Indigenous health engagement
We listened. Here is what we heard through conversations across Alberta.
Between May 2025 and April 2026, Covenant engaged with Indigenous Peoples province-wide. What was shared by First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities is helping shape Covenant’s Indigenous health plan and how we move forward together.
Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
Learn how Covenant is walking alongside Indigenous communities to build trust, improve care and honour cultural knowledge.
What we heard report
This report begins with community voices and honours them in the work ahead.
The lived experiences, priorities and ideas shared by First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and partners from communities across Alberta are reflected here. This is the first step in showing how their voices are shaping what comes next.
A summary of what we heard
Across 14 communities, several consistent themes emerged. These form the foundation of Covenant's upcoming Indigenous Health Plan.
Holistic views of health
Participants described health as holistic and interconnected, rooted in mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, and connected to family, culture, community and land.
Barriers to care
Participants described barriers including racism, stereotyping, lack of resources, system complexity and the ongoing impacts of colonization, which continue to affect access to care and trust in the healthcare system.
Indigenous representation
Participants emphasized the importance of Indigenous staff, leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and cultural supports being involved in how care is designed, delivered and governed.
Collaboration
Participants expressed a strong desire to build relationships, strengthen partnerships and move forward together to improve care and health outcomes.
Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
We honour the wisdom, traditions and healing practices of Indigenous peoples and seek to grow in our ability to journey together in relationships that foster vibrant communities of health and healing. We acknowledge the profound and enduring harms caused by colonial policies and practices, including the role of governments and churches in residential schools and the ongoing inequities in health care. We recognize that hospitals and health systems have not always been safe or welcoming places for Indigenous peoples.
Remorseful for wrongs of the past and present, and guided by our core commitments to justice, dignity and meaningful participation in care, we are committed to advancing Reconciliation in practical ways that are guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for health.
On this journey we will strive to:
Listen and learn from Indigenous Peoples, Elders, leaders and community members.
Work together to build respectful relationships that foster health and healing.
Include Indigenous voices in the planning and delivery of compassionate care.
Equip our staff with education and training to improve care for Indigenous peoples.
Engage in ways that are safe, respectful and informed by Indigenous cultural awareness and knowledge.
Living out this commitment will take time, and we know we will not always get it right. We will continually seek to learn, to honour the traditions and knowledge of Indigenous peoples, and to work collaboratively to address health inequities.
What happens next
The work does not stop here. What was shared during the engagement sessions is helping shape Covenant’s Indigenous Health Plan and informing conversations across Covenant leadership and care teams.
Our intention is to continue this work in relationship with Indigenous communities by listening, acting and reporting back in ways that build trust over time.
We are grateful for the honesty, wisdom and generosity shared throughout this process and recognize that meaningful change requires ongoing partnership, accountability and learning.
If you have thoughts on this report or our path forward, we welcome your feedback at indigenoushealth@covenanthealth.ca.