Hi everyone. This is Aleka Lack. Welcome back to another episode of the anti-racism and medicine series of the Clinical Problem Solvers podcast. As always, our goal on this podcast is to equip our listeners at all levels of training with the tools and mindset to practice anti-racism in their health professions careers. I'm thrilled to be hosting this episode today

with team member Gillette. On today's episode, we are discussing historical figures in medicine

and how physicians have advanced the medical profession, often at the expense of indigenous

humanity. We will also discuss how indigenous knowledge systems are the foundation of modern

medicine and share strategies to promote truth and reconciliation with indigenous peoples in North America.

Gillette, I'll hand it over to you to start introducing our incredible guests for today.

Thanks so much, Alec. I really appreciate that. I'm going to start introducing Dr. Alika Lafontein.

Dr. Alika is an award-winning physician and the first indigenous doctor listed in medical

post 50 most powerful doctors who is born and raised in Treaty 4 territory, southern Saskatchewan,

and has Mati, Oji, Cree, and Pacific Islander ancestry.

Dr. Alika has served in medical leadership positions for almost two decades.

From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Alika co-led the Indigenous Health Alliance Project, one of the most ambitious

health transformation initiatives in Canadian history.

He also was led politically by Indigenous leaders representing

more than 150 First Nations across three provinces. The Alliance successfully advocated for

$68 million of federal funding for Indigenous health transformation in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

He was recognized for his work in the Alliance by the Public Policy Forum where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented the award. Dr. Alika continues to practice anesthesia in Grand Prairie, where he has lived with his family for the last 10 years. I'll turn it over to Alec now.

Incredible. Thank you, Gillette. Dr. Nav for thought. Our other guest is the Canada Research Chair in Health Justice,

staff physician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital

in Unity Health, Toronto, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine

at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on health equity and fairness, especially

as it relates to medicine access. He also compares national essential medicine lists in collaboration

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