The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA), Health Standards Organization (HSO), and Accreditation Canada (AC) are pleased to announce the launch of a new joint project to advance Indigenous (inclusive of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) cultural safety and humility and address Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination across Canada.

The project, Advancing Cultural Safety and Humility Through Standards and Accreditation, will involve preparing and testing the British Columbia Cultural Safety and Humility standard for use by health and social services organizations from across British Columbia (BC). The first of its kind, the British Columbia Cultural Safety and Humility standard was developed by BC Indigenous thought leaders, patient partners, knowledge keepers, clinicians, and academics and published by FNHA and HSO in 2022. It sets a clear standard of care for BC health care system and organizations to ensure Indigenous people living in BC are treated with dignity and respect and have access to culturally safe care and services.

The project will also include engaging and hearing from Indigenous governing bodies, communities, and peoples from across Canada to scope the needs and design of a national Cultural Safety and Humility standard that health and social services organizations from across the country can use.

The Advancing Cultural Safety and Humility Through Standards and Accreditation project has been made possible with the financial participation of Health Canada.

With an aim to complete the project in 2024, the partnering organizations, FNHA, CINA, HSO, and AC, are united by a common goal of advancing culturally safe and appropriate health services that meet the priorities and needs of Indigenous peoples, families, and communities across the country.

For more information on the project, please visit https://healthstandards.org/advancing-cultural-safety/.

Quote(s):

“As a leader in cultural safety and humility, the First Nations Health Authority is looking forward to continuing our strong partnerships with the Health Standards Organization, Accreditation Canada, and the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association to advance the historic work of the BC Cultural Safety and Humility standard into the assessment phase," says Richard Jock, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). “This project will advance the Indigenous-led work already completed in the development of the standard and further support improvements in cultural safety across the BC health system."

“As a leading Indigenous nursing knowledge organization, we are supported by our strengths and by our First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to respond to adequately addressing cultural safety and humility from coast to coast to coast," says Marilee Nowgesic, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA). “We are looking forward to this exciting opportunity with our partners at HSO/AC and FNHA."

“Every individual, organization, and health and social care system have a role to play in addressing racism and discrimination experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada," says Leslee Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Health Standards Organization (HSO) and Accreditation Canada (AC). “We are proud to be partnering with FNHA and CINA on this important work to advance cultural safety and humility through accreditation."

Media contacts:

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)

Kevin Boothroyd

media@fnha.ca

+1 604-831-4898

Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA)

Marilee Nowgesic

mnowgesic@indigenousnurses.ca

+1 613-724-4677

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Health Standards Organization (HSO) & Accreditation Canada (AC)

Karen Foster

Karen.Foster@healthstandards.org

+1 613-738-3800​