Associate Professor/ Professor - Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health
University of Toronto
Date Posted: 08/27/2026
Closing Date: 10/30/2026, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 49926
Job Category: Faculty - Clinical
Faculty/Division: Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Department: Dept of Family & Community Medicine
Hospital Affiliation: TBD
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes
Description:
The Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, invites applications for the Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health, established to honour the legacy of Dr. John Big-Canoe. The appointment is for a five-year term and is renewable once following a successful review. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027, but negotiable.
The Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health will honour the legacy of Dr. John Big-Canoe by advancing a thriving community of Indigenous health faculty, staff, trainees, and Indigenous community partners in Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) at the University of Toronto and beyond. Upholding Indigenous community co-leadership requirements – “nothing about us without us” - the Big-Canoe Chair will partner and collaborate to make tangible and meaningful contributions to Indigenous peoples, Indigenous health systems and Indigenous reconciliation in areas prioritized by Indigenous communities and Indigenous health leaders. They will support the ongoing creation within DFCM of groundbreaking, culturally safe sites of excellence in Indigenous primary care clinical education, scholarship, and policy development. They will lead Indigenous specific program strategy, partnerships, and interdisciplinary collaboration across DFCM’s internal and external stakeholders. They will support DFCM in becoming a Department of Choice for Indigenous learning and scholarship – attracting outstanding Indigenous learners, faculty and staff. The role will also include understanding and addressing the mentorship needs of emerging Indigenous health leaders across the spectrum of potential and existing students, faculty, and staff.
The Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health is tied to the department’s existing Indigenous Health Lead position and will support an Indigenous family physician to oversee a wide range of activities and initiatives tied to Indigenous health, including but not limited to: leading and assessing the department’s continued adoption of Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations; developing and delivering new and expanded training programs in Indigenous health for all faculty members and learners; ensuring teaching and training sites are culturally-safe spaces for Indigenous-identifying practitioners and patients; and evaluation of the department’s movement towards reconciliation - including the impact of actions taken. The Chair will be supported by and provide advice to the department’s Indigenous Leadership Circle including the departmental Indigenous education lead, who is responsible for supporting and strengthening Indigenous health curriculum and clinical training opportunities.
The inaugural Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health will be encouraged to refine the role, building on their experience, aptitudes, and aspirations. This may include focused Indigenous health contributions in specific areas of practice, teaching, research or policy. In partnership with departmental leadership and the ILC, the Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health may also engage in strategic consulting initiatives and fundraising.
Roles and Responsibilities
Co-lead the Indigenous Leadership Circle (ILC)
Co-develop and advance an Indigenous wellbeing, partnerships and reconciliation strategic plan for DFCM
Engage and partner with local and regional Indigenous community organizations, Elders, knowledge keepers and health leaders to actively co-lead and participate in DFCM Indigenous initiatives
Provide advice and support to the DFCM Indigenous education lead
Work in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Health, Temerty Faculty of Medicine to harmonize Indigenous activities in DFCM with those of the broader Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto
Strengthen Indigenous partnerships and collaborations provincially, nationally and internationally
Prepare an Annual report to the Chair, summarizing progress, challenges, and next steps to improve impact and outcomes
Be available for strategic advice and discussions as needed with members of the DFCM executive team
Foster Indigenous specific scholarly inquiry and evaluation
Actively contribute to the advancement of Indigenous interests through advocacy and expert policy recommendations
Assess and support response to the mentorship needs of current and potential Indigenous health learners, providers, and teachers across the continuum of education and health disciplines, with a focus on those engaged in family and community medicine.
Skills/Qualifications
Certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (or equivalent)
Graduate Degree or similar training in areas that are relevant to quality improvement, system innovation and/or knowledge translation
Hold or be eligible for appointment to the rank of Professor or Associate Professor
Evidence of previous scholarly activity (research and/or creative professional activity) in Indigenous primary care improvement
Strong track record of demonstrated contributions to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities
Lived Indigenous Experience
The successful candidate for this Indigenous-focused opportunity is expected to bring a depth of lived Indigenous experience as a member, citizen, enrollee, or externally verified kin-relation of a recognized First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis community. Substantiation of Indigenous identity will be required as per the University of Toronto’s Indigenous Substantiation Framework.
This is a five-year renewable appointment requiring approximately two days per week (negotiable). The Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health carries an annual stipend of $100,000, based on a commitment of two days per week (equivalent to $25,000 per half-day appointment). Benefits are not included. The Chairholder will receive dedicated, specialized administrative support and will report to the Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine.
About DFCM
The Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) is the largest department of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. These institutions are located on lands that have been home to Indigenous peoples for millennia and are subject to national and international law regarding the rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) peoples, including but not limited to treaties.
DFCM is recognized internationally for its clinical, educational and research excellence. Encompassing more than 2,400 faculty and hundreds of learners across Ontario and beyond, we are helping to shape the future of family medicine in Canada and around the world. Our Vision is outstanding primary care for all, powered by world-leading research, education, and innovation. We achieve this through our Mission of delivering the world’s best education for family doctors and propelling knowledge, systems and teams to help people and communities thrive.
DFCM has committed to advancing reconciliation and addressing anti-Indigenous racism across the work of the department. DFCM has also committed to an equity-oriented and socially accountable mission. Access to culturally safe primary care is a critical need for the more than 100,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) peoples living in Toronto and surrounding communities serviced by DFCM. As of 2022, one in three FNIM peoples in Toronto were without a regular primary care provider.
In 2022, the Indigenous Leadership Circle (ILC) was created in order to build in leadership by Indigenous peoples on matters related to Indigenous health and self-governance within DFCM. Comprised of Indigenous faculty, Indigenous trainees, and senior DFCM executive, the purpose of the ILC is to:
To advance DFCM’s social accountability to First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Indigenous peoples and populations.
To increase the tangible social value of DFCM activities to these communities.
To better align DFCM policy and activities with the principles of domestic and international law and Indigenous reconciliation policies and recommendations.
Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto is at the centre of North America's largest biomedical research, education and clinical care networks. The University is ranked among the top five research universities in the world and first among public universities in North America (National Taiwan University); the third-most prolific institution, and second among universities for health sciences research (Nature Index Annual Tables); and seventh in the world for clinical, pre-clinical and health (Times Higher Education).
Application Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026
Interested applicants should include a cover letter and curriculum vitae to:
Dr. Shirley Lee
Interim Chair
Department of Family & Community Medicine
University of Toronto
500 University Avenue, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 1V7
Questions regarding the Big-Canoe Chair in Indigenous Health should be directed to Dr. Shirley Lee at or Dr. Janet Smylie at
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