Horizons of Friendship is honoured to receive our Guatemalan partners, PIES de Occidente, in Canada. As part of their visit, we’re hosting Decolonizing Indigenous Health Systems, an event that aims to explore the similarities of traditional Indigenous health systems in Canada and Guatemala. The event will explore the intersecting challenges Indigenous communities face within Western Medical Systems, and will provide a space for reflection on the effects of colonization in traditional healing practices in Canada and Guatemala.

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Keynote Speaker: Samantha Roan – Manager, Indigenous Health , Lakelands Public Health

Samantha Roan is Anishnaabekwe and Nehiyawiskwew from Big Grassy River in Treaty 3, Lynx Clan, with family ties spanning Treaties 1 through 8. Her homelands stretch from Lake of the Woods to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She is a mother of three and shares her life with a wonderful partner from Maskwacis, Treaty 6, by way of Mountain Cree Camp.

Samantha serves as Manager of Indigenous Health at Lakelands Public Health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American Indian/Native American Studies and a master’s degree in public health, specializing in policy and management with a focus on Indigenous health and Indigenous health equity, both from the University of Alberta. She is currently a third-year PhD student at Trent University’s Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies, where her research examines how healthcare providers are taught about Indigenous peoples and the policies that shape that learning.

Samantha’s work is driven by a deeply personal commitment: to make accessing healthcare safer so that her children, and all children, will have better experiences. She brings to the “Decolonizing Indigenous Health Systems” event both professional expertise and lived understanding of the intersections between Indigenous identity, health policy, and the urgent need for systemic change.

Panelists:

Dr. Gladis Pérez

Dr. Gladis Pérez is Executive Director of PIES de Occidente and a medical doctor with over three decades of experience advancing gender- and culturally-responsive health care in Guatemala. A Maya Quiché woman, she holds a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery and a Master’s in Health Services Administration from the University of San Carlos. Since joining PIES in 1998, she has served as clinical care physician, comadronas (traditional midwife) trainer, project coordinator, and program lead before her appointment as PIES de Occidente’s Executive Director in 2019. She is recognized for her expertise in comprehensive sexuality education, community engagement, and collaborating with comadronas and government counterparts to advance SRHR and human rights across Indigenous communities.

Norma Itzep

Norma Itzep is Coordinator of a GAC-funded SRHR project in Guatemala with PIES de Occidente. Of Maya K’iche’ origin from Quetzaltenango, she is a social worker with a Master’s in Social Anthropology. Her career spans six Guatemalan departments and includes leadership roles in governmental and non-governmental organizations, focused on community organization, policy advocacy, and participatory research. Throughout her career, Norma has actively participated in building bridges between communities, local authorities, and health systems to ensure SRHR initiatives are inclusive, effective, and community-driven.

More panelist bios to come.

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For more information please contact Irania Ledesma at iledesma@horizons.ca.