Indigenous Space in the offices of the Department of Family Medicine

Since planning began in 2019 for the expansion to an additional floor of the offices of the Department of Family Medicine at 5858 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, it has been foreseen that an “Indigenous space” would be included. That space came to be defined on the floor plan (attached) as two rooms separated by an accordion wall, on the North side of the building. The construction, now underway, will see the expanded offices of Family Medicine completed in 2021.

To stimulate and foster engagement of the McGill and Indigenous communities in the creation and design of the Indigenous space, two “Kitchen Table” virtual discussion sessions were held on September 22, 2020, for Family Medicine faculty, staff and students, and November 12, 2020, for Indigenous community members inside and outside of McGill. We each presented background information on Indigenous perspectives, the concept of Indigenous space and Indigenous space at McGill. Both sessions had lively and engaged discussion among participants in breakout groups where participants were asked the following two questions:

1. How would you like to feel when you walk into Indigenous space at the Department of Family Medicine; What would it look like?
2. How can an Indigenous space at Family Medicine contribute to the promotion of cultural safety in medicine and for all McGill, what can happen there?

The following is a summary of the suggestions from those two sessions:

Kitchen Table Indigenous Space Session 1 suggestions:

• A calm and safe space
• A space to learn, discuss, get engaged and evolve on Indigenous topics – for example, health, history, cultural teachings
• Books, magazines, including children books, teaching elements
• Physically flexible with the ability to move seating and tables around
• Also it can be a virtual space (i.e., hosting webinars, show videos, etc.
• You know you are entering an Indigenous space; evidence of connection to the land; tactile décor: fur, rocks, log benches, plants, art, photos honouring elders
• Run relevant videos on continuous loop
• Potentially an outreach location for community

Kitchen Table Indigenous Space Session 2 suggestions:

• Have a food to snack on
• A homelike environment, comfortable, somewhere to rest, to lay down between classes
• Have relevant magazines available
• Have Indigenous suppliers and designers, locally sourced and environmentally responsible
• To feel like a home for Indigenous people
• Indigenous culture visually displayed
• A Multi-purpose room: space for exchanges, Indigenous art classes, but also quiet and peaceful
• A space with natural light, plants
• The Space should be inviting, mottos on the walls, portraits of Indigenous health professionals and health care workers
• Who is greeting you is important in making you feel welcome into the space
• Material culture – but not under glass
• Comfort in speaking Indigenous languages
• Wall mural, or McGill art collection

Common Themes

• Theme that the space be warm, welcoming and comfortable was common to both discussion sessions.
• Participants agreed that the space needs to be distinctly and recognizably Indigenous, and also represent the diversity of Indigenous peoples.
• Available information on Indigenous focused topics
• The décor and functionality of the space is important: visual and material culture on the walls (art, birchbark, sealskin) and furniture that is moveable, comfortable and modular.
• It should take advantage as much as possible of natural light, and have plants.
• If possible, have food available (this should be arrangeable for events);
• A multipurpose space that would allow for room for discussions/exchanges and also quiet and reflection (the sliding panel wall might permit this kind of division of uses).
• The suggested uses of the space imply a need for ongoing animation and the organization of events – which has implications for human resource utilization within Family Medicine.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Both Kitchen Table discussions demonstrated eagerness and enthusiasm for the concept of creating an Indigenous space in Family Medicine. An Indigenous space in Family Medicine is consistent with actions taking place in other faculties and facilities of McGill to create greater visible inclusion of Indigenous communities and values in the university community. No opposition, or even reluctance, was expressed by any participant. Clearly, the Department should proceed with the creation and refinement of the space.

There was consensus that the space needs to look and feel different from regular office spaces: visibly Indigenous in a way the demonstrates the diversity of Indigenous cultures, with a particular awareness that Inuit have different cultural frameworks from many First Nations peoples and Inuit, and emanating warmth and welcoming.

Many participants spoke about the desire for the space to be capable of being used for a variety of purposes; furnishings need to be moveable, modular and comfortable for the space to serve a variety of purposes.

As part of its look and feel, the Indigenous space must include Indigenous art and material culture, where objects can be touched.

There was consensus from participants that the space needs to be more than just a room: Family Medicine must determine how to make human resources available to ensure that the space is animated and hosting activities on a regular basis.