Indigenous Self-Identification Initiative

A confidential and voluntary self-identification process for patients and residents who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

Island Health is committed to improving access to care, and providing culturally safe services to all Indigenous Peoples living on Vancouver Island and other regions we serve.

One way we are working to improve services is by asking every person who registers at Island Health if they wish to self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit. If you have Indigenous ancestry, you may self-identify. This is based on how you define your identity. You do not need to provide proof.

As of October 23, 2024, all patients who come to the following acute care centres will be asked if they wish to identify as Indigenous during the registration process: Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Port McNeill Hospital, Port Hardy Hospital, Cormorant Island Health Centre, Campbell River Hospital, Comox Valley Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Indigenous Self-Identification Initiative – Brochure
Indigenous Self-Identification Initiative – Poster

What is Indigenous Self-Identification?

Island Health is committed to improving access to care, and providing culturally safe services to all Indigenous Peoples living on Vancouver Island and other regions we serve.

What are the benefits of self-identifying?

Voluntarily self identifying as Indigenous helps us proactively offer you access to Indigenous specific services, such as an Indigenous Liaison Nurse (ILN) or Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) if available at your care site. If you are Indigenous, you can request these services at anytime whether or not you choose to voluntarily self-identify at registration.

This information will also help Island Health better understand how to improve delivery, access and responsiveness of programs and services to support the overall health status of Indigenous peoples on Vancouver Island.

Over time we will work with Indigenous communities to create an Indigenous data governance framework that will inform how the information at a general population level may be used to support program enhancement.

Who can self-identify?

Anyone with Indigenous ancestry may self-identify. No documentation is necessary.

What is the process to self-identify?

The Registration Clerk will first ask if you identify as an Indigenous person.
If your answer is “yes”, the clerk will then ask if you identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous from outside of Canada.
If your answer is “no”, the clerk will record your answer and move to the next step of the registration process.
If you do not know or are unsure, you can ask to be reminded the next time you register, otherwise you will not be asked again.
You can always ask registration staff to update your self-identification at any time.

I don’t feel comfortable answering this question. Can I choose to not answer?

Yes. Choosing to self-identify is completely voluntary and it is your right to not answer the question if you do not want to. You can simply state you do not wish to answer the question.

Will I be treated differently if I self-identify as Indigenous?

Self-Identifying as Indigenous will not affect the level of care you receive. The purpose of self-identifying is to ensure all Indigenous people have the opportunity to connect with the Indigenous Health Services available at the care site (please note services may vary by site).

I am not Indigenous, why am I being asked this question?

Every patient who registers at an Island Health site will be asked if they wish to self-identify as Indigenous. No assumptions are made about a person’s identity. If you do not identify as an Indigenous person, the Registration Clerk will record that, and you will not be asked this question again.

Is this information confidential?

Yes. It will be treated like all personal information collected by Island Health.
Any access to, use of, and disclosure of your personal information must comply with the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

If you have questions about privacy, please contact Indigenous Health at IndigenousHealth@islandhealth.ca.

Where will my information be saved?

All information will be saved in your secure Electronic Health Record.

How is my information used?

Connection to Indigenous services (as available):

The Indigenous self-identifier held in your patient record will help us proactively offer you access to Indigenous specific services, such as an Indigenous Liaison Nurse (ILN) or Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) as available at your care site.

Health System Improvement:

In the future, there will be opportunities to use the Indigenous self-identifier to understand overall trends in the health system, so Island Health can better focus programs and services to be more responsive to the needs of Indigenous peoples on Vancouver Island.
Island Health is committed to working with Indigenous communities and partners to establish appropriate decision making for use of the Indigenous self-identification through the collaborative development and use of Indigenous data governance frameworks and First Nations OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) principles.
We will not use Indigenous self-identification information, other than to proactively offer access to on-site Indigenous services (as available), until an Indigenous decision-making framework is established.

Can I withdraw or update my self-identification?

Yes, you can ask registration staff to remove or update your self-identification information at any time.

How has Island Health collaborated with Indigenous communities to design and implement the Indigenous self-identifier (ISI)?

We understand sharing Indigenous self-identification information is a sensitive and confidential process that needs to be guided by Indigenous patients and Indigenous health leaders to ensure it is being carried out in a culturally safe and supportive way.

The ISI program is supported under the First Nations Partnership Accord and was endorsed by the Vancouver Island Partnership Accord Executive Committee.

Métis Nation BC (MNBC) and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) partners are in support of the ISI program. MNBC and FNHA were consulted on content, planning, and implementation of the ISI program.

Island Health established a working group of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit members from community and urban settings to provide input and feedback on training and communications materials. This working group provided valuable input into culturally appropriate internal and external messaging about the program.

Feedback? Let us know.

Island Health and the Indigenous Health team are committed to ongoing communications with Indigenous communities and the public about implementation of this initiative. If you have any feedback about this initiative or how it impacts patients, please email IndigenousHealth@islandhealth.ca

In partnership with: