As the winds begin to change and summer gives way to fall, there is a Teachings Tuesday that has been on my heart for a long time. Out of respect for the sacredness of Coast Salish culture, this teaching will remain intentionally vague. However, I believe it is essential knowledge for providers offering services to First Nations clients. I reached out to Culturally Committed Mentor, George Harris Jr. of Stz'uminus First Nation, for guidance on how to share this message respectfully.
“As Stz'uminus Mustimuhw (people), our teachings have been passed down since time immemorial. When the weather turns cold and the frogs go silent, this is the time we begin important cultural work—practicing and passing these teachings on to the next generation. When our people are doing this work, they are fully immersed; there may even be times when there is no access to the outside world. It is an honour to be included in these transformative experiences, and nothing in life takes priority over time spent in culture—not school, not work, and not outside commitments.”
When I first began working in the community, I was initially puzzled by the sudden increase in no-shows when the weather turned cool. I would try to reach out, but there was complete silence. Were people avoiding me? Disrespecting my time? As I learned more about what was really happening, I realized it had nothing to do with me. In reality, people were engaged in critically important cultural practices.
Sometimes, when community members finish their time immersed in culture, they come to see me for advice. Often, if appointments have been missed, offices may be unwilling to rebook 'no-shows' or might enforce a no-show fee, which can be a barrier to care for those who are economically challenged. It's important to note that people are unlikely to share the cultural reasons for missing appointments. An unwillingness to rebook only creates more challenges for those seeking help. If you know of policies in your workplace that penalize folks for missing appointments, I invite you to contemplate what we have shared with you today, and consider offering a bit of latitude for those who may have fallen off the radar. When attempting to cutivate culturally safe spaces, it's important for folks to feel that it is okay to come back after missed appointments. Penalties and repercussions may be enough for folks to disengage with services - an outcome that can have negative impacts on health and wellbeing.
In learning,
Kim at Culturally Committed
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