Addressing systemic barriers and colonial legacies in clinical trial research 

Health inequities among Indigenous Peoples in Canada arise from systemic injustices and require culturally responsive, community-led solutions. The  Indigenous Clinical Trials Unit, the first of its kind in Canada, enables and uplifts Indigenous-designed and implemented clinical trial research that addresses the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples and communities while strengthening and promoting sovereignty and self-determination in health research innovation. The ICTU marks a significant step toward rectifying colonial impacts on health and empowering Indigenous sovereignty in healthcare.

Community Partnerships

The ICTU works in close partnership with the Wapanachakos Indigenous Health Program at the University of Alberta, the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat in Manitoba, and the University of Manitoba. 

The ICTU is guided by the wisdom of the Grandmother’s Council and is strategically supported by members of the Indigenous Health Committee that has representation from First Nation, Metis, and Inuit health leaders from across what is now Canada. 

Partnerships with distinctions-based communities, other rights-holders, and leaders in Indigenous Peoples health continue to evolve and will deepen significantly once the demonstration projects are implemented throughout 2025.