Lakehead University professor exploring the YWCA’s work in Indigenous hospitals, sanatoria and residential schools

Press Release

January 21, 2022 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

A Lakehead University professor is receiving $10,000 from Associated Medical Services (AMS) Healthcare to explore the work of the Hamilton YWCA in Indigenous hospitals, sanatoria, and residential schools in Canada during the 20th century.

Dr. Kristin Burnett, Professor in Indigenous Learning, said records from the Department of Indian Affairs and churches described donations of clothing, bedding, medicine, and toys from women’s organizations.

For larger organizations like the YWCA, these contributions went further to include running educational programming, camps, and voluntary labour, Dr. Burnett said.

“I will use the AMS project grant to focus on the role played by the Hamilton YWCA in these institutions and in support of the settler colonial project during the 20th century,” she said.

Dr. Burnett will perform this research project, titled “The Hamilton Young Women’s Christian Association’s (YWCA) Work with Indian Hospitals, Sanatoria, and Residential Schools” – over one year.

The AMS History of Medicine and Healthcare Awards Program promotes scholarship, teaching, and public interest in the history of health care, disease, and medicine.

“Congratulations to Dr. Burnett on receiving this grant and thank you to AMS for the funding. Understanding the role and activities that different agencies played in the past with regards to Indigenous people will help shape our future.”

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education’s 2022 World Universities Rankings for the third consecutive year, and in the top 100 of 1,115 universities from around the world in THE’s 2021 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

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