IHRF Interior & North Regions:
Laura McNab-Coombs is a Métis researcher and biomedical sciences student whose roots on her father’s side run deep in Battleford Saskatchewan, while those of her mother are of settler ancestry (England). She is currently employed with the BC NEIHR as an Indigenous Health Research Facilitator for both the Interior and North, thus dividing her time between the unceded ancestral territories of the Sinixt and Lheidli T’enneh (Dakelh) peoples.
Contact Laura: lauramcnabcoombs@uvic.ca
IHRF Vancouver Island Region:
Jimena Garcia (Achalchiuitl) is a Global Leadership Master (M. A) student at Royal Roads University. Her research is focused on Indigenous-led recovery, revitalization and practice of traditional medicine, healing, and well-being practices. She has studied and practiced Indigenous medicine in multicultural contexts, bridging intercultural partnerships, and creating products and educational campaigns for women’s health. She is currently employed with the BC NEIHR as an Indigenous Health Research Facilitator and living as an uninvited guest on traditional Lək̓ʷəŋən territory
Contact Jimena: jimenachalchi@uvic.ca
IHRF Fraser & Vancouver Regions:
Taylor Atwater is Stó:lō, from Semà:th (Sumas) First Nations with mixed ancestry. She has a background in clinical exercise physiology and is currently a MSc student in Indigenous population health at Simon Fraser University. Her research uses a Two-Eyed Seeing approach to understand the intersection of cultural wellness and chronic illness. She has over 4 years of quantitative and qualitative research experience, with the most recent working at the First Nations Health Authority. She is passionate for advancing the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, promoting cultural safety and humility, and exploring structural racism. She is currently employed with the BC NEIHR as an Indigenous Health Research Facilitator for both the Vancouver and Fraser Regions and lives on the unceded and occupied lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.
Contact Taylor: taylor_atwater@sfu.ca
IHRF Fraser & Vancouver Regions:
Patrick Canning is Nisga’a and taken in by the Haida. From the Ganada clan, his Nisga’a name is Hooyiskw and his Haida name is Higyanaaw. He has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
Presently, he guides walking tours through Stanley Park and other areas discussing the history of colonization and the violence it required often touching on historical realities that are not common knowledge.
He has been involved with several Indigenous-grounded research projects as a Research Assistant and is committed to respectful engagement with Indigenous communities. As the Indigenous Health Research Facilitator for the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser regions, he is looking forward to collaborating and expanding his knowledge in Indigenous health research and meaningfully engaging with Indigenous communities, collectives, and organizations with the BC NEIHR and Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance (CCAIHG). He currently resides on the shared territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.
Contact Patrick: patrickcanning@uvic.ca