Government of Canada actions to address anti-Indigenous racism in health systems
All Indigenous Peoples must have fair and equitable access to quality and culturally safe healthcare services, from any health professional, anywhere they are and any time they need it.
Support for those affected by anti-Indigenous racism in Canada's health systems
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On this page
Introduction
It is unacceptable that First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples continue to endure racism and discrimination when seeking health services.
The Government of Canada is acting to address racism. Together with Indigenous partners and health professionals, governing bodies and provinces and territories, the government will act to:
- address racism and systemic discrimination
- help enhance access to culturally safe services across Canada
- ensure Indigenous peoples have access to equitable and compassionate care
What we are doing
First national dialogue (October 16, 2020)
On October 16, 2020, after the death of Joyce Echaquan, the Government of Canada convened an urgent meeting with:
- Ms. Echaquan's family and her First Nation's leadership
- Indigenous health practitioners and students
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation leaders
- federal, provincial and territorial government representatives
- health system partners
- Indigenous leaders
The objectives of the meeting were:
- to listen to lived experiences of Indigenous people and health care professionals regarding systemic racism in federal, provincial and territorial health systems
- to reflect upon the information shared to inform concrete measures that governments, educational institutions, health professional associations, regulatory colleges, and accreditation organizations can take
- to commit to a second gathering in January 2021 where these proposed or implemented measures would be presented by governments and health care organizations
While the federal government can directly influence the provision of services on reserves for First Nations, Canada must work in partnership with provinces and territories, health system partners and educational institutions to advance anti-racism and cultural safety for all Indigenous people accessing services through those systems as well.
Real and effective change requires all of our collective actions in a spirit of trust, commitment, cultural humility and reconciliation.
Second national dialogue (January 27 and 28, 2021)
On January 27 and 28, 2021, a second national dialogue was held, focusing on engaging federal, provincial and territorial governments, health systems and Indigenous partners.
While continuing to honour the legacy of Joyce Echaquan and many other Indigenous individuals who have faced traumatic experiences of racism in health systems, the objective of this meeting was to discuss concrete measures to eliminate anti-Indigenous racism in Canadian healthcare.
On February 10, 2021, the Government of Canada highlighted funding of $2 million to the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw and the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan, Joyce's Nation, to advance their work and advocacy for the implementation of Joyce's Principle. With this funding, the Atikamekw, including the community members of Manawan, will be able to develop tools and training, promote Joyce's Principle to healthcare professionals, and educate First Nations on their rights when accessing the healthcare systems.
Third national dialogue (June 28 and 29, 2021)
The 2 national dialogues in October 2020 and January 2021 with National Indigenous Organization representatives, Indigenous health professionals, health system partners and provincial/territorial representatives were initial steps in addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health systems.
The national dialogues, together with extensive work already undertaken on this issue including through the Ignored to Death report, the In Plain Sight report and the findings of the Val-d'Or inquiry on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services, identified many root causes, exacerbating factors and gaps that need to be addressed.
The June National Dialogue on Anti-Indigenous Racism (June 28 and 29, 2021) was an opportunity to pursue collective actions related to:
- increasing Indigenous representation in postsecondary health education
- cultural safety and humility
- traditional approaches to health and safe patient navigation
For more information:
- June 29, 2021: Minister of Health and Minister of Indigenous Services Announce Funding & Federal Response to support efforts to address racism in health systems
- February 10, 2021: Government of Canada provides $2 million to the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan and the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw for the development of Joyce's Principle
- January 30, 2021 statement in response to calls for action to prevent and address anti-Indigenous racism in health care in Canada
- January 28, 2021 statement from the ministers on the work to eliminate racism against Indigenous peoples in the healthcare systems
Progress to date
Budget 2021 announced $126.7 million over 3 years to addressing anti-Indigenous racism in Canada's health systems. To date, Indigenous Services Canada has funded over 50 proposals that address anti-Indigenous racism in health systems through Budget 2021.
A few of these projects include:
- Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations First Nations Health Ombudsperson Office
- The Ombudsperson Office's team of advocates work with individuals and their families to bring systemic concerns to the attention of federal and provincial health organizations for resolution. The office also helps determine options to resolve conflicts or concerns for overall system change improvements.
- National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health Hearts-based Education and Anti-colonial Learning project
- This project seeks to develop, implement and evaluate interactive, arts-based, open-sourced, heart-focused and publicly available "anti-oppression curriculums" for use in any healthcare education program across Canada, including:
- schools of nursing
- pharmacy programs
- faculties of medicine and dentistry
- social work programs
- allied healthcare professional programs (midwifery, homeopathy, etc.)
- Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada leadership capacity funding
- As national leaders in anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare, the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada receives funding to have capacity for:
- engaging on national level events
- participating in federally led meetings to address anti-Indigenous racism in health systems
- supporting Indigenous health professionals in their advocacy against racism
- Safer health systems through the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and Sturgeon Lake First Nation
- Construction of a standalone birthing centre at Sturgeon Lake First Nation, to expand the community's existing Indigenous midwifery demonstration project. Construction will cost $2 million over several years. In a separate initiative, funding will be provided to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies to support the expansion of the Indigenous Practical Nursing Diploma for Rural and Remote Locations. This ground-breaking program marks the first dedicated Indigenous Practical Nursing program in Canada
The Government of Canada will continue to convene national dialogues and roundtable discussions with organizations across the country that continue inform the path forward on addressing racism in Canada's health systems.
For more information about the actions Government of Canada is taking following the national dialogues, please see the Addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health systems: Federal response webpage.
Related links
- Addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health systems: Federal response
- Co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation
- Backgrounder: National Consortium for Indigenous medical education
- Statement by Ministers on the work to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples in the health systems
- October 2020 statement from the ministers on eliminating racism in the healthcare system
- National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
- Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
- 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan