Indigenous Health & Wellness

Indigenous Health and Wellness Strategy (AHWS) 2022-2026

The IHWS serves as a framework for IH’s 23,000 staff and 1,900 physicians to provide high quality, safe and effective health services to all Indigenous peoples and families. The strategy is informed by and supports commitments to Indigenous partners through signed agreements, including the Letters of Understanding (LOUs), Partnership Accord, and Cultural Safety Declaration, as well as the IH Strategic Priorities and Ministry of Health (MOH) mandate.

Read the strategy

Directly aligned with our focus on providing quality driven, people-centred care for Indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Mental Wellness Plan (AMWP) aligns with our mental health and substance use, First Nations Health Authority and Indigenous community planning. It was developed through input by Indigenous peoples, families, communities, organizations and health-care providers.

Read the strategy

The inaugural Indigenous Engagement Forum was successful in creating space for external Indigenous partners and IH leaders and staff to come together, build and strengthen partnerships, share information on joint projects, learn about IH services and programs, and gather input on services. The Forum also highlighted successful partnerships and outstanding initiatives.

Final Report Indigenous Engagement Forum

In June 2020, Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond was appointed by the B.C. Minister of Health to review Indigenous-specific racism in the provincial health care system. The investigation found extensive examples of racism and discrimination against Indigenous patients and resulted in the In Plain Sight (IPS) Report – the full report and a data report – published in November 2020 and February 2021 respectively. IPS made 24 recommendations to be implemented within and integrated into the B.C. health-care system in response to Indigenous racism.

The following reports show Interior Health’s progress on those recommendations on changing systems, behaviours and beliefs. As part of IH’s commitment to action, we will publicly report progress towards implementing the IPS recommendations annually. 

• November 2024 In Plain Sight Response 
• June 2023 In Plain Sight Response
• November 2022 In Plain Sight Response
• June 2022 In Plain Sight Response

We are committed to working together with First Nation and Métis partners to change our health system and eliminate racism and discrimination at Interior Health.

Read statement on behalf of B.C. health authorities

Susan Brown, Interior Health president & CEO, on the work done by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond:

“The important work led by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond to investigate the extent to which Indigenous-specific racism exists in our health system, must mark a turning point for our province and our region. Although it is difficult to hear and read the results of the investigation, and to understand the significant impacts of racism in the lives of First Nation and Métis people living in the southern Interior, it is also what drives us to change.

We now have an accountability to respond. I want to thank every person who shared their story and who contributed their experiences to Ms. Turpel-Lafond’s review, which was summarized in the In Plain Sight report released in November which was further detailed in the report released (in February). Addressing Indigenous racism and discrimination is a priority for Interior Health.

We are committed to working together with our First Nation and Métis partners to ensure each person who receives care and services from IH is treated with respect, dignity and compassion.”

We are committed to closing the gap in health and social conditions between Indigenous peoples and other British Columbians. The Indigenous Self Identification project enables Interior Health and Indigenous Health organizations and communities to collaboratively work together to improve the health status of Indigenous people living within IH. 

Collecting Indigenous Self Identification information supports the Transformative Change Accord (an agreement between the Province, Federal Government and Indigenous Governments), and the B.C. government’s commitment to close the health status gap between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people living in British Columbia. All groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada experience inequities in health outcomes and a higher rate of chronic disease and injury compared to non-Indigenous Canadians.

Everyone is given the opportunity to self identify as having Indigenous ancestry. No assumptions are being made about who is Indigenous and who is not.

Yes. Choosing whether or not to self identity is completely voluntary. If you don’t wish to provide the information there will be absolutely no impact on the quality of care you receive.

People who self identify as Indigenous will be asked a few more questions including whether or not they want to receive Indigenous Patient Navigator services. Self identification enables our care teams to deliver more culturally sensitive care and to integrate traditional practices into your care plan. 

We are committed to providing appropriate, culturally competent, high-quality care to everyone.

Collecting information on Indigenous ancestry will strengthen our efforts to design and deliver more culturally sensitive programs and integrate traditional practices into the delivery of health care to First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. 

We will share de-identified information with Indigenous governments for their health care planning purposes. 

All information collected is completely confidential and protected by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

No, you will only be asked once and your answers will become part of your electronic patient record.

Yes, you can change your Indigenous Self Identification response during any visit to an Interior Health facility.

Indigenous organizations were involved in the development of the Indigenous Self Identification questions. The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation also worked with Indigenous organizations and the First Nations Leadership Council to develop the Aboriginal Administrative Data Standard that is used across ministries for the collection and analysis of information about Indigenous people.