The University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine appointed Simon Brascoupé as special advisor to the dean on Indigenous health in February of this year.
The newly created role was designed to work in support of Indigenous learners, faculty, staff and leadership while guiding the Faculty’s commitments to Indigenous health, cultural safety, reconciliation and respectful partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
A member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and now four months into his new role, Brascoupé shares what he’s seen so far, and the initiatives that are already underway.
What was your connection to the Faculty of Medicine prior to stepping into this role?
My connection goes back many years through Indigenous health, medical education, and community work.
Earlier in my career, while working with Health Canada and later with national Indigenous organizations, I was involved in Indigenous health human resources initiatives that supported Indigenous pathways into medicine and health professions across Canada. Some of that work connected directly with the Faculty 20 years ago during the early development of Indigenous medical education initiatives.
I also served for many years on the Faculty’s admissions committee and worked alongside Indigenous physicians, students, faculty members and community leaders on issues related to Indigenous health, cultural safety, outreach, and mentorship.
There is also a personal connection. My daughter, Dr. Sarah Funnell, completed her MD here and later became the founding director of the Centre for Indigenous Health Research and Education (CIHRE). Through those relationships and experiences, I’ve had the opportunity to see the Faculty evolve over time and contribute to many of the conversations around Indigenous health transformation.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see the Faculty evolve over time and contribute to many of the conversations around Indigenous health transformation.”
Simon Brascoupé
— Special advisor to the dean on Indigenous health, uOttawa Faculty of Medicine
What drew you to the role of advising the dean of the Faculty?
What drew me was the opportunity to help strengthen relationships between the Faculty of Medicine and Indigenous communities, and to help move Indigenous health work forward in meaningful and lasting ways.
There has already been important work done at the Faculty, but there is still a need to continue embedding Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and community priorities across curriculum, research, recruitment, governance, and learning environments.
I’ve spent much of my life working at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, education, policy, health, and community development. This role felt like an opportunity to bring those experiences together and help support the next stage of the journey.
It is also an exciting opportunity to work with Dr. Melissa Forgie, the interim dean, whose vision recognizes that we are living in a changing world and that Indigenous medicine, health, and knowledge systems must be part of shaping the future of health care and medical education. I believe that vision aligns strongly with Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives on wellness, relationships, community, and holistic approaches to health.
I also believe strongly in “two-eyed seeing”—bringing together Indigenous ways of knowing and Western science respectfully and collaboratively. Medicine has an important role to play in reconciliation, and I felt this role could help contribute to that work.
You began in the role last spring—what have the past few months been like?
The past few months have been very busy, but also very positive and encouraging.
A great deal of the work has involved relationship-building and listening. I’ve been meeting with students, faculty, physicians, researchers, staff, leadership and community partners to better understand the strengths already in place, where the gaps are, and where people hope the Faculty can go in the future.
In a relatively short period of time, I’ve also been fortunate to establish close collegial relationships and friendships within the Faculty of Medicine and within the larger uOttawa community. That has been one of the most encouraging parts of the role because meaningful Indigenous health work is always grounded in relationships, trust, and reciprocity.
There’s a strong desire across many parts of the Faculty to move Indigenous health initiatives forward in thoughtful and meaningful ways. At the same time, there’s recognition that this work needs to become sustainable and embedded throughout the institution.
I’ve also been encouraged by the willingness of many people to learn, reflect, and work together in a good way.
What is your vision for this role, and how do you see your work having an impact?
My vision is to help support a Faculty of Medicine where Indigenous learners, faculty, staff, patients, and communities genuinely feel respected, welcomed, and reflected.
I would like to see Indigenous knowledge and perspectives meaningfully integrated throughout the institution — in medical education, research, governance, policy, recruitment, mentorship, clinical environments, and partnerships with communities.
I also hope we continue strengthening pathways for Indigenous youth into medicine and health sciences, especially for students from northern, rural, and underserved communities. I often describe this as a “land to leadership” journey — helping young people see pathways from community, culture, land, and identity into health, science, research, and leadership roles within medicine and healthcare.
Long term, I hope this work contributes to stronger relationships with Indigenous communities, more culturally safe healthcare systems, and more Indigenous physicians, researchers, and health leaders across Canada.
What have your first priorities been as you settle in?
One of my first priorities has been relationship-building and listening.
I’ve been spending time meeting with different groups across the Faculty and community to better understand existing initiatives, opportunities, concerns, and areas where collaboration can be strengthened.
Another priority has been supporting discussions around Indigenous curriculum, cultural safety, recruitment pathways, mentorship, and governance.
I’ve also been thinking carefully about how to build on the important work already started through CIHRE and earlier Indigenous health initiatives at the Faculty.
To me, the vision for the Centre remains very important. It should reflect the kind of learning and healing environment many people hoped it would become — grounded in relationships, wellness, Indigenous knowledge, and community connection. I am hopeful we will have more to share about this soon.
Is there another question you wish people would ask?
I sometimes wish people would ask: “What does success look like in Indigenous health transformation?”
For me, success is not only about policies or programs. It’s about relationships, trust, belonging, and long-term change.
It’s about Indigenous students feeling that medicine is a place where they belong. It’s about communities seeing themselves reflected within health systems and medical education. It’s about creating environments where Indigenous knowledge is respected alongside Western science.
And ultimately, it’s about improving wellness for future generations.
This work is part of a much larger journey — one grounded in humility, reciprocity, learning, and shared responsibility.
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In 2025, Simon Brascoupé received an honorary doctorate from uOttawa in recognition of his impact in ensuring safe and accessible health care for Indigenous communities.
Main photo: Simon Brascoupé (2nd from left) working on mural artwork as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Medicine’s Indigenous Program in 2025. L-r: Dr. Darlene Kitty, director of the Indigenous program; Simon Brascoupé; Melissa Forgie, interim dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Dr. Alex Petiquan, mentorship lead for the Indigenous Program.
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