Exciting News from Aboriginal Cultural Safety & Humility
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Interior Health launched the first phase of the Indigenous-specific antiracism education (ISAE) in March 2023. The IH ISAE framework will provide staff, physicians and leadership with a solid foundation as they move along their Indigenous-specific antiracism learning journey. The education refresh brings IH in alignment with recommendations from the In Plain Sight Report (#11 and #20) by moving from a culturally responsive approach, to an anti-racist approach.
The overarching purpose of the education is identifying, and dismantling colonial power dynamics, practices, processes and policies. ISAE provides engaging, experiential, project-based approaches, rooted in best practices in adult education. The framework promises to meet participants where they are at, while providing classroom experience that intersects with indigenous pedagogies, and trauma informed practice.
As previously mentioned, Phase 1 was launched in March and includes both self-directed and virtual learning. Phase 2 and 3 will be launched in spring 2024 and 2025 respectively.
I want to thank all of the Journey to Aboriginal Cultural Safety and Humility (JACSH) Advisory representatives, and Indigenous contractors whose guidance and wisdom were foundational to the development of the IH Indigenous-specific antiracism education.
Regards,
Shawna Duncan
Corporate Director, Aboriginal Cultural Safety & Humility
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Building Relationships in Creston
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IH is working towards ensuring safe and discrimination-free health care through building relationships, decolonizing health care, and providing education opportunities for staff.
The Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band and IH collaborated to rediscover and honour the significance of a sturgeon-nosed canoe gifted to the hospital 10 years ago. The sturgeon-nosed canoe is “representative of life” and unique to the Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band.
Today, the canoe is in its rightful – and respectful – place: displayed as a central piece in the hospital lobby under museum-quality glass. Its new location has revived interest in and curiosity about the canoe from both staff and visitors. Work is underway in collaboration with Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band to establish a video display above the canoe to share its history and significance, and the Ktunaxa Nation’s culture.
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Celebrating IH Board Member Diane Jules
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Diane Jules joined the IH Board of Directors in January 2015. Over four terms and eight years, she has brought her insight, experience and leadership to the decisions facing Interior Health. Diane is a member of the Secwépemc Nation, Adams Lake Band and has served her Nation and community throughout the years in a number of roles.
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Meet the Aboriginal Partnerships Leadership Team
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Over the past year and a half, the Aboriginal Partnerships portfolio has grown, and changed the way Interior Health partners with Aboriginal Peoples in the Interior Region. In this episode of the Interior Voices podcast, our podcast hosts visit with the new program’s leadership.
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Interactive Cultural Safety Education
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The Aboriginal Cultural Safety and Humility team offered a series of interactive education for IH employees and physicians. Three workshops had a total of 338 participants across the interior region.
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise explores the impacts and harms of colonialism, particularly the residential school system. Twelve virtual and in-person sessions were held with more than 280 participants in attendance. These exercises were offered by Shona Sparrow (Syilx and Nlaka'pamux Nation) and Martin Sparrow (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Musqueam Nation), Founders of Moon Tide Reconciliation.
The Box/Circle exercise examines the differences between colonial and Indigenous worldviews, specifically the role that gender and gender identity plays. Four sessions were available with more than 55 participants in attendance. These exercises were offered by Jann Derrick, a registered family therapist and owner of Four Winds Wellness Centre. |
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Kootenay Lake Hospital opens new sacred space
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For more than a year, Kootenay Lake Hospital (KLH) Facility Engagement has been working in partnership with Interior Health and Kootenay Boundary Aboriginal Services Collaborative to reconstruct the former KLH Chapel into a multi-faith, sacred space. This was achieved and the grand opening of Kootenay Lake Hospital's new Sacred Space was held on Feb. 21, 2023.
The primary objective of the project was to demonstrate KLH's commitment to cultural safety and humility.
As project team member Tanya Momtazian explained, "Our plans to renovate the chapel were based on recommendations from the In Plain Sight Report, the independent review of Indigenous-specific racism in the B.C. health-care system.
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Celebrating the Contributions of Indigenous Nurses
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Podcast hosts Jade Chaboyer-Kondra and Nicole Taylor-Sterritt welcome Dr. Lisa Bourque Bearskin, Nikki Rose Hunter-Porter and Michelle Padley for a discussion of the origins of Indigenous Nurses Day and a celebration of Indigenous nurses.
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The xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ1 Many Ways of Working on the Same Thing
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The xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ "Many Ways of Working on the Same Thing" research project is an Indigenous Nation-led partnership between Ktunaxa Nation, Interior Health, University of British Columbia - Okanagan and University of Victoria.
All team members and partners share a long-term goal of centering Ktunaxa approaches to supporting health and wellness in Ktunaxa ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa traditional territory. This work has broader implications for anti-colonial health systems transformation across Canada and globally.
Under the direction of the xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ Advisory Group (composed of Ktunaxa Elders, Knowledge Holders and language experts), Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers co-lead the project in the spirit of reconciliation. The deep commitment to bringing together researchers, community members and health system partners for co-learning and co-creation of knowledge is an exemplar of integrated knowledge translation.
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Meet the Indigenous Health Emergency Management Liaison
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Every year, British Columbia sees emergencies that impact the health and well-being of residents across the region. Many of these emergencies disproportionately impact Aboriginal people. During her years working in health emergency management (HEM), Tamara Sommer began to notice gaps in the service and information pathways Aboriginal people were experiencing.
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Aboriginal Job Postings with IH
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Visit Aboriginal Careers for Up-to-Date Listings
- Aboriginal Cultural Safety Educator (two positions)
- Aboriginal Patient Navigator - Kamloops
- Aboriginal Patient Navigator - Kelowna
- Nurse Practitioner, Rural Aboriginal - Kamloops
- Nurse Practitioner, Urban Aboriginal - Kamloops
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