Creating an online Indigenous cultural safety micro-credential for public health professionals in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Systemic racism and a lack of cultural safety measures in public health systems across Canada have led professionals in this field to form unconscious discriminatory practices towards Indigenous Peoples. In partnership with a public health unit (PHU) in Ontario, Canada, we developed and pilot-tested an intensive online Indigenous cultural safety micro-credential provided to public health professionals working with local First Nations communities and urban Indigenous Peoples. Collaborating with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous community members, the Indigenous cultural safety micro-credential highlights the strengths of the community, provides local Indigenous history including treaties, and ensures public health staff are aware of Indigenous protocols and cultural safety terminology. Indigenous community members were filmed and edited for the final micro-credential offering. An Indigenous online cultural safety micro-credential provided knowledge of Indigenous worldviews, socio-political history and contemporary issues while engaging the learner in self-reflection on the 3Ps: power, privilege, and positionality. The development of an online Indigenous cultural safety micro-credential for a small public health unit in Ontario, Canada provided basic knowledge for collaborating with Indigenous Peoples in a culturally respectful way to move towards increased awareness of including Indigenous Peoples in planning, developing and providing appropriate public health programs, services and policies.