Centering Indigenous voices in healthcare research

A new study using an Indigenous patient-centered approach offers guidance for improving patient healthcare experiences

“Bringing awareness to Indigenous culture … I think it would help a lot. In order to understand a person, you need to understand where they are coming from and understand their culture.”

That message is at the heart of a study led by Dr. Romina Pace, a scientist in the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute). In this study published in CMAJ, 20 patients and 11 support persons from the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee in northern Quebec used Photovoice and interviews to document their experiences receiving care at the McGill University Health Centre and to share how hospital care could be improved.

Their accounts highlighted three connected themes: barriers to care, healing experiences and pathways for improvement. Alongside difficult experiences, participants also described how respectful, empathetic care, cultural connection and the presence of family and community can foster trust, comfort and healing.

Participants identified practical ways hospitals could improve care for Indigenous patients and families, including better access to interpreters, greater flexibility for family and community presence, and access to Elders, Traditional Healers, and culturally welcoming spaces. Their recommendations show that culturally safe care is not only about reducing harm, but also about creating conditions in which Indigenous patients feel understood, supported and connected to what helps them heal.

Co-developed with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, the study drew on photographs, captions and interviews contributed by Eeyou/Eenou patients and support persons. By centring participants’ own words, images and recommendations, the research offers community-informed guidance for hospitals seeking to improve care experiences for Indigenous patients and families.

About the study

“Healthcare through an Indigenous lens: insights from a university hospital photovoice study” by Sahar Fazeli, Ka Man Ho, Claudia Mitchell and Romina Pace was published June 1, 2026 in CMAJ.