Cultural Safety and Humility

We believe that quality care respects individuals for their unique perspectives and acknowledges their cultural contexts. It acknowledges that each of us holds biases and beliefs that shape our worldview, and requires that care providers reflect on and understand how these biases may impact the care they provide.

To foster quality care that is safe and appropriate for Indigenous Peoples, we have built a partnership with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). While early in our work together, we have been actively collaborating with FNHA to promote Indigenous cultural safety and humility, build capability and capacity within the system, ensure that Indigenous people are part of the Patient Voices Network, and hardwire an Indigenous lens into quality across BC’s health care system.

To ensure the health and well-being of First Nations, Metis and Inuit and Aboriginal people, care must be provided in a culturally safe, racism free health care system. Cultural safety is defined as “an outcome based on respectful engagement that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances inherent in the health system.”

In July 2015, FNHA led the development of a Declaration of Commitment on Cultural Safety & Humility which was signed by the Ministry of Health along with the chief executive officers from all of the province’s health authorities. The declaration outlines the actions necessary to embed cultural safety and cultural humility into the health care system. In March 2017, at the Best of Both Worlds event, all 23 regulatory bodies also endorsed the Declaration.

Featured Resources

Culturally Safe Engagement: What Matters to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) Patient Partners Companion Guide

Discover how to create culturally safe engagements with the help of eight principles shared by Indigenous patient partners in this guide.

Learn More Culturally Safe Engagement: What Matters to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) Patient Partners Companion Guide

Culturally Safe Engagement: What Matters to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) Patient Partners Pamphlet

Explore eight key principles for creating culturally safe engagements when working with Indigenous patient partners in your quality improvement efforts.

Learn More Culturally Safe Engagement: What Matters to Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) Patient Partners Pamphlet

Sharing Concerns: Principles to Guide the Development of an Indigenous Patient Feedback Process

We hosted a provincial dialogue that brought together more than 100 people from health care organizations, Indigenous patients, families and caregivers to discuss how the process to share concerns about a health care experience can be improved for Indigenous peoples. Nine key principles were developed as a foundation for creating a safe, accessible and meaningful feedback process. This report details the importance of each principle and provides examples of how they can be put into action.

Learn More Sharing Concerns: Principles to Guide the Development of an Indigenous Patient Feedback Process

Cultural Safety & Humility Action Series

Between October 2016 and November 2017, we partnered with the First Nations Health Authority for a webinar action series. These webinars took place on the first Wednesday of each month, and encouraged participation, learning, self-reflection and positive change among BC’s health care professionals.

The series supported development of tools and skills on how to be effective allies for advancing cultural safety and humility and what health service staff and allies can do to understand and integrate this work into their practice or interaction with First Nations and Aboriginal Clients.

All webinars were recorded and are available with their presentation slides for your continued learning.

Our Cultural Safety & Humility Journey

We are committed to promoting, learning about and educating others about cultural safety and humility to drive change in BC.

Learn More Our Cultural Safety & Humility Journey