Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility

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Our commitment is to safeguard the public from harm and discrimination in BC’s oral health sector

We do this by diligently overseeing safe, competent, ethical, and team-based oral health care. As part of this work, we are committed to incorporating Indigenous perspectives into our policies and decision-making processes. 

We recognize the importance of cultural safety when accessing oral health care and the inequities experienced by Indigenous patients in BC.  

“Upholding Indigenous rights and promoting reconciliation through the regulation and delivery of oral health care” is a strategic focus outlined in our 2024-27 Strategic Plan 

We commit to taking concrete steps to promote system change and dismantle racism. To support this work, we have built out a project to enhance cultural safety and humility in BC’s oral health sector and address systemic racism. 

The offices of BCCOHP are located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish and Lekwungen Peoples, represented today by the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Acknowledging the territories and the original stewards of these lands is a fundamental responsibility of our organization and in keeping with our commitment to support the provision of safe, effective, culturally sensitive oral health care for people in British Columbia. 

Cultural safety and humility project

At BCCOHP, we have undertaken work to address Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s oral health care sector.  

Some of this work includes: 

  • Taking a systemic and holistic approach to cultural safety and humility, including considerations given to distinctions-based and trauma-informed approaches 
  • Embedding cultural safety and humility and Indigenous specific anti-racism in all aspects of governance and operations  
  • Eliminating barriers to Indigenous people accessing BCCOHP  
  • Setting expectations for oral health professionals that support the delivery of culturally safe and humble oral health care (including practice standards and ongoing education/training) 
  • Recruiting and retaining Indigenous board, committee and staff members 
  • Ensuring that our regulatory policies and procedures are culturally safe 

Resources

As part of our work, we are working to provide updated resources and education for oral health professionals and the public in this area. We will continue to update this page as relevant resources and materials are developed.

  • Indigenous Dental Association Canada
    The “Tooth Tales” video series aims to reach Indigenous communities and dental clinics across Canada. It tells the story of a young Indigenous girl who shares her oral health journey, from her first loose tooth to becoming a dental specialist. Through her experiences, the series highlights significant themes such as access to oral health care, Indigenous-specific racism and many more.

On this page, you will find the Anti-Indigenous Racism in Dentistry webinar. This webinar discusses the racism, prejudice and systemic discrimination within an oral healthcare setting and may be upsetting to some viewers. Please proceed with caution.

The webinar was a collaboration between Indigenous Services Canada and Indigenous Dental Association of Canada (IDAC) in response to the tragic death of Ms. Joyce Echequan. The coroner investigating the death concluded that racism and prejudice Ms. Echequan experienced in hospital contributed to her death.