Reconciliation in Health

Health is a basic human right, yet Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience significant health disparities due to centuries of colonization, systemic racism, and the ongoing impacts of residential schools, displacement, and intergenerational trauma.

 

Reconciliation in health means more than improving access to care—it requires transforming healthcare systems to recognize and respect Indigenous knowledge, values, and self-determination. A reconciled healthcare system is one where Indigenous people are safe, respected, and empowered in every aspect of their wellness.

The Health Gap: A Legacy of Injustice

  • Shorter life expectancy and higher rates of chronic illness among Indigenous populations
  • Barriers to access, including remote location, poverty, and lack of culturally safe services
  • Disproportionate rates of mental health challenges, substance use, and suicide, especially among youth
  • Systemic racism in healthcare, leading to delayed or denied treatment, misdiagnosis, and trauma (e.g., the deaths of Joyce Echaquan and Brian Sinclair)

Indigenous Perspectives on Health

For many Indigenous cultures, health is holistic—it includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, as well as strong relationships with family, community, and the land.

 

Traditional healing practices, elders' teachings, and ceremony are vital to individual and community wellness. Reconciliation in health requires integrating these approaches with Western medicine in respectful, meaningful ways.

Principles for Reconciliation in Health

  • Cultural Safety
     Healthcare providers must offer care free from racism, judgment, or ignorance of Indigenous worldviews.
  • Indigenous-Led Health Services
     Indigenous communities must lead the design and delivery of health programs that meet their own needs.
  • Respect for Traditional Knowledge
     Recognize and include traditional medicine, healing ceremonies, and the role of elders.
  • Trauma-Informed Care
     Understand how colonial trauma affects health and provide care with compassion and cultural understanding.
  • Systemic Change
     Reform medical education, policy, and leadership structures to include Indigenous voices and anti-racism practices.

What Reconciliation Requires

  • Funding and support for Indigenous-run clinics, healing centers, and wellness programs
  • Mandatory cultural safety and anti-racism training for healthcare workers
  • Collaboration between Western medical institutions and Indigenous knowledge keepers
  • More Indigenous people in healthcare professions—doctors, nurses, therapists, and administrators
  • Recognition of the role of intergenerational trauma in health outcomes
  • Better access to clean water, nutritious food, housing, and mental health support in Indigenous communities

How You Can Help

  • Healthcare Workers: Learn about cultural safety and commit to anti-racism in your practice
  • Patients and Allies: Advocate for equitable, respectful care for Indigenous patients
  • Educators and Institutions: Integrate Indigenous health knowledge and history into health sciences education
  • Policy Makers: Invest in Indigenous health leadership, infrastructure, and autonomy
  • Everyone: Listen to Indigenous voices, support healing justice movements, and challenge health-related discrimination

Reconciliation in health means healing both people and systems. When Indigenous Peoples have access to culturally safe, community-led care—and when their knowledge and sovereignty are respected—true healing can begin, not just for individuals, but for our entire country.

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