Building Authentic Relationships with Indigenous Partners
Strengthening respectful, meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities is essential to advancing health, trust, and reconciliation to ultimately improve services and health outcomes of Indigenous people.
- Working closely with Indigenous communities and leaders.
- Listening, learning, and planning together.
- Strengthening relationships to help us provide better care.
Why Relationship-Building Matters
- Deepen your understanding of Indigenous perspectives
- Strengthen your approach to engagement
- Support respectful and effective collaboration
From Knowledge to Practice
Turning Our Commitment into Action
Engaging respectfully with Indigenous communities is an ongoing process. Explore these resources and reflect on how they apply to your work and relationships.
Resource | Author | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNIM Community Engagement Guide for Public Health Agencies | Indigenous Primary Health Care Council of Ontario | A resource for public health agencies to partner, collaborate, and engage Indigenous communities in a good way. Adaptable to other jurisdictions and services beyond Public Health. See Appendix B page 57 for how to build a FNIM Community Profile. See page 15 for Wise Practices. | 1 hour |
| The Ethical Space of Engagement | Willie Ermine, Indigenous Law Journal | Scholarly article that offers a draft framework for dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. | 20 min |
| Framework for Meaningfully Involving Indigenous Peoples in Health Policy Decision-Making | Alycia J. Fridkin et al. International Indigenous Policy Journal | Framework found on page 17 | 20 min |
| Métis Regions and SHA Areas | Saskatchewan Health Authority | Familiarize yourself with the Treaty Territories and the First Nations and Métis Communities in your area. Consider how you can work together to improve services and outcomes of Indigenous people. | 15 min |
| Treaty Territories and SHA Networks | Saskatchewan Health Authority | Familiarize yourself with the Treaty Territories and the First Nations and Métis Communities in your area. Consider how you can work together to improve services and outcomes of Indigenous people. | 15 min |
| About the Treaties | Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) | Learn about all the Treaties in SK, explore the Treaty timeline and find out about all OTC has to offer. | 15-30 min |
| What is Indigenous-led health care in Canada? | Canadian Medical Association | A reflection and learning tool for leaders to understand Indigenous health systems alongside Western systems | 15-30 min |
| Allyship with Indigenous Peoples | First Nations University of Canada | This course is designed to teach about allyship with Indigenous Peoples. | At your own pace *cost |
Resource | Author | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elder Information and Protocol | Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre | FAQs including "Who is an Elder?", various protocols, sweat lodge, cloth etc. | 10-15 min read
|
| Indigenous Patient, Family and Community Engagement Toolkit | Indigenous Primary Health Care Council of Ontario | See page 19-21 for helpful checklist for engagement, relevant to any team (not unique to Primary Health Care) | 45 min read |
| FNIM Community Engagement Guide for Public Health Agencies | Indigenous Primary Health Care Council of Ontario | See page 16 for 5 requisite approaches to FNIM engagement. See page 24 for a 5 step approach to engagement and reflection. See page 40 for effective communication tools. See page 53 for a tool to develop a relationship sustainability plan. | 1 hour read |
| Ally is a Verb - A guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples | Rose LeMay | A book that explores how you can be a better ally for Indigenous colleagues, community members and friends. | At your own pace |
| Indigenous Relations | Bob Joseph | Find a range of training and books to advance your work in Truth and Reconciliation. | At your own pace |
Resource | Author | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNIM Community Engagement Guide for Public Health Agencies | Indigenous Primary Health Care Council of Ontario | See page 46 for a self-assessment tool, including Organizational Readiness | At your pace with your team |