Alex Drossos
Alex Drossos is a physician and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry resident at McMaster University. He has been doing clinical work with Indigenous people for almost 10 years, and has had a passion for Indigenous social justice issues for many more, with a particular interest in the Circumpolar North. He regularly works at the De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre in Hamilton and Brantford, at Six Nations Mental Health, at the Brantford Indigenous Persons Court, and also maintains a long-standing clinical relationship with Nunavut. His other interests include School-Based Mental Health, Trauma/PTSD, Eating Disorders, Suicide Prevention and Health Informatics
WORKSHOP TITLE : Ten Years of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Implications For Youth Identity, Mental Wellness and Reconciliation.
DESCRIPTION : Since the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 10 years ago, there has been ongoing application of its principles to various areas. Much hope has rested on the UNDRIP and its expected/desired positive impact on the lives of Indigenous People. Concurrently over the last few years, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) work highlighted the innumerable atrocities and intergenerational impacts that Canada’s residential schools had and continue to have on Indigenous People. Taken together, the UNDRIP and TRC final report will have long-term implications for youth identity, mental wellness and reconciliation, which will be explored, discussed and debated during this workshop.