Summary / Key takeaways
Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience environmental racism, with communities and land disproportionately impacted by industrial pollution and resource extraction. The ongoing effects of colonization have silenced Indigenous voices and excluded vital, land-based knowledge systems that support sustainability and health.
Integrating Indigenous perspectives is essential to restoring ecosystems and supporting the health of communities affected by climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. This approach emphasizes holistic, community-centered care and recognizes the deep connections between environmental stewardship and health outcomes. Key tools include patient-led, culturally competent medication management and shared decision-making, ensuring care aligns with individual values and lived experiences. Improving health access through optimized systems navigation helps reduce barriers and supports equitable care delivery. Additionally, strengthening disaster preparedness and response strategies is critical to maintaining continuity of care during climate-related disruptions, ultimately building more resilient and sustainable healthcare systems.
Collaboration between Western and cultural healing practices should be grounded in respect for cultural autonomy. For Western-trained providers, applying Indigenous healing practices may fall outside their scope, highlighting the need to move from an expert-driven approach toward one that emphasizes humility and collaboration.
Playbook: Weaving Indigenous perspectives into pharmacy practice to strengthen environmental leadership, stewardship & sustainability
Suggested Citation:
Lamb A. Weaving Indigenous Perspectives into Pharmacy Practice to Strengthen Environmental Leadership, Stewardship & Sustainability. Version 1.0 [Internet]. CASCADES; 2025 [cited DATE]. Available from: https://cascadescanada.ca/.
