Yellowknife Exhibit Aims to Transform Healthcare for Indigenous Communities

An innovative art exhibit in Yellowknife, developed by the Department of Health and Social Services, aims to highlight the necessary changes in healthcare to better serve Indigenous communities. Initiated in December 2023, the exhibit features contributions from artists and scholars across the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.). While currently not open to the public, officials indicate that accessibility may change based on feedback received during its initial phase.

The exhibit is part of a primary healthcare summit taking place in Yellowknife until March 14, 2024. This summit is designed to shape a new healthcare framework, set for release in the spring. According to a statement from the department, the discussions will help create a culturally safe and equitable healthcare environment.

“The summit will create a culturally safe, inclusive space for collaboration and learning,” the news release stated. Participants from various sectors will collaborate to develop a plan aimed at transforming primary and community healthcare in the N.W.T. This initiative seeks to enhance access to care and integrate cultural safety into healthcare services. The department emphasizes that this is a critical step toward fostering trust and building a health system that meets the needs of residents.

Exploring Cultural History and Health

The exhibit guides visitors through various rooms that delve into colonial history, systemic racism, and the future of Indigenous health. After touring the exhibit, participants are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and commit to personal actions for change. Sharla Greenland, a senior advisor for community and Indigenous engagement at the Department of Health and Social Services, participated in the guided tour alongside Elder Paul Andrew.

Greenland expressed her deep connection to the exhibit, noting that many elements reflect Gwich’in culture. “I really felt grounded walking into the first space where you could smell the spruce boughs,” she shared, adding that this scent evokes memories from her childhood. The first room of the exhibit features a collection of historical photographs, including one of Greenland’s grandmother, Ellen Bruce, from Old Crow, Yukon.

Having transitioned from a career in education to advocacy in mental health, Greenland believes the exhibit effectively addresses significant cultural teachings. “Our older generations have gone through the residential school system, and there are a lot of those thoughts that need to be broken down,” she explained. The exhibit aims to reclaim cultural identity as intended by their ancestors.

Confronting Systemic Issues

During a debrief session, Erika Doehring-Lafferty, a graphic recorder and artist of Gwichya Gwich’in, Dene, and German ancestry, discussed the challenges of altering entrenched systems. She noted that these systems often obscure their origins, which are steeped in racism. “What starts as one person doing something differently can slowly become normalized,” Doehring-Lafferty pointed out, illustrating how gradual changes can become accepted as the status quo.

Doehring-Lafferty highlighted the complexity of racism within healthcare systems, stating that many people associate the term only with overt acts of bigotry. “The system’s been sneakier than that, and so there’s a lot of different beliefs that we’ve inherited,” she added, emphasizing the need for a broader understanding of systemic issues.

Despite the short timeline for the exhibit’s development, Doehring-Lafferty mentioned the extensive contributions from various individuals involved in its planning. The exhibit reflects a concerted effort to address historical injustices and promote healing in Indigenous communities through culturally informed healthcare practices.

As the summit progresses, the conversations and insights gathered from the exhibit are expected to play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare in the Northwest Territories, emphasizing the importance of cultural safety and equity in service delivery.