INDIGENOUS WELLNESS SUPPORT & EDUCATION FOR NON-INDIGENOUS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
Nurture North operates on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Gitķ’a’ata, (Hartley Bay) Gitga’at First Nations, and the Gits\’ilaasu, (Kitselas) and Gitsumkalum, (Kitsumkalum) First Nations.
I am privileged to live in, recreate on and serve these communities as a settler on their lands. Acknowledging these traditional territories means recognizing their long history—one that predates the earliest European settlements. It also means honouring the deep and ongoing significance of these lands to the Indigenous Peoples who have lived, and continue to live, here. Their spiritualities, cultures, and ways of life have long been rooted in these territories and continue to evolve in connection with the land and all its beings.
t\'oya̱xsut nüün”
T'ooyaxsut'nuun
(Thank you so much)
Indigenous Wellness Support & Education for Non-Indigenous Healthcare Providers
As a Registered Massage Therapist and Doula working in Northern BC, I acknowledge the ongoing impact of colonization and systemic racism in our healthcare system. It is our responsibility—as non-Indigenous healthcare providers—to create safer, culturally aware, and accountable spaces for Indigenous clients and families. This includes both self-education and community collaboration.
Why This Matters
The In Plain Sight report (2020) documented widespread Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination across BC’s healthcare system. It is essential reading for all providers seeking to better understand the lived experiences of Indigenous patients and how racism directly impacts their health outcomes.
🔗 Read the In Plain Sight Summary Report
The report outlines 24 recommendations, including the need for trauma-informed care, access to Indigenous liaisons, and health services that center cultural safety, humility, and Indigenous voices.
Recommended Resources for Non-Indigenous Providers
To begin or deepen your learning, I highly encourage reviewing these resources:
Perinatal Services BC – Indigenous Health Resources
This page offers resources such as the Pregnancy Passport, Emotional Health, Doula Services, Safe Sleep Toolkit, Hypoglycemia perinatal and newborn family resources.
🔗 Visit Perinatal Services BC Indigenous ResourcesPerinatal Services BC – Perinatal and Newborn Health Hub
This page offers resources, reports, and training materials to support respectful and culturally safe maternity care.
VAHS – Sheway Program (Vancouver)
A culturally safe space for Indigenous women and families who travel to Vancouver for late-stage pregnancy care, birth, and postpartum. If your client or patient is being transferred to Vancouver, Sheway is a vital support service.
🔗Learn More About Sheway
Local Indigenous Liaison Contacts for Northern BC
Accessing Indigenous liaison services can be a key support for clients navigating healthcare during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This link provides contacts for each area's hospital. The contacts have attached write-ups for each Indigenous Care Team member and photos for reference.
If you’re unsure how to refer a client or connect them to these services, please reach out—I’m always happy to share information for connections and ensure respectful care.
My Commitment
I continue to deepen my own education through trainings such as:
UBC CPD: Interrupting Indigenous-Specific Racism in Healthcare, 2025
Organizational Trauma Training – Trauma Informed Practice Institute, 2025
Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility & Anti-Racism, 2024
This work is ongoing. It involves unlearning, listening, and showing up differently. I aim to interrupt Indigenous-specific racism in myself, others, and systems. I welcome accountability and am committed to co-creating safer care for Indigenous families and communities.