Leadership of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health
Message from the President

November 5, 2021

Dear colleagues,

CIHR is deeply concerned about the impacts of recent events on the well-being of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous communities.

Accelerating the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in health research is one of CIHR’s top priorities, and maintaining the trust and confidence of Indigenous communities is essential to this work. As an organization, we remain committed to reconciliation, learning, and listening to Indigenous communities.

To ensure that this important work continues, we will be consulting with the IIPH Institute Advisory Board on a short-term leadership plan to receive advice grounded in knowledge of context and culture of Indigenous health research and communities. The ongoing activities of IIPH will also be supported by Dr. Tammy Clifford (Vice-President, Research Programs) in her role as Indigenous Health Research Co-Champion, and the rest of CIHR as we continue to deliver on our Strategic Plan and Indigenous Health Research Action Plan commitments.

As we move forward and learn from the events of these past weeks, CIHR will continue to seek guidance and advice from Indigenous leaders and community members, the IIPH Institute Advisory Board, and other key partners as we work together to achieve our shared goal of supporting Indigenous health research led by Indigenous Peoples.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Strong, MD, FRCP, FCAHS, FAAN
President, CIHR

Date modified:

2021-11-05