Imagine a healthcare system that not only treats illnesses but also honors the cultural identities of those it serves. This is the bold vision behind a groundbreaking art exhibit in Yellowknife, Canada, that’s sparking conversations about the urgent need for change in healthcare. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has unveiled an interactive art installation at the Chateau Nova Hotel, dedicated to fostering cultural safety and dismantling racism within healthcare. But here’s where it gets controversial: the exhibit is currently closed to the public, though officials hint this could change based on feedback. Why start with such exclusivity? And this is the part most people miss—it’s designed to first challenge and educate healthcare leaders and staff on what it truly means to provide equitable, culturally sensitive care.
Developed in collaboration with artists and scholars from across the NWT since December, the exhibit is part of a larger primary healthcare summit held in Yellowknife until Thursday. This summit isn’t just another meeting—it’s a pivotal moment in shaping a new healthcare framework set to launch this spring. According to a recent press release, the summit aims to ‘create a culturally safe, inclusive space for collaboration and learning,’ where participants will refine a plan to transform primary and community healthcare in the Northwest Territories. But here’s the kicker: it’s specifically focused on working with Indigenous governments to improve access and cultural safety in services. Is this enough to rebuild trust and address systemic issues?
The exhibit itself is a journey through time and consciousness, guiding visitors through rooms that explore colonial history, systemic racism, and the future of Indigenous health. After the tour, participants are asked to reflect and make a personal commitment to change—a powerful call to action. Sharla Greenland, a senior advisor for community and Indigenous engagement, shared her experience with Cabin Radio, noting how the exhibit grounded her in her Gwich’in culture. ‘Walking into the first space, I could smell the spruce boughs—a memory from my childhood,’ she recalled. The first room even featured a photo of her grandmother, Ellen Bruce, from Old Crow, Yukon, making the experience deeply personal.
Greenland, who spent much of her career as a humanities teacher before advocating for mental health and well-being, believes the exhibit tackles critical teachings. ‘Our older generations have endured the residential school system, and many of those harmful beliefs still persist,’ she explained. ‘There’s a profound need to reclaim our culture as it was meant to be taught by our ancestors.’ But how do we dismantle systems built on centuries of racism?
During a debrief session, Erika Doehring-Lafferty, a graphic recorder and artist of Gwichya Gwich’in, Dene, and German heritage, pointed out that systems often forget their racist origins, making change incredibly difficult. ‘What starts as one person doing something differently can slowly become normalized, until it’s seen as ‘the way things have always been,’ she said. Trying to reform an overworked and under-resourced system, she added, ‘is going to take time.’ But here’s the real question: Are we willing to put in that time?
Doehring-Lafferty also highlighted that racism isn’t always overt—it’s often embedded in inherited beliefs and practices. ‘The system’s been sneakier than that,’ she noted. Despite the exhibit’s short development timeline, she emphasized the immense care and effort that went into its creation. So, what do you think? Can art truly catalyze systemic change in healthcare? And if not, what will? Let’s continue this conversation in the comments—your perspective matters.
