Moving beyond Ignorance and Epistemic Violence: Indigenous Health Nurses' Response to Systems Transformation

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health Research
• Health Equity Studies
• Sociology of Healthcare

Background:

• Persistent health inequities affect Indigenous populations in Canada despite advancements in health research.
• Colonialism and racism create profound disparities in health outcomes within Canada's universal healthcare system.
• Structural, systemic, and service delivery racism are deeply embedded in policies and practices, perpetuating harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the multifaceted nature of racism in healthcare affecting Indigenous Peoples.
• To advocate for the re-establishment of epistemic justice in Indigenous health.
• To propose reframing Indigenous knowledge systems as a foundational element in combating systemic racism.

Main Methods:

• Commentary and critical reflection on existing literature and policies.
• Analysis of structural, systemic, and service delivery racism.
• Examination of historical, political, institutional, and socioeconomic factors.

Main Results:

• Systemic racism is deeply entrenched across all levels of Canadian healthcare.
• Existing policies and practices perpetuate harm and historical injustices against Indigenous Peoples.
• Current approaches fail to adequately address the root causes of health inequities.

Conclusions:

• Immediate action is required to dismantle systemic racism in Indigenous health.
• Re-establishing epistemic justice is crucial for achieving health equity.
• Integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into nursing, policy, research, and education is essential to counteract racism.