Despite federal and global commitments to addressing and resolving health inequities, Indigenous Peoples in what is presently known as Canada continue to face persistent and pervasive barriers to accessing culturally appropriate care and achieving equity. With its roots in colonialism, the very system intended to support and heal people is failing Indigenous populations; in many instances it is causing harm. The recent review of the health care system in B.C. “In Plain Sight: Systemic Racism in Indigenous Health Care” documented that 84% of Indigenous participants described personal experiences of racism and discrimination that discouraged them from seeking necessary care and that reduced access to care.
This talk will explore questions such as, how can we apply a decolonial lens to health research and, in doing so, challenge the systems and structures to transform? And, how can we ensure that systemic change is informed by Indigenous knowledge, voices and tradition? Leslie Bonshor, Brittany Bingham and Lindsay Farrell are all deeply invested in exploring these questions and have dedicated their careers to dismantling colonial approaches to health care and creating health equity for Indigenous Peoples. They will explore ways that collaborative approaches to research can bring about system-wide transformation and ensure Indigenous Peoples’ human right to equitable health care is upheld. This is a partnership event with Indigenous Research Support Initiative.