Indigenous Health Rounds

Penticton Indian Band – Historical Perspectives and a New Path Forward

Date and Time: Thursday, March 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT
Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting

The purpose of this session is to create cultural safety awareness about the historical impact that institutions such as residential schools and hospitals have had on Indigenous people. The goal is to create a safe place for participants to engage and discuss their perspectives and questions. This dialogue aims to build mutual understanding and better health outcomes.

Guest Speakers:
Jacki McPherson, Health Director, Penticton Indian Band, Okanagan Nation
Brenda Baptiste, Mental Health Substance Use Lead, Osoyoos Indian Band

Learning Objectives:
– To learn about the history of Penticton Indian Band community
– To understand the impacts of institutions on Indigenous people
– To create cultural safety and a safe space for dialogue

This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD.

iCON has partnered with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Indigenous Health to develop Indigenous Health Rounds, which serve as a platform to bring Indigenous voices to health care providers, policy makers and health administrators for knowledge sharing, dialogue, and brainstorming solutions to combat racism and foster culturally safe healthcare settings for Indigenous patients and families.

On November 27 , 2024, Derek Thompson – Čaabať Bookwilla from the Ditidaht First Nation, taught us about the importance of a nuanced and respective approach to cultural safety and humility.

He is the Director, Indigenous Engagement for the UBC Faculty of Medicine, and he brings over 30 years of experience working with First Nations organizations and communities across the province and country to achieve wellness through health and related services.
Derek served as a member on the Health Standards Organization Technical Committee to inform the development of the British Columbia Cultural Safety and Humility Standard.

Please find a copy of the transcript of this event.  You can find a full recording of this Indigenous health round in the YouTube video above.

On July 17, 2024, Cathy Almost, Duane Jackson and Cooper Jackson discussed ways to support Indigenous patients Mental Health and culture based on In Plain Sight Recommendation #17: “That the B.C. government and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) demonstrate progress on commitments to increase access to culturally safe mental health and wellness and substance use services.” One-time funds were secured to support 28 communities with Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Cultural Safety Site improvements.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association. Copyright 2024 by UBC Digital Emergency Medicine. All rights reserved.

On December 4, 2023, iCON and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Indigenous Health hosted another Indigenous Health Round session titled “FNHA’s Primary Care Vision and Strategy”. We were honoured to have guest speakers from First Nations Health Authority, Dr. Terri Aldred and Lisa Montgomery-Reid, and Dr. Michael Dumont at Lu’Ma Medical Centre. In this webinar, presenters shared deep insights and lessons learned in the role of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the partnerships-based approach to implementing the First Nations-led Primary Health Care Initiative (FNPCI) and the holistic service models of Lu’ma Medical Centre in Vancouver and the All Nations Healing House in Williams Lake.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association. Copyright 2024 by UBC Digital Emergency Medicine. All rights reserved.

We were honoured to have guest speakers Cathy Almost and Kwelkwáyel7simia Wendy Nahanee from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation with an opening prayer from Elder Doris Fox. Cathy is the Director of Indigenous Cultural Safety, Indigenous Health at Vancouver Coastal Health. Kwelkwáyel7simia (Wendy) is the Indigenous Strategic Lead for Indigenous Cultural Safety at Vancouver Coastal Health. In this session, Cathy and Kwelkwáyel7simia (Wendy) guide the discussion on what Indigenous cultural safety looks like in health care, and how to build trust and avoid pitfalls when providing care for Indigenous patients.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association. Copyright 2023 by UBC Digital Emergency Medicine. All rights reserved.

On June 20, 2023, iCON and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Indigenous Health hosted another Indigenous Health Round session titled “Weaving Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Palliative Care?” We were honoured to have guest speakers from Tsleil-Waututh Nation Ćećəwət leləm “Helping House”, Andrea Aleck and Anila Dina, and Dr. Anis Lakha, a VCH Palliative Physician at Lions Gate Hospital and a Medical Director at the Every Day Counts Program. In this webinar, presenters shared deep insights and lessons learned in cultural safety and best practice in walking alongside Indigenous patients and their caregivers, supporting them in their life’s journey.

