Journeying Toward Cultural Understanding: A Collaborative Experience in qathet
Last month, CPBC leaders traveled to the qathet Region (colonially known as Powell River) to share information about the work we are doing to address Indigenous-Specific Racism in healthcare and learn about the innovative approaches to Indigenous health and wellness that have been implemented by the Tla'amin Nation– the local treaty nation that is actively transforming healthcare delivery to better serve the community’s needs. Organized by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), this gathering brought together Registrar Suzanne Solven and Deputy Registrar Heather Biggar and partners from the FNHA, Ministry of Health and BC Pharmacy Association. We were also joined by Dr. Lalitha Raman-Wilms, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC. The goal was to exchange Indigenous learnings and pharmacy practices with members of the community.
During the visit, CPBC staff had the privilege of meeting with Marlane Paul, Health Director of the Tla'amin Nation, who provided valuable insights into their community's healthcare experiences.
Shirin Salehzadeh Namin, a fourth-year pharmacy student completing a leadership practicum at CPBC, joined us on this journey. We asked her to share her learning experience from this meaningful community engagement:
Upon arriving in the beautiful town of qathet, I was immediately struck by its breathtaking scenery. One of the first things I learned as I arrived was that ‘Powell River’ – which is what qathet is colonially known as – was originally named after Israel Wood Powell, who was involved in the establishment of residential schools. In recognition of this painful history, there has been a movement to rename the town “qathet,” which means “working together” in Ayajuthem, the traditional language of the Tla'amin Nation. This would come to describe my experience perfectly.
My experience began with some words from Marlane Paul, Tla’amin Nation’s Health Director. Marlane shared with us a traditional Tla’amin practice of burying umbilical cords as a way of reinforcing their connection to their lands. Learning about this tradition gave me a deeper appreciation for the real, tangible ways Indigenous peoples maintain their connection to their homelands across generations.
Marlane went on to present statistics revealing that many members of the Tla’amin Nation did not feel culturally safe when interacting with their pharmacy or pharmacist. While I was immediately saddened and frustrated by these statistics, I was also encouraged by how attentively the pharmacy leaders in the room listened to the concerns being expressed and committed themselves to learning about and improving the healthcare experiences of this and other First Nations communities.
The College’s Deputy Registrar, Heather Biggar also gave a presentation on the College’s efforts to enhance cultural safety within pharmacy practice.
One point in Deputy Registrar Biggar’s presentation really stood out for me, and that was her discussion of the term “patient.” She noted that referring to individuals as “patients” may imply dependency or need, which could be triggering for Indigenous Peoples. Recognizing this, the College is shifting toward using the term “client” to enable agency and support inclusivity and identity, encouraging individuals to actively participate in their healthcare decisions.
She also introduced another significant program that the College is working on to introduce a requirement for pharmacists to do continuing education every year related to Indigenous cultural safety and anti-racism. This is really important because a lot of pharmacists, especially ones who went to school in other countries, might not know as much about these issues. The goal is to make sure all pharmacy professionals in BC have the knowledge and skills to provide better care to Indigenous clients and communities.
Other leaders shared insights on how different pharmacies could create more welcoming and culturally safe environments. Some suggestions included printing out lists of PharmaCare-covered medications and incorporating Indigenous artwork into pharmacy spaces to build trust and genuine connections between pharmacy professionals and Indigenous clients.
One of the most remarkable things I witnessed was the courage and bravery displayed in that room. It takes immense strength to speak uncomfortable truths. It also takes great courage to listen—to truly hear those truths, acknowledge them, and commit to meaningful change. This, to me, is what leadership is all about. It was inspiring to witness a room full of pharmacy leaders coming together, embracing vulnerability, empathy, determination and a willingness to learn and change.
As I mentioned, qathet means “working together,” and that is exactly what we did. We shared difficult yet necessary conversations and embraced the discomfort that comes with learning.
The trip ended with a visit to the Tla’amin Health Centre. The area was breathtaking—the greenery and water created an overwhelming sense of peace. In that moment, it felt like all the noise had faded, replaced by a deep feeling of home. At the centre, we were welcomed with warmth and generosity as we toured their wide variety of in-house health care services. I was amazed by the incredible work being done to provide services to the community—on-site dental care, nursing, dietitians, daycare services, and even plans for a long-term care facility. It was inspiring to see that healing and growth are possible. If there’s one thing I took away from this experience, it’s that when we work together, we can restore what has been lost and build a brighter future.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the College of Pharmacists of BC for giving me this opportunity. A huge thank you to all the leaders who are preserving the past by speaking the truth and building the present to create a brighter future. It was truly an honor to be part of this journey.
qathet—working together. That is the way forward.