Community as Teacher Cultural Camps

Health professional students learn cultural safety from an Aboriginal community

Our partnership with Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society (Xyolhemeylh) since 2006 has resulted in a unique educational model. UBC students learn alongside Aboriginal youth at summer camps led by Elders, youth workers and cultural leaders. Students learn cultural safety and about developing culturally appropriate relationships by spending 3-4 days in the community. Cultural immersion for health professional students allows the community to become their teacher.

The program arose from foundational work on doctor patient communication in the Aboriginal community. When we asked Aboriginal people for a solution to the problems identified they said health professionals should “come and spend time with us”.

Development of the program was supported by the BC Ministry of Health via grants from the UBC Faculty of Medicine Special Populations Fund and the Faculty of Medicine Undergraduate Medical Education program.

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Aboriginal Community as Teacher

UBC students learn alongside Aboriginal youth at summer camps led by Elders, youth workers  and cultural leaders.The program won a national Community Service-Learning award from the  J.W. McConnell Foundation in 2012.