Two years ago, the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) introduced the
Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility, and Anti-Racism practice standard in collaboration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC). This standard continues our mandate to protect the safety of Indigenous patients and clients in B.C. by enabling and ensuring nurses and midwives meet expected standards of practice and conduct.
The college acknowledges that systemic and inter-personal racism against Indigenous Peoples exists in the B.C. health-care system. There is an important and urgent need for all partners in the health-care system to take swift and decisive action to dismantle the systemic racism that has led to poor and harmful outcomes and ensure timely and culturally safe care is provided to all Indigenous Peoples in B.C. At BCCNM, everything we do is influenced by this commitment.
Indigenous Peoples have shared their experiences to bring to light those who were not seen or heard—Keegan Combes, Heather Winterstein, Brian Sinclair, Joyce Echaquan, among many others. We learn, acknowledge, and reflect on their experiences of being subjected to racism and stereotyping; being judged, undertreated, or given subpar treatment; being inferred to be or accused of “drug seeking" or being “drunk"; having their care and concerns not seen as a priority or addressed in a timely way, resulting in devastating outcomes including loss of life.
The college's
Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility, and Anti-Racism practice standard highlights core concepts and requirements for our nurses and midwives to ensure they provide anti-racist, culturally safe, and timely care to Indigenous Peoples. These core concepts include self-reflective practice and building relationships based on respect, open and effective dialogue, and anti-racist practice to ensure active steps are taken to identify, address, prevent, and eliminate Indigenous-specific racism, creating safe health-care experiences, person-led care, and strengths-based and trauma-informed practice.
What we want our nurses and midwives to know, learn, and practice
We truly believe we are on this journey together; we are all responsible for providing anti-racist, timely, culturally safe, and humble care to Indigenous clients, their families, and communities. As we look ahead, we continue to remain committed, intentional, and hopeful.
Resources and information that are available to nurses and midwives to read, learn, and adopt in day-to-day workings:
Have feedback or questions? Email
culturalsafety@bccnm.ca.