Author Archives: deb22

Mod 4, Post 2 – Ignored to death – Brian Sinclair

This is the second story (or might have been the first one, I can’t remember) that sparked my interest in learning more about discrimination and racism in health care and how this happens. While I’m not an emergency room nurse, and never have been, I still find it disheartening that this still happens in today’s world. It’s disgusting and discouraging. It wasn’t even a health care professional that discovered this man dead in the waiting room chairs, it was a visitor.

His death was so easily preventable, if only someone had actually assessed him or even spoken to him to find out why he was there, instead of just making erroneous assumptions.

It is especially discouraging to hear that this happened in an area that services a large population of Indigenous people. Is this assumption so ingrained in our system that this can happen, and continues to happen? Unfortunately, this is a story that continues to happen even today.

Geary, A. (2017, September 18). Ignored to death: Brian Sinclair’s death caused by racism, inquest inadequate, group says. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-brian-sinclair-report-1.4295996

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-brian-sinclair-report-1.4295996

Mod 4, Post 1: Death by discrimination – Joyce Echaquan

This is the news story that started it all for me. I heard about this woman’s death from a friend who works at the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). As a nurse, it was discouraging and embarrassing for my profession. That so called professional nurses could act this way towards anyone, particularly someone in pain who they were responsible for. I remember being so angry, and wanting these nurses to not only lose their jobs, but their nursing licenses as well. I was glad to see that the story was picked up by a national news agency, so more people could be aware of the issues of racism and discrimination in the Canadian health care system. There is no excuse.

Shingler, B. (2020, September 29). Investigations launched after Atikamekw woman records Quebec hospital staff uttering slurs before her death. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-atikamekw-joliette-1.5743449

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-atikamekw-joliette-1.5743449

Mod 3, Post 5: In plain sight

This document, In plain sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination in BC health care is an important document that all health care providers in BC should read, and should be expanded for use in the rest of Canada. There is a content warning at the beginning that the document may contain subjects that could trigger an emotional response in people, as well as some resources for people so affected.

This is a message of hope, in that this has happened and continues to happen, but there are things that can be done to educate and inform all health care professionals.

I also like the way the introduction discusses ‘willful ignorance’. This concept is prevalent through our society today. There is so much available out there to listen to, to hear, and try to understand, that there is really no excuse to not be educated about Indigenous issues and context.

This report is a right step – if only it could be more emphasized in main stream health care and with all health care professionals. Making it easier to find and more pronounced on the bc gov website would be a further step forward.

White-Hill, E., & desLibris – Documents. (2021). In plain sight: Addressing indigenous-specific racism and discrimination in B.C. health care. Camosun College

https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/613/2020/11/In-Plain-Sight-Summary-Report.pdf

Mod 3, Post 4: Nursing Education responds to the truth & reconciliation report

This article was published in the International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship and has some insights that are directly linked to our course material. It discusses the unique needs of Indigenous nursing students. It directly links themes from pedagogy and the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help identify the challenges and rewards of working with Indigenous nursing students to promote more Indigenous nurses into the profession. This is an excellent article that I used heavily in my paper.

The image above, I took from a CBC News report discussing the theme of my paper – to help heal the poor relationship between the health care system and Indigenous people, more Indigenous nurses and understanding of Indigenous health issues is required in health care.

Lane, A., & Petrovic, K. (2018). Educating aboriginal nursing students: Responding to the truth and reconciliation report. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, (1) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2017-0064

photo credit: Sterritt, A. (2017, May 11). More Indigenous nurses needed to change health-care system, practitioners say. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/strength-of-indigenous-nurses-highlighted-on-national-day-1.4110129

Module 3: Post 3 – First Peoples: A guide for newcomers

The city of Vancouver has various documents that outline many of the resources and services that can be found in Vancouver. From Parks and Recreation to City Council to Housing to Businesses, there is a wide gamut of information available. This booklet was developed by the city of Vancouver for new immigrants and people new to Canada.

While I don’t know the second author, Jane Henderson, I am familiar with Kori Wilson. Kori is an Indigenous lawyer living on the Musqeum reserve in Vancouver. She has a wealth of knowledge about many things Indigenous, the colonizer history in British Columbia and Canada and has family members who are residential school survivors. She knows what she is talking about, and I am glad that she authored this booklet with the City of Vancouver, so it is imbued with her Indigenous perspective. It is informative, though I’m not sure how the information is received by newcomers to BC. It is a pdf document buried on the City of Vancouver website, and is not immediately apparent when looking at the website. It should be featured more prominently on the website and be easier to access. You have to have a certain amount of knowledge to be able to research (in English) and find the document on the website. There is also the literacy factor that requires a certain level of reading and comprehension, again in English, to understand the information presented. There is a great ‘myths vs facts’ section, but again, if it’s not accessible on the website, the information gets lost.

It is an interesting read, for sure!

Wilson, K., & Henderson, J. (2013, March 3). First peoples: A guide for newcomers. Vancouver.Ca. https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/First-Peoples-A-Guide-for-Newcomers.pdf

//vancouver.ca

M3P2: The Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association

In 1974, a number of nurses with Aboriginal ancestry joined together with others to form the Aboriginal Nurses Association in 1975, which then became the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association.

As part of their mandate, the CINA helped inform the Federal/Territorial/Provincial Workforce committee on Health Workforce in their work with the Principle Nursing Advisors Taskforce in 2017 to develop a vision for the future of nursing in Canada that included Indigenous Health. In 2020, the report was published and included numerous strategies and recommendations for involving Indigenous people, Indigenous nurses and nursing schools to improve the health of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Despite this work by and for nurses, the systems involved are slow to respond, and Indigenous people continue to have poor health outcomes, higher rates of suicide, higher rates of drug and alcohol use, and higher rates of incarceration than the Canadian average (Statistics Canada, 2021). These indicators also clearly indicate symptoms resulting from a legacy of trauma.

