Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update this House on the work that's being done by the health and social services system on cultural safety and anti-racism, one of my top three priorities as Minister.
First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, our government has a duty to confront the persistent health inequities faced by Indigenous residents. Our commitment to cultural safety and anti-racism tackles a difficult reality and that is that these inequities stem from a health and social services system founded on colonial values that have marginalized Indigenous peoples and excluded them from decision-making. Those foundations continue to influence our legislation, policies, funding formulas, and clinical standards, embedding racism in the very structures that shape and care we provide.
Undoing this legacy is challenging work. It requires us to rethink governance models, realign resources, and place Indigenous knowledge and legal orders on equal footing with public government approaches. We have begun a sustained effort to audit existing policies for colonial bias, co-develop new accountability mechanisms with Indigenous governments, and elevate Indigenous leadership at every level of the system. This is complex and, at times, uncomfortable work, but it is essential if we are to create a health system that serves all residents equitably and without colonial harm.
Part of this work includes offering training to all GNWT employees, Mr. Speaker, and I want to commend my colleagues for participating in the cultural safety and anti-racism training offered by the department. We will continue to offer this training, including to GNWT deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers in the coming year. I believe that any genuine organizational shift towards cultural safety must start with the commitment from leadership, and I am pleased to see the leaders of our public service fully engaging with this principle.
Like any effective work addressing anti-Indigenous racism, our work originates from within, guided by a dedicated team of Indigenous staff from across the Northwest Territories. They bring rich insights rooted in lived experience and Indigenous knowledge reinforced by extensive professional expertise. This team is responsible for developing an Indigenous made-in-the-North approach to cultural safety that challenges the status quo by identifying and addressing anti-Indigenous racism head-on.
Mr. Speaker, our goal is to support equitable access to culturally-safe relationship-based care that tangibly improves health outcomes for Indigenous people. We are doing this through the Office of Client Experience, primary care reform, and by improving access to care in small communities. Our team, with staff from across the health and social services system, is piloting a new equity tool to generate deep reflection, relationship-building, and accountability, to Indigenous communities.
The work to date has been informed by community voices and our progress has been driven by the principle of nothing about us without us. Instead of top-down directives, we are listening to the advice and guidance of the health and social services Indigenous advisory body. Our leadership in cultural safety and anti-racism is gaining wide recognition and respect with other departments and jurisdictions now seeking our expertise. We are proud of that. Real progress means embracing discomfort and rethinking long-held assumptions about expertise and decision-making power. Our team is guiding these candid discussions, fostering safe, productive learning spaces and, most importantly, building relationships rooted in trust with each other and with the communities we serve.
Mr. Speaker, racism is more than individual acts. It is embedded in the way we do business, from the beliefs and values that we have as an organization to the policies, practices, and unwritten rules we adopt. Racism is often unchecked, and systemic. If left unaddressed, racism flourishes and spreads. We will continue to bring these systemic barriers to light, placing Indigenous priorities at the centre, and delivering a meaningful change where it is needed the most. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
