Dr. Marcia Anderson DeCoteau is Cree - Saulteaux, with roots going to the Norway House Cree Nation and Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. She took the position of Head of the Section of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Health in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba in September of 2011. She brings to this position experience as the Medical Officer of Health, Health Equity at Manitoba Health, past co-lead of the Manitoba First Nations Public Health Improvement Pilot Project, past President of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, and is the past Chair of the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress. She was recognized for her contributions to Indigenous peoples health with a National Aboriginal Achievement word in March 2011. Her research interests focus broadly on Indigenous health and health equity. She loves being a mom, running, reading, doing yoga and watching the Food Network. Dr. Anderson DeCoteau is passionate about advancing Indigenous health and vibrancy and hopes to lead the Section of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Health to be the most innovative, connected, and effective academic Indigenous health unit in Canada. She loves being a mom, running, reading and doing yoga.
Dr. Anne Durcan is a family physician with the Inuit Health Program, Northern Medical Unit. She graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine in 1992, and trained in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. After spending two years in Springhill Nova Scotia, she worked as a family physician for a year Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Her love of the north and the people she worked with led her back to the Northern Medical Unit. Since 1999, she has been the coordinator of the Inuit Health Program, JA Hildes Northern Medical Unit. She also works in primary care at Mount Carmel Clinic, in Winnipeg's north end since 1997. She has a strong commitment to health equity. Anne is excited to be a part of the Section of First Nation, Inuit and Metis Health in the Department of Community Health Sciences in the University of Manitoba. She hopes contribute to innovative, creative approaches to enhance education, research and service in and through partnerships with Indigenous communities. Anne is enjoys her time at home with her husband Alec Macaulay, and their three children, Maura, Helen and Patrick.
Dr. Yvette Emerson is Métis; she grew up in the North End of Winnipeg; her family roots go back to Camperville, MB. She joined the Section in September of 2011 as Associate Medical Director for the J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit. Her current clinical work is in the Emergency Room in Selkirk, MB. She is passionate about northern medicine and has lived and worked in many northern and remote Aboriginal communities including Haida Gwaii (BC), Sioux Lookout Zone (ON), Nunavut, Hodgson, MB and many of the fly in communities to whom the NMU provides medical services. She also has a strong interest in the education of medical learners and has worked with the Department of Family Medicine in training family medicine residents at the Kildonan Medical Centre. She maintains her ties with Family Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the department and through the NMU’s involvement with the Northern and Remote Family Medicine Residency Program. She is the mother of 3 boys and is “home schooling” the 12 year old (he comes to work with Mom). She commutes to Winnipeg from a “farm” west of Teulon and loves gardening, caring for the farms many animals and working toward self-reliant living.
Dr. Barry Lavallee is a member of the Saulteaux and Métis communities of Manitoba. His territories of origin are St. Laurent, Duck Bay and Lake Manitoba First Nation although he was raised in Winnipeg for most of his life. Barry comes from a family of nine siblings, four of whom died as children from infectious diseases: a common occurrence for Indigenous communities in the sixties and earlier. He took a circuitous route and left high school mid grade eleven and worked at various jobs until he made a decision to go back to high school. That was the start of Barry's academic journey. Barry says finishing both pre-medical and medical school at the University of Manitoba was only possible with the support of his wife, Debbie. She essentially raised our children through their formative years and says his success is equally hers. Barry finished medical school in 1988 and two years later received his qualifications in Family Medicine. He has practiced in First Nation and Métis communities his entire career and has dedicated his work to advancing the health and healing of our communities. Barry has mentored many students and physicians overtime and teaches at the medical school here in Manitoba. Barry has a small practice in Winnipeg and I fly up to remote communities.
Margaret Lavallee, Traditional Ojibway Ikwe, was born and raised at Sakgeeng First Nation, Fort Alexander, Manitoba, Canada. Margaret is currently the Aboriginal Cultural Specialist for Section of First Nations Métis and Inuit Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. As Aboriginal Cultural Specialist, Margaret provides programming and support for Aboriginal students who are currently in the health professional faculties [Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Rehabilitation (Occupational, Physio and Respiratory Therapy) and the School of Dental Hygiene]. Margaret, in her role ensures cultural programming is incorporated into all levels of student support at the University of Manitoba in research and education through faculty and curriculum development; student teachings; and personal mentoring in a traditional cultural context. Margaret is a survivor of the Fort Alexander Residential School system (over a four year period) and she also attended the missionary day school.
Melanie MacKinnon is a member of Misipawistik Cree Nation (Grand Rapids, Manitoba) and remains grateful to her family, colleagues, mentors and Elders whom have continued to support her career and helped steer her path to assist in improving the health of our First Nation and Aboriginal peoples. She is a nurse and published author that has worked in numerous clinical, administration, research and policy analyst roles in First Nation, Provincial and Federal health care systems throughout Manitoba. She comes to the University of Manitoba from the private sector where she was a health consultant that specialized in program planning, health systems design, advisory and negotiation services to assist First Nation and Aboriginal government organizations in reaching their maximum potential in the health and social service area. Her new role within the Faculty of Medicine is to assist in the development of the Section of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Health as well as help facilitate the integration of indigenous knowledge into education, research and service delivery models in hopes of reducing health disparities amongst indigenous peoples and the rest of Canadians.