Socially Accountable Canadian Occupational Therapy Fieldwork with Indigenous Peoples: Where Are We At?

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized world, there have been mounting calls for social accountability with respect to recognizing Indigenous and nonwhite human rights within nation states. Thus, this perspective paper reflects on the Canadian occupational therapy journey for social change with a specific focus on Indigenous fieldwork experiences. First, we describe the importance of cultural safety in occupational therapy practice and partnership development. Then we profile a unique and successful fieldwork experience as a guide for facilitating transformative learning during an Indigenous fieldwork placement. The results of a national portrait evaluation of Indigenous fieldwork across Canada and considerations for future actions are also presented. The time is right to create further opportunities to develop creative, constructive dialogue and strategic thinking to engage in and evolve occupational therapy fieldwork education in forward-looking partnerships with Indigenous stakeholders, services and communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultural safety
• fieldwork education
• Indigenous People
• occupational therapy
• partnership development
• social change

Acknowledgments

The authors want to acknowledge the reflections and contribution of the OT students: Tanya Webster and Kathleen Bergen. The authors also want to acknowledge the contribution of members of the national working group to this overall project which includes Jeff Boniface, Manon Boucher, Lisa Delaney, Grace King, Susanne Murphy and Mike Ravenek; as well as the members of the ACOTUP Committee on University Fieldwork Education for the time taken to answer the questionnaire, Hiba Zafran, Heather Lambert and Karen Falcicchio for their input on the manuscript and critical review.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marika Demers

Marika Demers was the associate Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in Occupational Therapy at McGill University. She is now a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Southern California.

Angie Phenix

Angie Phenix is an occupational therapist and a Métis woman who advocates for Indigenous health and education equity. She has a strong focus on transforming occupational therapy through deconstructing how colonization, and current colonial structures shape the way Indigenous and settler people experience different realities due to the power imbalances that are created and maintained by Canada. She also co-chairs the CAOT Occupational Therapy and Indigenous Health Network and the TRC Taskforce. She works in various Indigenous communities in northern Saskatchewan and Nunavut.

Cori Schmitz

Cori Schmitz is an Associate Teaching Professor and the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Department of Occupational Therapy of the University of Alberta.

Caroline Storr

Caroline Storr is an Associate Professor and the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in Occupational Therapy at McGill University. She is also the Director of Education Programs at Dialogue McGill.