About the Project
A study conducted in 2018 aimed to understand how Indigenous mothers in Hamilton, Ontario experienced using health care services for their infants. This community-engaged study was designed and supported through a partnership with the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC). Through interviews and a discussion group, self-identifying Indigenous mothers living in Hamilton, made evident that the social, political and historical contexts in which they live influence their access to health services in the city.
Participating mothers recalled negative healthcare encounters, in which they felt judged based on their race, their culture, and their past. They also recalled positive encounters, in which their providers made them feel seen, valued, and respected.
Although the Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC, 2015) has encouraged health care providers (HCPs) to become educated on the history of colonization in Canada, HCPs in this study were largely unaware of cultural resources in the city. This demonstrates the need for improved information sharing and collaboration with Indigenous organizations in the city.
Most HCPs felt unequipped to provide culturally safe care for Indigenous clients, which underscored the necessity of cultural safety training and personal reflection required of HCPs to avoid the unintended consequences of causing harm to patients as a result of their ignorance (Papps & Ramsden, 1996). Click here for a link to cultural supports available in Hamilton, the GTA at large, and across Canada that you can share with your patients.
The mothers in the study had several messages and suggestions to share with health care providers regarding how to better meet the needs of Indigenous families.
One mother in particular believed creating a video to share their stories with HCPs would be most effective. This two-part video series was created in response to the desire of the mothers to share their stories directly with HCPs, aiming to stimulate transformative change in attitudes, beliefs, and health care delivery.
The creation of the videos was guided by an Advisory Board consisting of seven members of the Indigenous community (Shawna, Christena, Katie, Heather, Rachel, Brenda, Vicky), and two non-Indigenous knowledge users (Andrea & Amy).
The Advisory Board collaboratively developed the priority messages for the videos and the overarching goals of the project. Every step of the project was accomplished the with Board’s participation and final approval, including: selecting the video production team; video formatting decisions; music choices; and reviewing the content of each video.
It is our hope that with an accurate understanding and appreciation of the history of Indigenous people in Canada, healthcare professionals are motivated to abolish negative stereotypes, and to promote safe and equitable access to health care for their Indigenous clients.
Such commitment to culturally-safe and trauma and violence informed care will help to improve the health outcomes of Indigenous patients and their families.
Two Row Wampum - Gä•sweñta’
In 1613, the European settlers arrived unannounced on the Haudenosaunee lands. At first communication was difficult between the two communities where neither spoke each other’s language. As the Haudenosaunee and settlers discovered more about each other, an agreement, the Two Row Wampum, was made to symbolize living together as equals under three principles, symbolized by the white lines –friendship, peace, and forever. The two purple rows run alongside each other, representing the Indigenous and settler ways of living, laws, religion, and people, traveling side by side down the river without interfering with one another. This project is our commitment to walking together peacefully through friendship with one another.