Celebrate Indigenous History Month – Resources to create and maintain respectful relationships

June was Indigenous History Month. This is a time for all Canadians – Indigenous, non-Indigenous, and newcomers – to reflect on and celebrate the history, heritage, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples in Canada.  

Throughout the last month, NH Indigenous Health shared knowledge resources to honour and celebrate Indigenous Peoples in Northern BC. Now, we focus on resources developed to support health care and allied professionals to create and maintain respectful relationships with the people whom they serve.

Indigenous Health (IH) Resources

• Local Cultural Resources – Local cultural resources developed by Aboriginal/Indigenous Health Improvement Committees (A/IHICS) across Northern BC are available for health practitioners to support their understanding of Indigenous community histories and contexts.
• Indigenous Health Interactive Map - Use this map to find locations and contact information for Indigenous communities and health centers, Friendship Centres, Métis Associations and Aboriginal Patient Liaisons in Northern BC. The map also includes the location and community grouping that make up the eight Indigenous/Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees.
• Cultural Safety Resources – Supporting the organization and health care system to be experienced as being culturally safe by Indigenous Peoples is one of Indigenous Health, Northern Health’s top priorities. These resources are designed to enhance culturally safe environments and service delivery across the Northern Health region.
• Northern Health Cultural Safety and System Change: An Assessment Tool – The purpose of this newly published tool is to support Northern Health staff and health care professionals to be inclusive and respectful of Indigenous peoples and communities in the development and implementation of health care initiatives (e.g., policy, programs, services) across the organization.

National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) Resources

• The mandate of the NCCIH is to support a renewed public health system within Canada that is both respectful and inclusive of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. The NCCIH fosters links between evidence, knowledge, practice, and policy while advancing self-determination and Indigenous knowledge in support of Indigenous people’s, families’, and communities’ optimal health and well-being.
• Child, Youth, and Family Health Resources – This selection of resources includes current research as it relates to the health of Indigenous children, youth, and families.
• Cultural Safety and Respectful Relationships Resources – This collection of resources addresses opportunities and barriers in accessing culturally safe health and social services for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
• Indigenous Knowledge(s) and Public Health Resources – These resources focus on increasing understanding and awareness of the importance of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) relative to the health and wellness of Indigenous people and efforts to integrate Indigenous and Western ways of knowing into health care practices and policies.
• Social Determinants of Health Resources – These resources focus on the social determinants that are the underlying causes of disparities in Indigenous people’s health.

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Resources

• Cultural Safety and Humility Resources – FNHA is committed to cultural safety and humility in the delivery of health services for First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in British Columbia. This page contains a collection of materials produced by FNHA to support cultural safety and humility, including print and video resources, webinar recordings and presentations and promotional items.
• Traditional Healing Resources – First Nations in BC have practiced traditional healing and wellness since time immemorial. In partnership with First Nations, FNHA is leading a journey to position First Nations traditional healing as central to health and wellness strategic planning and programming. The integration of Indigenous approaches in health care settings will ultimately enhance and strengthen the circle of care for First Nations in BC.

Métis Nation BC (MNBC) Resources

• Resilient Roots: Métis Mental Health and Wellness Magazine – MNBC has launched the first-ever Métis Mental Health and Wellness Magazine in spring 2020.
• The Métis Nation in BC – This 3 minute video provides an introduction to The Métis Nation in BC and Métis identity.  
• Culture, Heritage, and Language Resources – This webpage provides a brief background on Métis, culture, heritage, and language in addition to information on the political evolution of the Métis Nation in British Columbia.

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Resources

• Communities Map – This interactive map shows the distribution of First Nations communities across the country.
• Resources for Language Policies and Planning – This toolkit provides an overview of  resources and tools that might be useful to First Nations communities when articulating language revitalization goals and what is needed to achieve those goals.
• Spirit Speakers National Youth Gathering Report – The AFN hosted a virtual forum with First Nations youth from across the country to talk about First Nations language revitalization in October 2021. A total of 22 youth aged 14-24 from across Canada participated in the forum.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)

• Nipiit Magazine – Issue 16 was published in spring 2020. This issue features a story crafted by Jana Angulalik that reviews traditional Inuit tattoos from different regions across the north. In addition, the issue showcases illustrations by Katelyn Jacque which brings the Legend of Sedna story to life. Finally, the issue includes messages from the National Inuit Youth Council President Crystal Martin-Lapenskie, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed.
• Inuktitut Magazine – Issue 127 was published in fall 2020. In this issue photographers show us what physical distancing looks like in their communities, the Nanilavut Working Group writes about finding information about loved ones lost during the tuberculosis epidemic, and more.
• National Inuit Action Plan On Missing And Murdered Inuit Women, Girls And 2SLGBTQQIA+ People – This report is a chapter within the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The report chapter discusses how to move forward with the implementation of the 46 Inuit-specific Calls for Justice provided in Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019).
• Systemic Discrimination In The Provision Of Healthcare In Inuit Nunangat – Inuit experience systemic discrimination in both provincial and territorial health care systems. This report discusses the negative effects of discrimination within the health care system and how they are compounded by experiences of discrimination within other systems.