While many governmental organizations have commitments to Indigenous health, acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples and multiple task forces and working groups, there doesn’t seem to have been much progress made to improve Indigenous health and well-being.

The mandate of the CINA continues to work on this more specifically with nursing health professionals, as demonstrated by their key objectives. However, there is still much work to be done.

The Association’s key objectives were updated in 2010 to be more reflective of current changing health, social and political environment:

To work with communities, health professionals and government institutions on Indigenous Health Nursing issues and practices within the Canadian Health system that address particular interest and concern in Indigenous communities with a view to benefiting Indigenous peoples of Canada by improving their health and well-being, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
To engage and conduct research on Indigenous Health Nursing and access to health care as related to Indigenous Peoples.
To consult with government, non-profit and private organizations in developing programs for applied and scientific research designed to improve health and well-being in Indigenous Peoples.
To develop and encourage the teaching of courses in the educational system on Canadian Indigenous health, Indigenous knowledge, cultural safety in nursing and the health care system and/or other educational resources and supports.
To promote awareness in both Canadian and International Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities of the health needs of Canadian Indigenous people.
To facilitate and foster increase participation of Indigenous Peoples involvement in decision-making in the field of health care.
To strengthen partnerships and develop resources supporting the recruitment and retention of more people of Indigenous ancestry into nursing and other health sciences professions.
To disseminate such information to all levels of community.

Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association. (n.d.). Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (C.I.N.A). Https://Indigenousnurses.Ca. https://indigenousnurses.ca/about

Statistics Canada. (2021, June 28). Indigenous peoples. Https://Www.Statcan.Gc.ca/Eng/. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/subjects-start/indigenous_peoples

M3P1: Trauma Informed Practice & Indigenous Nursing Students

As nurses, Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) is a foundational concept in our education and practice. We apply the standards of this practice to all of our clients, regardless of race, culture & ethnicity. I think it’s also important to apply this approach with Indigenous nursing students.

The BC Government website (n.d) defines TIP as: “…a strengths-based framework grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma. It emphasises physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone, and creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment”.

While this approach is used in nursing practice, it also applies to Indigenous nursing students and should be considered when designing any nursing curriculum to support student success while recognizing the impact of trauma, including intergenerational trauma.

Here is a brief overview of how TIP can be applied in education.

https://youtu.be/N6zIO51H-8A

There is also a guide available from the website, published in 2017, to assist practitioners working with youth and families. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/child-teen-mental-health/trauma-informed_practice_guide.pdf

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.). Trauma informed practice (TIP) resources. Https://Www2.Gov.Bc.ca/Gov. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/child-teen-mental-health/trauma-informed-practice-resources

M2 P5: BC Pre-health program for Indigenous student success

A large part of the reason for my research question is not only that more competent health professionals are required who understand Indigenous culture and how this contributes to well being in Indigenous communities, but also that there is a shortage of skilled health professionals on reserves and remote or rural Indigenous communities.
I’ve been involved in pre-health programs at BCIT – the polytechnic institute partnered with Burnaby School Board to provide a specialized program for grade 12 students interested in health sciences careers to attend a year long course at BCIT to not only gain exposure to education in their career interests, but also to ease the transition from high school into a professional program at the college level. A program like this, geared specifically for Indigenous students, would help remove barriers for Indigenous students and promote success. This article discusses just such a program as a partnership between the Secwepemc Cultural and Education Society, the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the University College of the Cariboo, who developed an Aboriginal pre-health program.

This article is from 2001, so part of my research for the final project will be to discover whether this program is still running and any other details I can find on it.

Holmes, V. (2001). Southcentral British Columbia Secwepemc cultural education society aboriginal pre-health education program. The Aboriginal Nurse, 16(1), 22. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/southcentral-birtish-columbia-secwepemc-cultural/docview/234988180/se-2?accountid=14656

M2 P4: BCIT’s Indigenous Vision

This framework is the basis for the Indigenization of the nursing program at BCIT. It is broad and ambitious, but serves as a guiding framework for the work being done by faculty to ensure Indigenous student success in the programs. It is openly available to the public on the BCIT website. This vision prioritizes three actions around inclusion, accountability and collaborative relationships. The faculty working within this framework works closely with Indigenous educators and leaders from BCIT Indigenous services.

https://www.bcit.ca/indigenous-vision/

“Truth is the foundation. Indigenization is the action. Reconciliation is the goal”.

British Columbia Institute of Technology. (n.d.-a). BCIT’s Indigenous vision. BCIT.Ca. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.bcit.ca/indigenous-vision/

M2 P3: The Language of Wellness

I share this link to several hour long webinars from the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) on the expression of language as a vehicle towards not only cultural preservation, but to wellness and healing as well. These were forwarded to me through one of my colleagues at work, and it really goes along with my topic of Indigenous nursing students and the relationship between the current health care system and Indigenous peoples. The length of the videos can be a little daunting, as some are over 1 hour in length, but they clearly demonstrate the need to preserve culture, language and Indigenous ways of knowing as a path to wellness, using modern technology to disseminate the teaching to as broad an audience as possible. This was shared in the context of health care, but can apply to many different areas of interest.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDKOxTJMuk__vbbZpJtvQnSiHobUQxCLR

First Peoples’ Cultural Council [fnhealthcouncil]. (2021, June 9). The language of wellness [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/69w9f3aqzU8

Zimmerman, L. J., Zimmerman, K. P., & Bruguier, L. R. (2000). Cyberspace smoke signals: New technologies and Native American ethnicity. In C. Smith & G. K. Ward (Eds.), Indigenous cultures in an interconnected world (pp. 69–86). Amsterdam University Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com