Indigenous Relations
Medika North is Indigenous Owned and Operated, our organization has dedicated a lifetime Health commitment to the Indigenous People of Canada. We recognize that Indigenous People have always had deep care for the land, for the People and our Communities. At Medika North we have a health commitment to actively participate in a meaningful way to the Truth and Reconciliation act in order to bring about positive changes, restore relationships and build trust with Indigenous People and Healthcare. Our Guiding Principles are listed below.
Our Journey Towards Reconciliation
Respect and Recognition of Indigenous Rights: Acknowledge and respect the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples, including land rights, self-determination, and cultural practices, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Listening and Learning: Engage in active listening to understand the histories, cultures, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples. This involves being open to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems and experiences.
Building Relationships: Foster genuine, respectful relationships based on trust, collaboration, and mutual understanding.
Cultural Safety and Competency: Promote cultural safety by recognizing and addressing power imbalances and ensuring that Indigenous perspectives and practices are integrated into systems and services.
Inclusion and Participation: Ensure that Indigenous peoples are meaningfully involved in decision-making processes that affect their communities. Their voices should be central in shaping policies and practices.
Acknowledging Historical Context: Recognize the impact of colonialism, residential schools, and systemic discrimination on Indigenous communities. Understanding this historical context is crucial for fostering empathy and informed action.
Commitment to Action: Move beyond words to tangible actions that demonstrate commitment to reconciliation. This includes assisting our partners in health with strategies created from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) reports and other relevant frameworks.
Healing and Restoration: Support healing initiatives that address the intergenerational trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples. This includes recognizing the importance of traditional healing practices and community-led wellness programs.
Sustainability and Stewardship: Respect Indigenous peoples’ traditional ecological knowledge and practices in land stewardship and conservation efforts, recognizing their role as caretakers of the land.
“When you choose Medika North, you are supporting a local First Nation (ACFN Member) owned and operated company in the Wood Buffalo Region. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation’s are Dene-speaking people who call themselves K’ai Taile Dene, meaning “people of the land of the willow”; a reference to the delta of the Peace and Athabasca Rivers. They have used and occupied the Traditional Lands in the Athabasca region for thousands of years, hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering.”
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN)
It’s important that we build relationships with key business leaders near our traditional Territories to work in synergy with one another as we once did many years ago. We’re proud of what we do and how we do it, and strongly believe it’s important to support local Indigenous businesses on an ongoing basis. We believe this is the key to building a mutually beneficial relationships founded on trust and respect.