Resource sheet including citations and resources mentioned in the presentation is available here: https://indigenous.iconproject.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/Resource-Sheet-June-20-iCON-Round.pdf

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

On February 10, 2023, iCON and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Indigenous Health hosted another Indigenous Health Round session titled “Who is an Ally and Who Says So?” We were delighted to have guest speakers Dr. Laurie Harding and Dr. Linda Diffey facilitated the discussion to unpack terminologies such as allyship, performativity, solidarity, white saviourism, and more.

This session discussed the difference between ally and white saviourism, how to apply knowledge in an ongoing self-reflective assessment, what is white performativity, and what is the difference between allyship and co-conspirator.

Resource sheet including citations and resources mentioned in the presentation is available here: https://indigenous.iconproject.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/Indigenous-Health-Round_Feb102023_Resource-Sheet.pdf

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

On January 26, 2023, iCON and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Indigenous Health hosted another Indigenous Health Round session titled “Anti-Racism: Where Do I Start?” We were delighted to have guest speakers Dr. Laurie Harding and Dr. Linda Diffey facilitated the discussion about building personal and professional confidence and competence in addressing systemic racism.

This session discussed the recognition of power and privilege in relation to providing care to Indigenous patients and their families, acknowledging one’s role in anti-racism work, how to locate opportunities for integrating anti-racism in practice, and ways to practice active and ongoing self-reflection.

Resource sheet including citations and resources mentioned in the presentation is available here: https://indigenous.iconproject.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/01/Indigenous-Health-Round_Jan262023_Resource-Sheet.pdf

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

On November 4, 2022, iCON and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Indigenous Health hosted a webinar titled “Indigenous Patient Experience in Healthcare.”  We were honoured to have Elder Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph and Lori Quinn join us in circle for this webinar to share their knowledge on Indigenous patient experience in healthcare.

In this session, Elder Dennis and Lori led the discussion of humanizing care as a step toward reconciliation, introduced the meaningful work of Indigenous Health at VCH (i.e., Indigenous Patient Navigators), and shared their knowledge on the 7 Indigenous domains of culturally safe experiences. This presentation also elucidated the 3 major components of Elders Program at VCH Indigenous Health.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

For more information about programs and initiatives at VCH Indigenous Health: http://www.vch.ca/your-care/indigenous-health/programs-and-initiatives

NOTE: If you missed the live session on November 4, 2022, and would like to obtain a certificate of participation for CME credits, please watch the recording above and complete the post-event survey by December 21, 2022: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77GV1dFYLFEzL5Y

On March 25, 2022, iCON and VCH Indigenous Health, in partnership with First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), hosted a virtual webinar, titled “Culturally Safe, Quality Virtual Healthcare for Indigenous People and Their Families.” We were honoured to invite speakers from the FNHA team: Jon Rabeneck, Education and Training Specialist of Primary Care, and Laura Baracaldo, registered Social Worker and Care Coordinator, Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service.

In this session, the speakers introduced the virtual health services provided by First Nations Health Authority (FNHA): Virtual Doctor of the Day and Virtual Substance Use & Psychiatry Services. The speakers also explained the referral pathways into the services, and discussed how the services could help enhance culturally safe pathways and connections to care for Indigenous patients.

For more information about the virtual health services provided by FNHA:
• Virtual Doctor of the Day: https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/ehealth/virtual-doctor-of-the-day
• Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service: https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/ehealth/virtual-substance-use-and-psychiatry-service

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

On February 25, 2022, iCON and VCH Indigenous Health hosted a virtual Indigenous Health Round, titled “Trauma-Informed Care for Indigenous Patients and Families in Healthcare Settings.” We were honoured to have our speakers from the Kilala Lelum Health Centre: Elder Bruce Robinson, a Family Support Elder and Cultural Advisor from the Nisga’a Nation, and Dr. Alana Hirsh, a UBC-trained family physician and UBC Clinical Assistant Professor with expertise in addiction medicine, emergency medicine, and trauma-informed care.

The speakers guided the discussion on the impacts of trauma on a person’s physiology, health, and behaviour, and ways in which trauma experienced by Indigenous populations may intersect with their experience of receiving health care in a typical Western/allopathic healthcare setting. The speakers also talked about principles and approaches to healthcare of Indigenous patients that can contribute to establishing safety and well-being, and ways to reduce re-traumatization.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

Here is the list of references and resources that were recommended and mentioned by the session participants.

