Anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination in health care is a systemic and tragic public health issue. Indigenous Peoples in Canada face overt and covert racism and discrimination when accessing health care, which affects the quality of care they receive and ultimately their health seeking behaviours and health outcomes. This Indigenous-led study explores experiences of anti-Indigenous racism when accessing health care among Indigenous people residing in rural British Columbia. Specifically, the authors explore experiences to demonstrate how and where people receive inequitable care and describe the negative effects of racism on patient care.

This study draws on data from the Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia Rural Sites Visit Project (SV Project). The authors utilized Indigenous research methodologies to engage with Indigenous leaders, Indigenous community members, health administrators, municipality members, nurse practitioners, midwives, and physicians, as well as academics, first responders, and community health groups, where relevant. To avoid misinterpreting Indigenous people’s experiences, the study drew on complete quotes from the data collection to authentically preserve Indigenous voices and perspectives. The findings are presented and discussed across four topics: 1) identification of the forms of racism, 2) impacts of racism on health care, 3) disconnect between physician and community perceptions about Indigenous patients’ experiences, and 4) steps that can be taken towards culturally safe health care.

Citation

Aldred, T.; Schweizer, C.; Pritchard, E.; Christmas, J.; Liu, J.; Hubler, D. & Yeates, L. (2025). ‘We’re racially profiled as drunk Indians’ – experiences of Indigenous rural British Columbians accessing health care. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, 20 30(2), 71-78. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_15_24

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