Vanessa Ambtman-Smith

Vanessa Ambtman-Smith is of Nêhiyaw-Métis ancestry, and a fourth year PhD Candidate at Western University, studying the geographies of Indigenous Health. Throughout her 20-year career in the Indigenous health field, Vanessa has sought ways to re-design health systems to enable access culturally safe care, and to innovate and advance models of care that go beyond the traditional view of healthcare.

Her research includes examining the meaning and use of Traditional Healing spaces within hospital contexts, what they mean for health, healing and reconciliation. In 2020, Vanessa became a Vanier Canadian Graduate Scholar.