Chapter 10 of the NCCIH’s Indigenous cultural safety: An environmental scan of cultural safety initiatives in Canada identifies cultural safety initiatives and resources implemented and developed by the Government of Nova Scotia and its various departments and agencies, as well as by the provincial health authority, regional health authorities, professional organizations, Indigenous organizations, and other organizations with a health mandate operating in the province. A number of these initiatives are guided by the strong and collaborative working relationships that various First Nations have built amongst themselves, enabling them to utilize tools like the federal Aboriginal Health Transition Fund to exercise self-determination over their health services and leverage their collective resources to provide access to a more comprehensive range of health services. Other cultural safety initiatives are grounded in partnerships between First Nations and the federal and provincial governments, resulting in mechanisms for joint decision-making on matters that affect First Nations communities.

Noteworthy examples of cultural safety initiatives in Nova Scotia include establishing the Mi’kmaq-Nova Scotia-Canada Tripartite Forum; taking actions to build a diverse, more inclusive, and culturally competent workforce; and initiating efforts to transform mental health and addiction services. Actions to advance cultural safety are limited among health professional organizations and other organizations with a health mandate operating in the province.

Note to reader: While all resources in the Indigenous cultural safety chapters were freely accessible on the Internet when they were included, the NCCIH assumes no responsibility for any links that are broken or changes in free access. The resources listed are, in large part, resources that are external to the NCCIH. They are intended for general information only on an "as is" and “as available” basis. Please refer to the NCCIH’s disclaimer on its Privacy policy.

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