Racism is a silent killer for First Nations (Indigenous) people when they interact with various systems including the health care system. Both educational and healthcare institutions reinforce the creation of conditions, policies and practices which contribute to substandard health care delivery for First Nations. Examples of the observable racism include delays in treatment and racialized assumptions and stereotyping by health care providers which can result in loss of life for First Nations people.

Health care institutions are being called upon to address First Nation specific racism due to a number of high-profile deaths and the continued widening of the gap in life expectancy between First Nations and all other Manitobans. A research team at the University of Manitoba in partnership with First Nation Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM) developed and delivered an 8-week anti-racism training program. This program targets medical learners and dietetic interns to build a culturally safe and anti-racist framework for health care providers who work with First Nations people. This training uses a self-reflective discussion-based model as its form of knowledge transfer. The course required 1 hour of reviewing and engaging with materials and 1 hour online discussion with small groups facilitated by the instructor.

This workshop will review the development of the course, course outline, personal reflections from the instructors and the preliminary evaluation outcomes. Group activities and audience participation will include: the "Power Walk Exercise" and "Interconnectedness Web" that will explore the visible gaps from a community-perspective and, on the other hand, the concept of intersectionality.