The RISE Against Racism campaign is a joint effort by the First Nations Health Managers Association, the First Peoples Wellness Circle, and the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation to combat the anti-Indigenous racism in the Canadian healthcare environment.
The campaign is directed toward hospitals, health-care providers, health authorities and medical schools in a bid to change problematic biases and perceptions by promoting mutual respect, understanding, and empathy toward Indigenous Peoples seeking health services. The campaign will utilize TV and radio interviews, and commercials, and public service messages throughout Turtle Island informing communities of available resources.
Accessing quality health services can be a stressful experience. Anti-Indigenous racism in Canada’s health systems, such as discriminatory language in interactions with patients and negative stereotyping that influences care decisions, can have a negative impact on health outcomes.
“RISE Against Racism is an important campaign that will help to address anti-Indigenous racism that has persisted in Canada’s health systems for far too long. I commend the First Nations Health Managers Association, along with the First Peoples Wellness Circle and the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, on their hard work and vision to launch this campaign, as it will help to foster better experiences and outcomes for Indigenous Peoples when they access health care,” said Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Indigenous Services in a press release.
Indigenous Services Canada supports this work with a $400,000 contribution from 2021 to 2022 and $480,000 from 2022 to 2023. This investment is part of $126.7 million allocated through Budget 2021 over three years to address anti-Indigenous racism in Canada’s health systems.
RISE Against Racism first began as the theme of the 2021 FNHMA Virtual Event and Celebration and has since become a national campaign with support growing coast to coast to coast.
Stay tuned for more information on how you can support the RISE Against Racism campaign.
Presentations from Rise Against Racism: FNHMA 2021 Virtual Event and Celebration are now available online. Visit 2021 FNHMA Virtual Event and Celebration (fnhmaconference.ca) to view the PowerPoint presentations.