Rendering courtesy of Cicada Design Inc. & 95degree inc.
Access to medical services is a fundamental right through Canada?s publicly funded healthcare system. However, Indigenous peoples continue to experience racism, discrimination, and stereotypes within the health  system , as identified in the findings of the In Plain Sight Report and locally relayed feedback. There is deep rooted mistrust that stems back to the days of horrific abuse at Indian Hospitals and Residential Schools. Some Indigenous people, including elders, routinely resist  seeking health care because of this lived and intergenerational trauma.
Most buildings in Canada have in no way represented the peoples or culture of the traditional territory on which they are built, but have more often resembled the vernacular of traditional colonial nations. We know that some architectural language can trigger memories. As Canada continues to learn, confront and educate about this truth and history, architects need to change how we design for and provide care for our communities. Early and frequent engagement with Indigenous communities must be at the core of this.
As architects we cannot go into new projects thinking we are the experts in inclusive and representational design the same way we may be experts in typology or building type. In healthcare projects we never start designing without input from the users of the facility to understand who they are and the nature of their strengths, needs and challenges. ...