INSIGHTS ON CULTURAL SAFETY IN PRACTICE

Over the holiday break, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on my journey — my childhood, my career, my family, and Culturally Committed. When I think back to my childhood, I realize how fortunate I was to belong to a family that prioritized sharing in fun activities together. My memories of growing up are peppered with family quad rides, wiener roasts in the bushes alongside the Assiniboine River, getting pulled behind the skidoo on an inflated tractor tube, entire summers spent i

As the year draws to a close, and as we arrive at our final Teachings Tuesday of the year, I find myself moving more slowly. Intentionally. With care. Slowing down feels like a value worth upholding right now. Not as an idea, but as a practice. One that asks us to listen more closely, to resist urgency, and to honour what this season is offering. For the first time in my life, I have been paying close attention to my body in a way that feels a bit unfamiliar. When it asks me

When I first started working in First Nations communities in 2014, I did not understand the power dynamics I was stepping into. I did not understand the legacy attached to people like me, a non-Indigenous healthcare provider coming into community to provide health services. I did not realize how the language I used, the “supporting patients” language, actually created a kind of power-over relationship. I thought I was helping. I did not see how easily “helping” can turn into

As a settler, I am learning how important it is to make space for Indigenous voices and to recognize the depth of knowledge that comes from culture and community. Katy Carson, a proud Métis woman and our Director of Organizational Relationships and Special Projects, and I often find ourselves having the same conversation with the Indigenous friends and colleagues we walk beside. We spend a lot of time encouraging them to pursue roles and opportunities they are more than ready

After last week’s Teachings Tuesday , I received a response from a reader who saw the situation with Quw’utsun through a very different lens. And I want to be clear: these conversations matter. They are how racism is dismantled: not through shame or debate, but by staying in relationship long enough to listen, learn, and widen the view together. But I have been reflecting on the nuances of the exchange. There is a big difference between saying, “The problem here is not racis

If Monty Python taught us anything, it’s that sometimes a shift in form is exactly what’s needed. “And now for something completely different…” feels like the right way to open this week’s Teachings Tuesday, because today’s offering looks and feels a little different — and intentionally so. This week, our teaching comes as an audio story shared by our friend to Culturally Committed, and Katy’s partner, Alex. We’ve never presented a TT in audio format before, but part of our

Last month, our community call took an unexpected turn that felt deeply guided. Although grief and loss were not part of our original plan, that is where the circle led us. Together, we found ourselves holding space for one another’s stories, memories, and emotions. In this month’s Teachings Tuesday, we offer reflections from that conversation on the connection between grief and love, and the ways we carry both as part of our healing journey. During our November community cal

One of the teachings I’ve been gifted while visiting in community is the importance of being a good guest. To walk softly. To listen before speaking. To pay attention to what’s happening around me. And to do my best to ensure that my presence does not create inconvenience for someone else.  For the past ten years, I’ve been travelling to Penelakut Island to provide oral health care. Penelakut, a semi-remote community in the Gulf Islands, is accessible only by ferry. When I be

Last week, our Mentors and I gathered to host a community call with one of our partner organizations. As I welcomed everyone into the space, I felt a familiar flutter of nerves (yes, even after all these years, it still happens). I took a deep breath, greeted the group, and shared our usual etiquette guidelines, the ones that help us begin in a good way. Feeling settled, I moved us into introductions and invited Mentor Jenn Smith to start us off. She turned on her mic and sai

As the winds begin to change and summer gives way to fall, there’s a teaching that’s been sitting quietly on my heart for a long time. Out of respect for the sacredness of Coast Salish culture, I’ll keep the details intentionally vague—but I still feel it’s something that needs to be shared, especially for those offering care and services to First Nations people. Before writing this, I reached out to Culturally Committed Mentor, George Harris Jr. of Stz’uminus First Nation ,

When I was growing up on a farm in southeast Manitoba, there was a common saying I often heard: “If you want control of what happens on the land next door, you’d better own it.” That phrase has been echoing in my mind lately, especially after the recent court victory involving the Cowichan Tribes — represented by Stz’uminus, Penelakut, Lyackson, and Cowichan. On August 7, 2025, the British Columbia Supreme Court released its decision in Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (Attorney Gen

This week’s Teachings Tuesday comes to us from one of our cherished community members, Liz. Her words carry us to the Cowichan Estuary on...

Each week when I sit down with George’s Teachings Tuesday, I find myself pausing to take in the depth of what he shares. His words always...

Last week, I was honoured to spend the day in circle with my friends George and Jenn, facilitating a gathering for the BC College of Oral...

George shared something with me a while back that I continue reflecting on. He talked about how canoe paddlers train by hanging buckets...

This week’s teaching comes from Jared Qwustenuxun Williams of Quw’utsun, who has generously shared an important message about the ongoing...

Last week, our Mentors gathered for a very special evening—a chartered boat tour with Live Lake Love , held on the ancestral lands of the...

A few weeks ago, someone in one of our gatherings expressed that they found introductions to be uncomfortable — even a bit intrusive....

Just two weeks ago, I found myself in a conversation about the Jay Treaty and the way it is so often misunderstood—or not known at all....

Last week, someone in our community asked about the term “harm alarm” — and what to do when you sense culturally harmful words or...