In February 2022, the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility and Anti-racism practice standard came into effect to address the prevalence of inequity and Indigenous-specific racism in British Columbia (BC)’s health-care system.

Developed in collaboration between the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCN&M) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC), the practice standard sets clear expectations on how to provide culturally safe and anti-racist care for Indigenous patients.

To date; however, it is estimated that 40% of physicians are unaware that the standard exists.

UBC CPD is dedicated to bringing awareness to the standard by helping health professionals in rural communities build skills and co-create community-driven Indigenous cultural safety and education.

Core concepts and principles

The practice standard communicates six core concepts with principles to which BC physicians are held:  

  1. self-reflective practice (it starts with me)  
  2. building knowledge through education
  3. anti-racist practice (taking action)
  4. creating safe health-care experiences
  5. person-led care (relational care)
  6. strengths-based and trauma-informed practice (looking below the surface).

To increase the number of rural physicians who have practical knowledge on trauma-sensitive practice, UBC CPD offers education that meets provincial regulations and this practice standard. Take the learning activities in our Indigenous Patient Led (IPL) program.

Trauma-sensitive practice curriculum  

The Nawh Whu’nus’en: We See in Two Worlds – Trauma-Sensitive Practice Curriculum program weaves together Indigenous ways of knowing with western trauma theory and neuroscience.  

The program is delivered in three progressive levels:

Level 1: an online introductory workshop to:

  • address why trauma-sensitive practice is important
  • introduce foundational concepts in land-based healing and neuro decolonization
  • explore implications of polyvagal theory and co-regulation  

Level 2: an online in-depth series to dive deeper into:

  • trauma-sensitive care and somatic practice
  • practice of self-regulation
  • case studies and more

Level 3: in-person, land-based training is in development to provide:

  • nation-specific training developed in collaboration with and direction from Elders and community members.

Since development, UBC CPD has facilitated 492 participants through our Nawh whu’nus’en – We see in two worlds, IPL trauma and resilience-informed curriculum for rural and rural-serving providers.  

Registration is now open for the The Nawh Whu’nus’en: We See in Two Worlds – Trauma-Sensitive Practice Curriculum level one workshops on November 7, 2024 and January 29, 2024.