Cultural Safety and Humility
Cultural safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances inherent in the health care system. It results in an environment free of racism and discrimination, where people feel safe when receiving health care.
Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases and to develop and maintain respectful processes and relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another’s experience.
The Victoria Division is committed to creating culturally safe and respectful environments for all, implemented through the Victoria Primary Care Network.
To understand indigenous cultural safety, please see the below resources and training opportunities.
Training
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- Island Health’s Aboriginal Health Program, “For the Next Seven Generations – for the Children” is available online to the public. The course is self-paced and takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Click here to learn more.
Resources
Power and Privilege in Canada by Dr Amy Tan
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King
The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, et al.
Project of Heart: Illuminating the hidden history of Indian Residential Schools in BC by the BCTF.”
The Indigenous Learning Series (Canada School of Public Service)
BCCFP: Practicing Cultural Safety and Humility in the Response to COVID-19
https://www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA-Care-of-the-Deceased-Body-Guide.pdf
Creating a Climate for Change -Cultural Safety and Humility in Health
Island Health Aboriginal Health
Some free cultural safety modules through UVic:
Resources for practicing differently with Indigenous clients:
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Model of Cross-Cultural Communication
- CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People (2007-2010)
Examples of how to put cultural safety into action:
This map of our region can help start conversations about the specific Nations a care provider might serve and open up avenues for learning about those specific Nations rather than Indigenous Peoples generally.
The Richardson and Williams (2007) article may be a starting point for conversations as a learning group.
Addressing Racism in Team-Based Care
- Learnings from the In Plain Sight report
- The In Plain Sight reports
- In Plain Sight: Elaboration on the Review – Article by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Laurel Lemchuk-Favel and Harmony Johnson that was recently published in the BC Medical Journal.
- Cultural Safety & Humility Action Series – Previous webinar series hosted in partnership by the First Nations Health Authority and BC Patient Safety & Quality Council.
- Cultural Safety & Humility – Resources from the First Nations Health Authority.