The CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health Brought Together Voices from Across Canada for Its Think Tank

On October 1 and 2, 2025, the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (IIPH) hosted its Think Tank at the Château Laurier in Ottawa.

The event welcomed over 180 participants from across Canada, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, researchers, graduate students, health practitioners, public health professionals, community leaders, youth representatives, and policy makers.

Dr. Chelsea Gabel, IIPH Scientific Director, shared that the Think Tank was designed as a space to pause, reflect, and imagine the future of Indigenous health research in Canada. She invited attendees to speak about their communities' priorities, identify barriers, and offer ideas for more effective and responsive support.

As CIHR marks its 25th anniversary, Dr. Jeffrey Reading, IIPH's first Scientific Director, reflected on the early days of IIPH and emphasized how much work still needs to be done to address the persistent disparities in Indigenous health across Canada.

Throughout the two-day gathering, participants joined work sessions on a wide range of topics related to Indigenous health and research. These included cancer prevention, immunization, Indigenous data sovereignty, environmental health, food sovereignty, mental wellness, 2SLGBTQIA+ health, sexual and reproductive health, and land-based healing in health systems.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Gabel thanked everyone for their contributions and shared that their insights will help shape the future direction of the Institute.