Indigenous Health & Wellness Strategy

Did you know that Interior Health (IH) has had an Indigenous Health & Wellness Strategy for more than 20 years? Every five years, the strategy is refreshed and revitalized through engagement with Indigenous partners throughout the Interior region and key IH leaders.

The IH Indigenous Health & Wellness Strategy (IHWS) 2022-2026 is a guiding document for our more than 30,000 IH staff and health-care providers to improve the cultural safety of our services and Indigenous health and wellness outcomes.

The IHWS 2022-2026 presents an ambitious vision for the future. Success stories highlighted in the strategy reflect a strong spirit of collaboration within IH and across partner organizations, and a shared commitment to taking action toward a culturally safe and equitable health care system.

Related Links:

• Read the IHWS 2022-2026
• Listen to Interior Voices Podcast S4E5 as CEO Susan Brown and former IH Board Chair Doug Cochrane discuss the strategy.
• Subscribe to Indigenous Partnerships News to receive news, updates, and be notified of future engagement opportunities.
• Register now to get involved. You only have to register once (with a username, password and email) to contribute your thoughts on EngageIH.

The IHWS 2022-2026 is organized into four focus areas, with its foundation rooted in recommendations from the In Plain Sight Report, and principles and findings within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Calls to Justice.

1. Commitment to cultural safety and humility: All recipients of care feel safe and supported; IH care sites and work environments have a representative workforce and are free of racism and discrimination.

2. Strengthening partnerships and shared decision making: Partnerships are strengthened with all Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations; shared decision making with Indigenous partners and Nation self-determination informs a culturally safe system of care.

3. Health equity through shared accountability: Indigenous health and wellness outcomes and health equity are improved by advancing key initiatives identified by, and in collaboration with, Indigenous partners.

4. Person, family, and community wellness: Indigenous health and wellness outcomes and health equity are improved by advancing key initiatives identified by, and in collaboration with, Indigenous partners.

We are dedicated to working alongside Indigenous partners to understand and address the recommendations within these pivotal documents and strengthen our commitment to transform our system.

Related Links:

• In Plain Sight Report (IPS)
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
• Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and DRIPA Action Plan
• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)