Indigenous Cultural Safety
An outcome where Indigenous people feel respected and safe in a service, free of racism and discrimination.
What it means
Cultural safety is defined by the person receiving a service, not the organization providing it. It addresses the power imbalances built into systems, and it asks whether Indigenous people actually experience care and services as safe.
It is closely tied to cultural humility: a lifelong practice of self-reflection about one's own biases and the power one holds.
Related terms, and how they differ
Cultural awareness
Knowing that differences exist.
Cultural humility
Ongoing self-reflection about bias and power.
Cultural safety
The outcome, as experienced by the Indigenous person.
Why it matters
People who do not feel safe delay care, leave services, or do not return. In British Columbia, the 2020 In Plain Sight report documented widespread Indigenous-specific racism in health care, and showed how it harms people.