When we look at cultural safety within the extensive work we do across Canada and with many indigenous communities, there are actually very specific elements that really help us to create greater cultural safety. One is how we be an ally in the best way we possibly can. That is standing with the community as opposed to either standing over a community or making decisions for a community.
One aspect of cultural safety that we realize is critical is understanding the reality within the community, so understanding historical harm and the current challenges that the community is actually facing. Over this past year as there have been children discovered around residential schools, one of the things we have found is that at times of natural disasters where there has been an environmental crisis in communities, where communities are also impacted by those social crises that are really coming forward, stress moves to distress quicker. That just happens.
By us understanding what is actually happening with a community, the barriers with a community and when a community is facing greater challenges around trauma and different aspects of their history or imposed systems—things that really impose on culture—then it becomes more socially challenging for a community so there needs to be additional support. There needs to be additional mental health support, psychosocial support, and that needs to be in a culturally attuned and culturally aware way. Too often, when it comes to programs or response, there is a space where the community members have to become the educators to those who are helping with a community challenge. Where community members are needing to educate when they're in a space of crisis, it just adds to the stress with community members.
All of those things contribute in much greater ways to working in a culturally safe way.