Indigenous Health

Indigenous Health supports PHSA-wide work  to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility across the organization.
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Our work

PHSA Indigenous Health is guided by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper, Siem Te’ta-in, Shane Pointe.

PHSA Indigenous Health uses the metaphor of the canoe journey for the PHSA-wide work to name, understand and disrupt ongoing settler colonialism and white supremacy. This works includes examining and unsettling settler privilege and power imbalances. The aim is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination in PHSA. This obliges the organization to navigate through uncharted waters. It requires individual and collective commitments and actions.

Indigenous Health supports this journey from a distinctions-based approach. PHSA recognizes the distinct cultures, self-determination, Rights and Title of First Nations Peoples on the lands on which PHSA is situated and which we serve, as well as the individual and collective Rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Indigenous Health supports PHSA’s responsibility to respond to the legislative obligations and provincial commitments to Indigenous Peoples found in the following foundational documents:

  • The Transformative Change Accord
  • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
  • B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIPA)
  • B.C. Declaration Act Action Plan
  • Declaration of Commitment on Cultural Safety and Humility in Health Services
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports
  • Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 
  • In Plain Sight Full Report: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care 
  • Remembering Keegan: A BC First Nations Case Study Reflection

We collaborate with Indigenous Health programs across PHSA and Indigenous communities, organizations and partners throughout B.C. to advance health equity for Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous Health is organized into three streams of work: 

  • Cultural Safety & Transformation – including San’yas Anti-racism Cultural Safety Training; 
  • Systems Transformation – including the Indigenous Youth Wellness team; and 
  • Policy, Planning & Strategic Support

PHSA provides services on the traditional, ancestral and unceded and ceded territories of First Nations across British Columbia. Our main office is located within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We give thanks for the opportunity to live, work and support care here. 




Programs & services
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Indigenous Patient Navigator
​PHSA has two groups of Indigenous patient navigators (IPNs) that support culturally safe experiences for Indigenous peoples. One group of IPNs who works specifically to support those wishing to make a complaint through the Patient Care Quality Office and the other group of IPNs support specific PHSA programs.

Indigenous patient navigators (IPNs):

  • Act as a resource and support for Indigenous patients and health care providers to ensure the provision of care is client-centred and culturally safe
  • Address/interrupt Indigenous-specific racism
  • Promote cultural safety and humility training and education for staff and employees of PHSA

While both groups of navigators support culturally safe experiences for Indigenous peoples, they have different roles.

​​PHSA Indigenous patient navigator - patient experience

This role specifically addresses patient experiences of Indigenous-specific racism and unsafe care within the health care system. The IPN-patient experience can provide support for filing a complaint with the Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO) as well as provide other patient experience support. ​

Site-specific Indigenous patient navigators

Indigenous patient navigators (IPNs) collaborate with Indigenous peoples and their families to ensure access to high-quality care that is trauma-informed, culturally safe and free of racism and discrimination.

These IPNs provide direct service to patients and their families with PHSA programs.

Find an Indigenous patient navigators by site

There are 18 Indigenous patient navigators working at a number of locations across PHSA. For information about specific IPN program, please contact:

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San'yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training
​San’yas delivers Core and Advanced Indigenous Cultural Safety Anti-Racism training courses within a unique model of online facilitated learning, based on principles of decolonizing, anti-racist, and transformative education theories. San’yas has delivered training to over 200,000 people since its launch in 2009, and is a mandated training aligning with PHSA’s Commitment to Truth & Reconciliation.

While some of the course material can be challenging, we offer highly skilled real-time facilitators to support learning at different intervals of the curriculum. Our training uses a strengths-based approach to emphasize the ongoing vitality and perseverance of Indigenous Peoples in the face of colonialism. 

Includes an introduction to:

  • Examining identity and relationship to Indigenous Peoples, lands, and governance systems
  • A history of colonial narratives, policies, and identifying present day practices and impacts
  • Professional responsibilities and opportunities to support positive change

We offer both anti-racist online training courses and consultation services to support organizational and systems change. Our long-term goal is to correct and transform the societal systems that continue to harm Indigenous people.

For team and individual registrations please contact: ics@phsa.ca


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Cuytswi Quests
​Cuystwi quests are free online programs for Indigenous youth aimed at promoting wellness on their journey to adulthood. 

Cuystwi quests emphasize themes of identity, culture, understanding colonization, tools to deal with racism, healthy relationships, sexual and reproductive health, and an invitation to become a young warrior. 

To find out more or to request a link please email cuystwi@phsa.ca.

Ask Auntie Youth Wellness Program

​​Ask Auntie is a free online educational and interactive resource to engage Indigenous youth to learn about a holistic understanding of sexual and reproductive health, connection and relationships, culture and the history of colonization, and what it means to be a strong Indigenous young person. 

​To find out more or to request a link please email cuystwi@phsa.ca.
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