On November 12, 2021, iCON and VCH Aboriginal Health hosted a virtual Indigenous Health Round, titled “Intergenerational Trauma and the Impacts of Colonial History on the Health and Wellbeing of Indigenous People.” We were honoured to have our speakers from the UBC School of Nursing: Dr. Elder Roberta Price, an Elder Advisor and Research Partner from the Snuneymuxw and Cowichan Nations, and Dr. Colleen Varcoe, a professor and scholar of Indigenous (Cherokee) and immigrant (English) heritage.

The speakers guided the discussion on the impacts of historical and ongoing colonialism and racism on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada, different forms of violence and the pathways of harm including stigma, discrimination, and epigenetics experienced by the Indigenous communities, and how healthcare providers could go beyond self reflection to create culturally and emotionally safe organizations and practices, and contribute to meaningful change in healthcare cultures.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the B.C. Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

Please find a copy of the Powerpoint slides Dr. Elder Roberta Price and Dr. Colleen Varcoe shared here. You can find a full recording of this Indigenous Health Round in the YouTube video above.

On March 24th, 2021 iCON and VCH Aboriginal Health hosted a virtual Indigenous health round, the second of a series on “Understanding Dimensions of Indigenous Wellness: From Principles to Practice (part 2)”. We were honoured to have Dr. Michael Dumont, an Anishinaabe family physician and medical director from the Lu’Ma Medical Centre and Dr. David Tu, family physician and board member from the Kilala Lelum Health Centre to share an engaging, captivating, and insightful presentation and discussion.

The session highlighted the historic and ongoing determinants of health for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the challenges of providing culturally safe care to Indigenous peoples within current systems, strategies to improve health outcomes, and also the role of health professionals, Traditional Elders & culture in improving the health of Indigenous Peoples.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the BC Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

Please find a copy of the Powerpoint slides Dr. Michael Dumont and Dr. David Tu shared here. You can find a full recording of this Indigenous health round in the YouTube video above.

On February 2, 2021 iCON and VCH Aboriginal Health hosted a virtual health round, the first of a series on “Understanding Dimensions of Indigenous Wellness: From Principles to Practice (part 1)”. We were honoured to have Dr. Terri Aldred, medical director of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), from the Tl’Azt’En Nation , share her wisdom in an informative, insightful and absorbing presentation and discussion.

The session explored worldviews and principles of Indigenous wellness and racism as a social determinant of health and stimulated engaging discussion around practical tips to provide culturally relevant and safe care to Indigenous patients.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the BC Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

Please find a copy of Dr. Terri Aldred’s slides here. You can find a full recording of this Indigenous health round in the YouTube video above.

Here is an summary infographic of the session.

On September 22, 2020, iCON and VCH Aboriginal Health hosted a virtual Indigenous health round on the topic “Why land acknowledgements are important in healthcare”. We were honoured to have Xalek’ / Sekyu Siyam, Chief Ian Campbell from the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation as our guest speaker.

This session offered an engaging discussion on the connection and importance of land acknowledgements and how they can impact health care delivery. iCON would like to wholeheartedly thank all speakers, supporters and participants.
This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the BC Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

You can find a full recording of this Indigenous health round in the YouTube video above.

Here is an summary infographic of the session.

On July 8, 2020, iCON and VCH Aboriginal Health had the pleasure of hosting an Indigenous health round as a virtual event. 288 participants joined us via Zoom as we discussed Indigenous cultural safety in healthcare settings. We were honoured to host Elder Dennis Joseph and Jessica Key as our guest speakers who shared their experiences and insights. Elder Dennis Joseph belongs to the Squamish Nation; Jessica Key is a registered nurse and a citizen of the Musgamaugw Dzawada’enuxw First Nation.

This event was organized by VCH Indigenous Health and UBC iCON (Department of Emergency Medicine), and supported by the BC Ministry of Health Patients as Partners Initiative and the Vancouver Physician Staff Association.

You can find a full recording of this meeting in the YouTube video above.