ATHABASCA — Albertans, Canadians, and individuals from every corner of the globe can now learn more about the engrained discrimination Indigenous people in Canada face when seeking healthcare, thanks to a new free course from Athabasca University (AU).
AU announced the launch of its new massive online open course (MOOC) on Jan. 22, which explores the origins of the racism and discrimination Indigenous people face when accessing care, highlights the importance of united advocacy, and provides helpful tools and strategies to become an authentic and respectful ally.
“These courses represent an important step forward in the ongoing work of conciliation and improving Indigenous health in Canada,” said Priscilla Campeau, associate vice-president, Indigenous conciliation at AU.
“Our goal is to not only educate but to empower individuals to take meaningful action in creating more inclusive and equitable health care systems. These courses are a direct response to the urgent need for Indigenous-led development of cultural safety training and learning materials.”
The course, created by a team of Indigenous leaders and health professionals, is designed to provide critical knowledge to those with an active role in the healthcare industry, but is also built to educate and inform anyone interested in learning how to spot and stand up to systemic discrimination, and better understand the lived experiences and social context surrounding Indigenous health.
Prompted by the 94 Calls to Action contained in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 2015 final report, AU’s MOOC joins the likes of similar educational opportunities available at no cost to anyone, anywhere.
In 2017, the University of Alberta (U of A) launched their own 12-part course, Indigenous Canada, with the goal of telling the country’s history — and present-day stories — through an Indigenous lens rather than a white-washed colonial one.
"A lot of Indigenous experiences in Canada have been silenced by a normative settler vision of Canada and the history of it," Paul Gareau, a U of A Native Studies assistant professor and Indigenous Canada academic lead, told CBC one year after the course was launched.
In 2017, the same year it was made available, Indigenous Canada had more than 20,000 learners enrolled in the 20-hour self-paced course. In 2025, that number has reached nearly 616,000 according to the online host for the material, Coursera.
U of A’s Indigenous Canada has a 4.8 star rating on Coursera, with more than 22,000 reviews, and a thumbs up from 97 per cent of learners.
Seven Calls to Action for health
The Commission’s final report contained seven calls to action around Indigenous health care in Canada, calls AU’s newest MOOC and a two-course certificate in Indigenous health and allyship aim to address.
The report addresses the need for all levels of government to acknowledge the impact of colonialism and harmful policies on the state of Indigenous health today as is recognized under the signed Treaties and international and constitutional law, and provide informed care access to those living on and off reservations.
Also highlighted is the need for consultation with Indigenous groups on improving care outcomes and track progress with regular detailed reporting; allocate funding for the creation of Indigenous healing centres and recognize the value of Indigenous healing knowledge and hire more Indigenous healthcare staff.
The call to action AU’s newest programming aims to address is the last paragraph listed under health, but far from the least: that all medical professionals receive specified education on Indigenous health issues, residential schools in Canada, human and Indigenous rights as identified by the UN, and traditional teachings and practices.
AU’s Indigenous Health and Wellness, Advocacy, and Allyship MOOC is free and available to anyone around the world with an internet connection.
The two-course certificate is also available to healthcare professionals, advocates, or those interested in diving deeper into anti-racism practices and learning concrete tools to create health equity. Each course can be taken on its own, or combined to earn the certificate for $650.