Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is taking important steps to support the cultural rights and healthcare empowerment of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis patients through the introduction of new welcoming signage across its hospitals and satellite sites. These signs invite Indigenous community members to self-identify and connect with staff about their cultural, spiritual, and traditional care needs—reflecting SHN’s ongoing commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and reducing health inequities through Indigenous-informed initiatives.
Placed at key points across our hospitals and at satellite sites, these signs help to foster culturally-safe people where patients and families feel seen, heard, and empowered to seek and receive traditional healing as part of their care. This work rebuilds the broken trust, enhances patient experience, and contributes to improved health outcomes for Indigenous communities.
The first signs began going up in fall 2023 to raise awareness about the new Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) role at SHN, which provides services for coordinating requests for spiritual ceremonies and sacred medicines, advocating on behalf of patients and families, and helping to navigate hospital systems and connect with community resources. These initial signs included six-foot-high banner stands and digital posters placed near entrances and elevators.
Then over the last year, higher-impact signs have been implemented in key care spaces—such as outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and inpatient units. These signs feature culturally meaningful imagery, including the Medicine Wheel to represent First Nations peoples, Inukshuk to represent Inuit, the Métis infinity symbol, and a Turtle to represent all Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island—each chosen with care that reflect what icons the communities use to identity themselves. This is to ensure they reflect and respect the diverse traditions of the First Peoples of this land. Custom decals that weave all these icons now appear on glass windows, registration desks, and emergency intake counters, and dedicated posters have been placed in patient rooms across SHN facilities.
Accompanying the rollout of these signs, the Indigenous Patient Navigator has been connecting with teams at SHN familiarizing staff with the available options for culturally-sensitive care and how to connect patients with IPN services. These efforts are closely aligned with SHN’s new Indigenous Health Strategy 2024-2027, which provides a community-informed roadmap for improving access, affirming Indigenous health rights, and weaving Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and healing into all aspects of care.
At SHN, we are committed to creating healthcare spaces where the identities, languages, and cultural practices of all patients are recognized and respected. By honouring and supporting the rights of Indigenous Peoples to access culturally-grounded care, we are working in partnership with communities toward more equitable, responsive, and respectful healthcare systems.
How to access the Indigenous Patient Navigator Please contact ipn@shn.ca or 647-669-4904, or visit www.shn.ca/indigenous-patient-navigator for more information.