Indigenous Safety in Healthcare (ISH) is about healthcare with heart.

This program isn’t learning about cultural safety, it’s learning to do cultural safety. The program is a powerful, personal experience that transforms healthcare practitioners into advocates and change-makers. By bringing more kindness and heart into the healthcare system, we create an environment that benefits Indigenous Peoples —and can be applied to everyone who uses the healthcare system.

This program centers voices from Indigenous community members about how they want and deserve to be treated by healthcare practitioners. You will learn specific and practical skills to provide the care Indigenous community members are asking for, including:

  • trauma-informed wording for sensitive conversations
  • body language techniques that foster trust and safety
  • relational frameworks to improve patient outcomes
  • five themes shared by Indigenous community members on providing culturally safe and anti-racist care



Past ISH participants include

  • Mental health providers

  • Doctors and nurses

  • Healthcare administrators

  • Receptionists

  • Massage therapists

  • Dentists

  • Physiotherapists

  • Healthcare students

  • And more!

What makes this program unique?

  • Simple steps

    Shows you simple steps for powerful changes you can make within your sphere of influence

  • Warm acceptance

    Centred you in non-judgemental and warm acceptance no matter where you are in your learning journey

  • Builds confidence

    Builds your confidence and tools to deliver, advocate for and model safe and inclusive healthcare practices in your place of work

  • Understand responsibilities

    Understanding responsibilities between simple steps and warm acceptance.

  • Engage your whole self

    Engages you in interactive, relational and skill-building activities using mind, body, emotions and spirit

What is included

  • online self-led course on understanding Indigenous cultures and preparing to engage respectfully in person
  • two-day in-person experiential learning with Knowledge Keepers and cultural practices
  • warm hospitality, expressed through hot lunch, coffee, tea and snacks
  • a beautifully designed, interactive, printed activity booklet
  • completion certificate aligned with professional development expectations
  • locally trained, culturally responsive and trauma informed facilitators


Cost: $1500 inclusive. No fees are charged until you are placed in a cohort. 

You must attend all in-person days of the program, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When you register, please choose a cohort in which you have full availability to participate.

A limited number of sponsorships are available if cost is a barrier. Check out the FAQs for more information and click here for the sponsorship policy. 

What people are saying about the Indigenous Safety in Healthcare program

Rosy Hartman, Manager Indigenous Cultural Safety, Indigenous Cancer Care

"While many cultural safety courses are only offered online, participating in-person in an interactive environment truly deepens the learning. This program equips staff with the skills and confidence they need to deliver more culturally safe, empathetic and patient-centered healthcare."

"I thought I was well-informed on cultural safety, but I realize now that I was missing the Indigenous perspective. This was a vital opportunity to see the healthcare system through the perspective of those most impacted by it."

"I learned so much, and along the way, I laughed, cried, and grew as a person. I am inspired to continue learning and working towards a truly culturally safe system of care."

Questions?

Contact us at: [email protected]

We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory VNFC stands and the Songhees, Xwepsum and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day