June is National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month (NIHM), with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st. This month is dedicated to learning about the experiences, cultures, and traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Each week has a dedicated theme:
- June 1 to 6: Women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people
- June 5 to 11: Environment, traditional knowledge and territory
- June 10 to 18: Children and youth
- June 19 to 25: Languages, cultures and arts
- June 26 to 30: Reconciliation
This month is also an opportunity for non-Indigenous peoples to engage in their own learning in how colonialism has prevented Indigenous peoples from celebrating their cultures and gathering together. To support the learning of our WHRI community, we have compiled a list of resources, events, and highlighted incredible work of Indigenous peoples in health care.
If you want to learn more about NIHM, you can visit this website, where you can also find many learning resources available.
The PHSA POD has also curated an extensive list of resources from events, webinars, and training. If you are PHSA staff, we encourage you to check it out.
If you have any additional resources you would like us to include, please contact us at whri.communications@cw.bc.ca.
EVENTS
For a full list of UBC events, please click here.
June 20, 2023 | 12 – 1:30 pm
Weaving Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Palliative Care
Speakers from Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Ćećǝwǝt Lelǝm “Helping House” and Vancouver Coastal Health’s North Shore Palliative Care Program will join in circle for this session where we will discuss how to recognize and overcome barriers to palliative care for Indigenous People, what decolonizing palliative care means and the role of traditional values. All healthcare professionals are welcome!
June 26, 2023 | 6 – 8:30 pm
Trailblazing Women in Canada: How We Changed It
In recognition of National Indigenous History Month, this storytelling event will showcase and celebrate Indigenous women who have met the challenge and made bold moves to make a positive change in STEAM and within the Indigenous community. Whether they are creating something new, calling attention to important issues, or educating and inspiring future generations.
INDIGENOUS LEADERS IN HEALTH CARE
MSc in Health Sciences and PhD Candidate: Danette Jubinville
As a doula and researcher, Danette works towards self-determination in health care for Indigenous people. Danette Jubinville’s research into the historical and contemporary role of doulas in Indigenous communities cannot be tied down to one discipline.
While her research is important as a documentation of Indigenous practice, it also has immediate practical applications. “I work as a doula and I’m a founding member of the Indigenous Doula Collective of Vancouver, or ekw’í7tl—pronounced “ah-quay-tull,” and it means “family” in the Squamish language. I’m developing an Indigenous doula training curriculum, drawing heavily on my research to inform it. My research informs my practice, and vice versa.”
Learn more about her and her work here.
Director of Indigenous Research at Vancouver Coastal Health Indigenous Health: Dr. Brittany Bingham
Dr. Brittany Bingham (she/her/hers) is a member of the shíshálh nation and holds an MPH and PhD in Health Sciences from Simon Fraser University. She is the Director of Indigenous Research at Vancouver Coastal Health Indigenous Health, Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) and an Assistant professor in Social Medicine at UBC. She has worked in various capacities in research with Indigenous communities and policy for over 17 years. She specializes in community-driven research drawing upon Indigenous methods with focus on health equity and improving health experiences and outcomes for Indigenous peoples. Brittany is also passionate about Indigenous women’s health, implementation science, health systems research, cultural safety and reconciliation. Learn more about her research here.
indigenous health research
CervixCheck – Métis Nation British Columbia
The CervixCheck Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) project is a replication of the initial CervixCheck project in the Fraser Health region. It is led by MNBC staff and community members and operates in Northwestern and Northeastern BC. The project aims to recruit about 275 Métis identifying women and individuals with a cervix who reside in and around Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Dawson Creek, Kelly Lake, Hudson’s Hope, and Fort Nelson BC. Currently, there is a lack of accessible cervical screening for Métis women and individuals in the North. This project aims to provide screening services within their communities and assess the acceptability of a screening website. For more information, refer to this news story.
Self-collected cervical screening with Carrier Sekani Family Services
This recently wrapped-up project was led by Carrier Sekani Family Services and explored the acceptability and feasibility of an intervention to improve access to cervical cancer screening in rural Indigenous communities in Northern BC. Self-collected cervical screening was offered at primary care centres to women and persons with a cervix who do not regularly attend screening. The approach involved self-collected HPV-based cervical cancer screening, and, through strength-based approaches aimed to address challenges that some people have with Pap smears, such as physical discomfort, geographical barriers or difficulty getting to a clinic. After the pilot research study was completed, Carrier Sekani Family Services adopted HPV-based self-collection as part of their ongoing health care services.
Self-collected cervical screening with First Nations Health Authority
This collaborative project in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority explored the acceptability and feasibility of offering HPV-based self-collection through community health programming in rural First Nation communities in Northeastern BC, among women and persons with a cervix who do not regularly attend screening. The approach utilized self-sampling kits for cervical screening as a means for increasing uptake of cervical screening. Women and persons with a cervix were given kits by community health nurses, at community health and wellness events, and self-collect in a private room at the community health center. This study wrapped up in early 2023.
UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative
IRSI supports UBC’s commitments to research excellence and reconciliation with the university’s Indigenous community partners by working in two key areas. They provide professional research support and services to Indigenous communities and university researchers to undertake collaborative projects based on community-led interests, reciprocal relationships, and principles of mutual accountability. Additionally, they work behind the scenes to transform the research culture at UBC and other institutions.
Learn more about IRSI’s support and services for Indigenous communities and for researchers. You can also read IRSI’s Strategic Framework here.
MEDIA
If you’re curious how to bring Indigenous stories to your screen, check out this list of Indigenous films with incredible Indigenous filmmakers and actors!
We also invite you follow and engage with the following accounts on social media:
- Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre (@maw_mawi on Instagram)
- CBC Indigenous (@cbcindigenous on Instagram and Twitter)
- Dr. Brittany Bingham (@DrBrittBingham on Twitter)
- Dr. Marcia Anderson (@MarciaJAnderson on Twitter)
- BC Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (@BCNEIHR on Twitter)
- Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health (@ubcceih on Twitter)
- Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society (MVISS) (@IndigenousMetro on Twitter)
KEY documents
- Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act: This Declaration was passed into law in November 2019 and establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the Reconciliation framework for British Columbia.
- Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC): The final report of the TRC was published in 2015, after recording the testimonies of 6,000+ survivors affected by residential schools. This important document states concrete actions to be taken to address the ongoing impacts of Canada’s colonialism (Government of BC).
- Calls for Justice: Reclaiming Power and Place (Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: These Calls for Justice are legal imperatives and represent important ways to end the genocide and to transform systemic and societal values that have worked to maintain colonial violence (National Family and Survivors Circle).
- In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care reports: All across Canada, Indigenous peoples continue to experience inequitable access to health care resources and discriminatory treatment while in care. This report highlights how the above perpetuates poorer health outcomes for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations in the province of British Columbia.
- First Peoples, Second Class Treatment – The role of racism in the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada: This report explores the role of racism in the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada.