This guide to creating culturally safe engagements was created from the voices of Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) patient partners. The Patient Voices Network hosted an event centred around “What Matters to You in Indigenous Culturally Safe Patient Engagements?”, where they heard from Indigenous patient partners about what makes them feel comfortable and safe during engagements. For an at-a-glance version, see the pamphlet.

From these meaningful discussions, eight key principles emerged along with a series of recommended actions to help and encourage health care partners to provide culturally safe patient engagement opportunities. The eight principles of culturally safe engagement are: awareness and understanding, learning and education, build relationships, prepare, kindness and empathy, respect, value and listen.