PRINCE GEORGE -- In 2020, Adrian Dix condemned allegations that emergency room staff were playing a “game” to guess the blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients.
The incident highlighted deep-rooted racism in B.C.’s healthcare system. However, a new program aims to change that.
The Hearts-Based Education and Anti-Colonial Learning in Healthcare (H.E.A.L) Project is using the arts to combat healthcare biases.
“The H.E.A.L. Healthcare Project provides systemic change that is long overdue. I often think about the extractive ways that we talk about cultural sensitivity and cultural competency,” said Nicole Halbauer, H.E.A.L. Healthcare Project Manager.
The project will use poetry, storytelling, and visual arts to better understand patient experiences with a goal of humanizing the healthcare system by bringing together First Nation creators and activists based in Prince George.
They will work to create arts-based and anti-oppressive learning materials for healthcare staff including nurses and doctors.
“As an anti-colonial medical educator, I believe there needs to be more tools to combat oppressive practices. Every tool on this website asks for self-reflection and internal focus,” said Dr. Sarah de Leeuw, Canada Research Chair for Humanities and Health Inequities, and UNBC Professor.
The free lessons will be available on the H.E.A.L Healthcare website.
The program is being organized by the Health Arts Research Centre in partnership with the Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health.
The project is part of the federal government’s plan to create better and safer health systems for Indigenous people with $126.7 million being committed to the project over three years.
