Indigenous Cultural Safety
Committing to reconciliation and learning, and providing the best care informed by the history and culture of Indigenous peoples.
Along with our health system partners, we have signed a Declaration of Commitment to have cultural competency, humility and safety embedded at all levels of the health system.
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Cultural competency
Cultural competency refers to an understanding of cross-cultural interactions and an awareness and acceptance of the variety of people and populations that we work with.
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Cultural humility
Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases and to develop and maintain respectful processes and relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another’s experience.
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Cultural safety
Cultural safety is an outcome of cultural competency, defined and experienced by those who receive the service – they feel safe. Cultural safety is based on understanding the power differentials and potential discriminations inherent in the health service delivery system.
We are committed to addressing and decreasing health inequities for Indigenous people by providing culturally safe and responsive services.
The Indigenous Cultural Safety Policy guides us to become a culturally safe organization and informs our policies and programs. We are committed to ensuring this policy is embedded throughout VCH.
Read the Indigenous Cultural Safety PolicyThe Indigenous Health team supports our commitment to provide culturally safe care through Indigenous patient care programs and learning opportunities for staff.
More on our vision and other pillars
Our vision
Our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. Collectively, our actions contribute to creating safe, healthy spaces for everyone and support quality patient outcomes, access to equitable care and a great place to work.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Promoting a sense of belonging where we can bring our whole selves to VCH.