How are we engaging for Cultural Safety?

100 MILE HOUSE:  An educational experience to build understanding of Indigenous culture and relationships.

• Collaborating with the Canim Lake White Feather Clinic to host a tour of the land, share teachings, a smudging ceremony, and a traditional meal for physicians and health care providers.
• Working with the health authority to create a more welcoming environment 
for First Nations members at the 
hospital. Learn more
   

VANCOUVER:  Engaging medical staff in the Cultural Safety (EPIC) Group. 

• An MSA and Vancouver Coastal Health collaborative table to advance cultural safety and meaningful partnerships 
• Indigenous Health Rounds, 
education, and a patient experience 
think tank. Learn more 


   

BELLA BELLA:  An MSA and community collaboration to build cultural competency and resources.

• Creation of a video on First Nations’ experiences of medical care at ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital.
• A joint MSA and Division in-service on Heiltsuk Herbal Medicine for physicians and visiting specialists.


SALMON ARM:  A Cultural Safety and Humility learning retreat.
• Discussions and learning with MSA members, facility staff, health authority leaders, and an Indigenous Patient Navigator, guided by a local Indigenous consulting firm.  
• Experiential activities for guests with canoeing, medicine walks, sweat lodges, pictographs, and cultural education.  


   

MAPLE RIDGE/PITT MEADOWS: Strengthening culturally safe care through medical staff education and supports. 

• Workshops, education, and resources on traditional medicines for medical staff.
• Creation of an Indigenous Health Liaison role and community connections. 
• Events that recognize both Indigenous Peoples Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day.  
• Screening of “The Unforgotten” on the history of Indigenous communities, with an Indigenous salmon lunch. Learn more
   

EAST KOOTENAY REGION:  “A Journey to Cultural Safety” workshops. 

• A regional learning partnership with the MSA and East Kootenay Division Primary Care Network for more than 28 physicians and other health care providers.
• Sharing of practical suggestions for integrating Ktunaxa’s history, beliefs, and culture into health care.
  
   

CHILLIWACK:  Enhancing awareness for  more culturally safe care.

• Relationship-building and education with physicians, front-line care providers, and Indigenous community members.
• Collecting patient experience stories from the Chilliwack General Hospital Emergency Department, and seeking advice from partners to improve cultural safety and care. 
• Physicians visits to youth shelter group activities to open communication, and learn about their experiences and resources that can support them.


  Learn more
   


PRINCE GEORGE: Working towards 
cultural safety and humility in the emergency department. 

• Truth telling sessions with physicians and front line staff, Elders, Indigenous community members, and health authority leaders to build relationships. 
• Group recommendations for a more culturally-safe ED and hospital.
• Hiring of three health authority- funded Indigenous Health Service Assistants and an Indigenous Patient Liaison specifically for the ED.
• Changes to the ED space to be more welcoming with Indigenous-created artwork and bilingual Dakelh 
signage.
  Learn more
   

PENTICTON: Enhancing cultural safety in the Emergency Department (ED). 

• A townhall for health care providers hosted by the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) on PIB culture, residential and Indian Hospital experiences, and the resulting impact on accessing health care services. 
• A learning event for Indigenous community members to demystify the ED, with a virtual ED tour, information on the triage process and accessing a patient navigator, and the Mental Health Act.
• A new brochure to support community members to navigate the ED.

 
  Learn more
   

DAAJING GIIDS: Collaborative activities through a hospital and Haida community partnership agreement. 

• Co-renaming the Haida Gwaii Hospital 
and Health Centre to Ngaaysdll Naay 
(Haida Gwaii Healing House).
• Renaming spaces hospital spaces with Haida names for a more welcoming experience.
• Elder-hosted sessions to teach physicians and staff the Haida language and share a meal.
• Development of an Indigenous-based health care curriculum for the provision 
of culturally-sensitive health care 
services.


  Learn more
  
   


NELSON: Creating an inclusive, sacred 
space at Kootenay Lake Hospital. 

• A partnership with Kootenay Boundary Aboriginal Services Collaborative and the health authority. 
• Renovation of a previous chapel into an inclusive, multi-faith space appropriate for cultural practices, incorporating feedback from Elders and Indigenous patients. 

PORT ALBERNI: Engaging Indigenous partners in discharge processes. 

• Discussions with Indigenous partners, physicians, and the health authority inpatient manager.
• A traditional Nuu-Chah-Nuulth healing circle used to effectively build a common understanding of issues and limitations at West Coast General Hospital.
   


DUNCAN: Cowichan Tribes Long House physician outreach.

• Provision of culturally-safe care outside of a traditional medical setting .
• A tailored care model for physicians to deliver services at the Long House itself when safe to do so.
• An Island Health collaboration to ensure electronic medical records have proper documentation for continuity of care in the outreach setting.


  
   

Doctors of BC’s commitment to a culturally safe health care system:

• First Nations community-based experiential learning sessions
• Indigenous Cultural Safety webinar series
• Indigenous artwork for doctors’ offices for culturally safe places

Indigenous Cultural Safety in the Joint Collaborative Committees

Resources for learning more about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Indigenous Cultural Safety