attended were taken on a guided tour through UofT campus that highlighted significant historical and current campus sites. The school purchased orange shirts designed by an Indigenous artist and provided them to all DLSPH members that attended with all proceeds going to Anishnawbe Health Toronto.

DLSPH also promoted a number of other items through social media to honour The National Truth and Reconciliation Day 2021:

    • A new line of Indigenous Superheroes in Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices No. 1,
    • ImagineNATIVE – A registered charity committed to inspiring and connecting communities through original, Indigenous film and media arts,
    • Secured licensing and promoted the music of Indigenous artists: Moe Clark and Joseph Naytowhow