Indigenous doctor Dr. Barry Lovely remembered as ‘fearless advocate’: Keewatinohk Ininiw Minoyawin
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Dr. Barry Lovely, a prominent Indigenous physician whose work focused on improving health First Nations and Métis people in Manitoba have died in care, Kivatinohak Ininiv Minoyavin said on Tuesday.
Lavallee served as CEO of Keewatinohak Ininiw Minoyawin Inc., a health care organization supporting 23 northern Manitoba First Nations.
Kiewatinohak Ininiw Minoyawin said Lovely had a “powerful voice” and was a “fearless advocate for people facing injustice and harm.”
In a statement Tuesday, KIM called Lovely a “visionary leader who has always been a great support to the First Nations people in the North.”
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said in a statement Lavelli “fought tirelessly for First Nations people facing disadvantage, inequality and systemic racism.”
Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told CBC News that the impact of Lavelli’s death is being felt in First Nations communities across Manitoba and beyond.
“Dr. Lovely was a very brilliant, positive person. He was a very smart, intelligent, kind person,” Wilson said in an interview Tuesday.
“This is a loss for all of our communities.”
Wilson said Lovely has spent years advocating for better health care and better outcomes for First Nations people, both through direct care and research and policy work.
“She has done a lot of work in terms of advocating for the health and well-being of First Nations, not only in Manitoba, but across the country,” he said.
‘Generous with your time’
Wilson noted that Lovely provided medical services to many First Nations both on and off-reserve, and said he had a personal connection to her work.
“I remember when I was a young student, he was my physician,” she said, “he was always so helpful and so kind and generous with his time in supporting First Nations when it came to health and wellness.”
He said Lovely helped draw attention to long-standing disparities in health care faced by First Nations people.
“He brought to light a lot of the issues that we’ve seen as First Nations and he really demonstrated the disparities when it comes to health outcomes for First Nations,” Wilson said.
Wilson said he believed Lovely’s legacy would be felt through the work he helped pioneer.
“I believe his legacy is improved health outcomes and solutions for First Nations, not only in Manitoba, but across the country,” he said.
He said the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is offering its support to Lovely’s family and community.
“We’re here for his family and his community,” Wilson said.
