The documented gap in access to health care between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is an issue that everyone working in the health care system has a responsibility to address. 

The following documents will help to form a basis for understanding the challenges and barriers to culturally safe care for Indigenous individuals, as well as offering some first steps to take towards closing this gap.

Moving toward holistic wellness, empowerment and self-determination for Indigenous peoples in Canada: Can traditional Indigenous health care practices increase ownership over health and health care decisions?

This study aimed to understand the role that traditional Indigenous health care practices can play in increasing individual-level self-determination over health care and improving health outcomes for urban Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Disaggregated demographic data collection in British Columbia: The grandmother perspective

On June 16, 2020, Premier John Horgan invited BC’s Human Rights Commissioner and Information and Privacy Commissioner to inform the development of a policy initiative for the collection of race-based, Indigenous and other disaggregated data to address systemic racism. This report offers a framework for disaggregated data collection that is grounded in “the grandmother perspective” offered by Gwen Phillips of the Ktunaxa Nation, who is a BC First Nations Data Governance Initiative Champion.

In Plain Sight: Elaboration on the review

Authors Dr. Turpel-Lafond, Laurel Lemchuck-Favel and Harmony Johnson discuss the review on Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination in BC health care. Dr. Turpel-Lafond, Aki-kwe, was appointed as the independent reviewer by Minister of Health Adrian Dix. Ms. Lemchuk-Favel was the director of data and analytics for the review. Ms. Johnson, sɛƛakəs, is of the Tla’amin Nation and served as executive director of the review.

Indigenous Engagement and Cultural Safety Guidebook: A Resource for Primary Care Networks

This document provides guidance and recommendations for supporting Indigenous1 partnerships and engagement in the development of Primary Care Networks (PCN) and for supporting cultural safety as a core attribute of PCNs, as per the Ministry of Health’s Integrated System of Primary and Community Care.

Surrey's Vital Signs 2018: Report on First Peoples

From March 28 to June 16, 2017, SurreyCares Community Foundation conducted a survey of First Peoples residing in the city of Surrey, BC. The survey investigated how respondents are faring in 13 key quality-of-life indicators, ranging from health and wellness to housing to food security. The results of this survey, bolstered by secondary research, provide current, relevant data for granting organizations, policy-makers, and other service providers in the community.