Midpoint Reflection: Learning, Listening, and Unlearning

The midpoint for this course is shaped by a lot of humility and an openness to learn and do better moving forward. This week I had the utmost privilege of attending the First Nations Health Managers Association (FNHMA) Conference where I experienced a very moving (and full) two days. Being surrounded by Indigenous peoples sharing their stories, community successes, and lived experiences was both inspiring and difficult to hear, knowing that my people (I identify as Caucasian) have played and continue to play a role in the racism that Indigenous people experience in healthcare and daily life.

What struck me most throughout the sessions was the theme that relationships rooted in trust are the foundation of everything. In one of the workshops, OKAKI Diabetes Virtual Care Clinic from Alberta shared that the core reason their care model is successful is because it was co-designed with people living in communities and it’s grounded in trust and cultural safety. They reminded us that “virtual care succeeds when it fits within existing community structures, not when it replaces them” and I think that it a really important lens to view all technology tools through. The most important thing is how we show up for people, listen to them, and create space for all voices before assuming anything, especially what we think they need.

There was many presentations/workshops surrounding data sovereignty, and the importance of First Nations reclaiming their right to own, use and interpret their own data. One speaker said “data is a way to tell our truths and honour our ancestors” which I thought was a beautiful way of framing evidence and measurement in health promotion and not a typical “scientific” way of looking at it but with a cultural lens. We were challenged to think about whose stories we are telling, and whose voices are missing from the data we are using to make decisions. It was identified at a round table, that any data gathered from admitted hospital visits doesn’t account for the high percentage of individuals who were turned away at triage, or were afraid of coming into the hospital due to the racism faced in the system.

I would say that this midpoint in the semester has reminded me that health promotion needs to be grounded with humility, trust, and reciprocity to build strong relationships. That’s where true change will come from.