TipsforWorkingEffectivelywithAboriginalPeoples© Division of Aboriginal People’s Health. Some material adapted from; Working Effectively with Aboriginal People by Robert PC Joseph, Indigenous Corporate Training, Port Coquitlam: 2006. 

1. Researchthecommunitybeforegoingintothecommunity.Whereisthetraditionalterritory?Whoaretheleaders?Socio‐economics?HealthissuesStrengths?

2. ItishelpfultohavesomeunderstandingofthehistoricaldeterminantsofhealthofAboriginalpeople.Colonialpracticessuchasthereservesystemandresidentialschoolshavehadasignificantmulti‐generationalimpactonAboriginalpeople.

3. Takeintoaccountcommunityactivities:fishing,berrypicking,deathincommunityandbepreparedtochangeyourschedule.

4. ChangingschedulespartII:expectittochangeandadapt–communityandfamilyneedsoftentakepriorityoverothercommitments.

5. SchedulesAgain:Considerhowyoumightadaptyourpracticetosuitcommunityneeds.Tightlyscheduledappointmentsareoftenunworkable.Isthereanotherwaytosetuppracticethatwouldsuit?

6. Thankthecommunityfortheinvitationintotheirtraditionalterritory.7. Giftgivingisonewaytohonourarelationship.8. Askpeoplewheretheyarefrom.Land,nationhoodandfamilialtiesaresignificant

identifiersforAboriginalpeopleandrelationshipbuilding.9. Usecautionwhenshakinghands.Verytraditionalpeopleoftenhaveasoftergrip.10. Trytoestablisharelationshipandmeetbeforeyouneedsomething.11. LearnaboutandstayuptodateonAboriginalissuesandperspectives.12. Considerdressingdownforworkinthecommunity.Inmanycases,Aboriginaloffices

havemorecasualdresspoliciesthancorporateCanada.13. Approachissueswithajointproblem‐solvingattitude.14. Honourallyouragreements,especiallyyouroralagreements.Traditionally,Aboriginal

communitiesareoralsocietiesandoralagreementsareevenmoreimportantthanwrittenagreements.

15. BeawarethatculturalsurvivalisafundamentaldriverofanAboriginalcommunity’sdecision‐makingprocess.

16. Expecttoparticipateinculturaleventsandaskforprotocolguidancefromthehost.17. AsktheFirstNationhowtheywanttobeconsulted.Whataretheirexpectations?18. Neverunderestimatethebenefitofhavingpizzawithsomeoneoverlunchor

participationinacommunityeventcanhaveonthedevelopmentofatrustingrelationship.

19. Don’tfeelthatyoumustanswerorfillthesilentperiodsduringdiscussions.Thesesilentperiodscanbelongerthanyouareaccustomedto,andmaybeneededforthoughtformulation.Trytoensurethatthespeakerhasfinishedbeforeyoucontributetotheconversation.