Thread by @DrMakokis

There are some, not many Indigenous physicians in medical leadership positions across Turtle Island. When it is time to apply to these positions, we are often criticized for not having enough experience. The fact is, we do have enough experience and it just needs to be examined/1

..from a different lens. We have experience with advocacy from an early age because we have to. I remember at 5 years old going fishing with my grandfather and father on our Trapping lands only to find our nets burned by people who did not understand we have a right to provide /2

..for our families off the land. I’ll always remember how sad their faces were. We encounter Fish and Wildlife (provincial governments) when we are out hunting, questioning why we are there. We have to register our children when they are born and sign forms that say/3

..”specimen signature” to enroll them in our Band. When we are out performing traditional burials in the mountains we are questioned by RCMP (federal government) on why we are there, and that we are trespassing on “leased land” to oil, gas, or mining companies despite /4

..generations being buried there. I’ve been out picking our cree medicines and have had people come with guns to question why we are there. In university, Indigenous learners often have to correct the colonial violence being taught about us and risk the academic consequences. /5

In addition to academics, we have to learn our languages (my generation is the first non-fluent speakers), songs, medicines, ceremonies (which form our governance, education, legal, and medical systems) in our “down time” so it is not lost. We often have to speak for our people/6

..because they are often overlooked. It is a heavy burden but we do all of this in addition to our “regular jobs,” committee work that we are passionate about, volunteering, advocacy, and teaching. We often do things for the collective, rather than individual advancement /7

and so when you say we do not have experience. We have tons of experience - it just is a different kind. I felt safe running for @CMA_Docs President Elect because @drgigiosler helped open that door - thank you for allowing us to see ourselves in that space too. It is time to /8

..change the narrative of what leadership is and what it is measured by. I believe this is part of the reason why BIPOC, minorities and women are excluded from these roles. I hope to help change this conversation and I hope you will too. As an example, as far as I know, there /9

..are no Indigenous Deans and few Indigenous tenured faculty. Let’s change this and realize the potential of how we agreed to live here under Treaty, in peace, friendship, Treaty, sharing, understanding, and learning from one another. Ekosi pitama.