Today, June 21, we honour the cultures, contributions, and leadership of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across what is now called Canada.

At RCCbc, we are deeply grateful to the Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Cultural Safety and Humility Consultants who continue to guide and challenge us. Their leadership is helping to reshape healthcare in rural and remote communities through truth, relationship, and accountability.

One example of this ongoing work is how the Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) program is strengthened through the contributions of Indigenous Cultural Safety Consultant Harley Eagle. Harley works alongside RTVS providers to support their learning in cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and understanding of colonial impacts.

More than half of the calls for help to the RTVS peer pathways come from First Nations communities. The pathways also support Indigenous providers working in rural and remote settings. Meaningful care for these communities and providers is fundamentally tied to cultural safety, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice.

That is why RTVS works closely with Harley and other consultants to ensure that providers are supported in their learning journeys. A new RTVS video highlights this commitment. It is not a finished story, but one glimpse into a broader effort to walk alongside communities and do better.

As Harley says:

“Hopefully by knowing those stories and doing the work, you build a way of interacting with people where the environment is free of racism and discrimination, where the patients and the communities that you’re working with feel listened to. They feel honoured. They feel that their stories are important. And that they feel like they’re part of their healthcare plan as well and not just being told they have to do something a certain way.”