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Coast Salish Territory – The United Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Health Standards Organization (HSO) have issued the British Columbia Standard on Cultural Safety and Humility (BC), a tool that will help organizations tackle indigenous racism and create a culturally safe healthcare environment.
The model was developed by indigenous thought leaders and health professionals with an emphasis on the design, implementation and evaluation of culturally secure systems and services at organizational and institutional level.
The first of its kind in Canada, this standard provides a toolkit for the BC health system and is deliverable for Recommendation 8 from the In Plain Sight report on widespread indigenous specific racism in healthcare.
The development of this model was led by a First Nations technical committee and supported by the FNHA, with additional input from the Métis Nation BC.
The public evaluation process received a total of 1,100 comments, which were reviewed by the technical committee and contributed to the final model.
The First Nations Health Council and the First Nations Health Directors Association unanimously approved the BC Cultural Safety and Humility Standard, as it will help the health system improve and better meet the needs of the First Nations.
Richard Jock, CEO, FNHA
“The model was developed by indigenous thought leaders and champions, providers, patient associates, administrators, academics and custodians of knowledge, co-chaired by Gerry Oleman and Dr. Nel Wieman. I am grateful for their dedication and meticulousness. “The standard of Cultural Security and Humility is a quality-based approach to making BC health and social care institutions safer for all indigenous peoples.”
Leslee Thompson, CEO, HSO
“We are extremely proud of our cooperation with the First Nations Health Authority to make this happen. “British Columbia’s model of Cultural Security and Humility has the potential to directly affect the lives and experiences of people who interact with health systems in and around British Columbia.”
Coleen Erickson, President, FNHA
“The Model of Cultural Security and Humility is a crucial next step in the ongoing efforts to address indigenous racism. The adoption of this new model will lead to better health outcomes for the First Nations of BC. now and in the future. I raise my hands and acknowledge the hard work and genuine cooperation of all those who worked to deliver this important document. ”
Wade Grant, President, FNHC
“We honor the indigenous leaders and health professionals who have created this essential tool for cultural security and humility to help address the need for trauma and culturally relevant care to improve the health and well-being of First Nations people.”
Keith Marshall, President, FNHDA
“This new Model of Cultural Security and Humility is an important new tool for Health Managers working in communities in the First Nations in BC. and sets a clear pattern of care for the system as a whole in our ongoing work to ensure that all natives of BC. to be treated with dignity and to respect and have access to culturally based healthcare services “.
Louis De Jaegar, MNBC Minister of Health, Regional Director for the Lower Mainland
“Métis Nation British Columbia welcomes the discriminatory approach taken by the Development Team and the Standard Technical Committee through the creation of the Model of Cultural Security and Humility. This is an important step towards building a culture of anti-racism, quality and safety within the health system for all the first nations, the Métis and the Inuit. We look forward to working with organizations to educate them about what it means to be a Métis and help them develop practices and protocols that will improve health outcomes for the people of Métis and the Métis Chartered Communities across the province. “
