2026 National Indigenous Peoples Month

On a postpartum visit, Midwife Nicole Matheson checks on Karlee Fellner and her children.
Fellner gave birth to her daughter in a tipi alongside Matheson - honouring the importance of respecting and integrating cultural beliefs, values and practices into midwifery care. Photo by Leah Hennel

Join us through the month of June as we honour Indigenous peoples living in Alberta by taking part in virtual and in person events that celebrate Indigenous peoples and communities under the theme Embracing Cultural Safety. This year's events are being celebrated in collaboration with Primary Care Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta and Health Shared Services.

Cultural safety is defined by the experience of the patient. Going beyond cultural awareness or sensitivity, it is evident when we honour unique Indigenous histories, identities and world views. When we practice cultural safety, patients experience an environment free of racism and discrimination, where they feel safe receiving health care. 

Throughout the month, our sessions will focus on what cultural safety can look and feel like for patients. We will explore the concept of embracing cultural safety in our interactions with patients, in the care environments that we create, in our relationships with community partners and in our systems.


*Please note: This page is moderated, and any inappropriate or disrespectful content will be edited and/or removed.

On a postpartum visit, Midwife Nicole Matheson checks on Karlee Fellner and her children.
Fellner gave birth to her daughter in a tipi alongside Matheson - honouring the importance of respecting and integrating cultural beliefs, values and practices into midwifery care. Photo by Leah Hennel

Join us through the month of June as we honour Indigenous peoples living in Alberta by taking part in virtual and in person events that celebrate Indigenous peoples and communities under the theme Embracing Cultural Safety. This year's events are being celebrated in collaboration with Primary Care Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta and Health Shared Services.

Cultural safety is defined by the experience of the patient. Going beyond cultural awareness or sensitivity, it is evident when we honour unique Indigenous histories, identities and world views. When we practice cultural safety, patients experience an environment free of racism and discrimination, where they feel safe receiving health care. 

Throughout the month, our sessions will focus on what cultural safety can look and feel like for patients. We will explore the concept of embracing cultural safety in our interactions with patients, in the care environments that we create, in our relationships with community partners and in our systems.


*Please note: This page is moderated, and any inappropriate or disrespectful content will be edited and/or removed.

  • 2026 Virtual Events

    supporting image

    Here's what is happening virtually for National Indigenous Peoples Month.

    See the 2026 Virtual Events Calendar for session details.

    *We will post the presentations that we have permission to share for those who may not be able to attend in real time. Keep watching this page for updates.

    Week one – June 2 to June 5
    Tuesday June 2
    10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.- Opening Ceremonies
    In person ceremony will be held at the Blood Tribe Department of Health in Standoff, Alberta. Virtual participants can join via Zoom.
    Register here


    Week two – June 8 to June 12
    Monday

    Here's what is happening virtually for National Indigenous Peoples Month.

    See the 2026 Virtual Events Calendar for session details.

    *We will post the presentations that we have permission to share for those who may not be able to attend in real time. Keep watching this page for updates.

    Week one – June 2 to June 5
    Tuesday June 2
    10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.- Opening Ceremonies
    In person ceremony will be held at the Blood Tribe Department of Health in Standoff, Alberta. Virtual participants can join via Zoom.
    Register here


    Week two – June 8 to June 12
    Monday June 8
    12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Elder Teachings
    Register here

    Tuesday June 9
    12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Aligning Actions to Address Indigenous-specific Racism and Strengthen Cultural Safety in Healthcare
    Register here

    Wednesday June 10
    12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Relationships First: Prioritizing Indigenous Engagement for the Maternal & Newborn Health Project
    Register here

    Thursday June 11
    12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Creating Indigenous-Safe(r) Healthcare Spaces: Honouring Culture, Voice, and Relationships in the Journey Toward Healing
    Register here

    Friday June 12
    12:00 p.m. - Weekly Closing Prayer
    Register here

    Week three – June 15 to June 29

    Monday, June 15
    12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Elder Teachings
    Register here

    Wednesday June 17
    12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Learning together: Cultural Safety Moments and Cree Traditional Medicines
    Register here

    Friday June 19
    12:00 p.m. - Weekly Closing Prayer
    Register here

    Week four – June 22 to June 23

    Monday June 22
    12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Elder Teachings
    Register here

    Tuesday June 23
    12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Closing Ceremonies
    In person ceremony will be held at the Alberta Edmonton Hospital in Edmonton, and virtual participants can join via Zoom
    Register here

  • The story behind the image

    Story by Janine Poersch
    Karlee Fellner’s daughter, Pêtâstêkawisk, was born in a birthing pool, surrounded by smudging, drumming and songs. It was a deliberate return to land-based traditions, supported by registered midwife Nicole Matheson.

    “I knew that would be such a different beginning for the baby—to come out and hear the sounds of the land right away,” says Fellner, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. “The birds singing. The smells of the land. The smoke of the fire… what a better way to transition from your mom’s womb into this world.”

    For Fellner, giving birth in a mîkiwahp

    Story by Janine Poersch
    Karlee Fellner’s daughter, Pêtâstêkawisk, was born in a birthing pool, surrounded by smudging, drumming and songs. It was a deliberate return to land-based traditions, supported by registered midwife Nicole Matheson.

    “I knew that would be such a different beginning for the baby—to come out and hear the sounds of the land right away,” says Fellner, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. “The birds singing. The smells of the land. The smoke of the fire… what a better way to transition from your mom’s womb into this world.”

    For Fellner, giving birth in a mîkiwahp (tipi) on the land was an important part of her birthing plan. Matheson explains that everyone has their own feelings about what makes a safe birthing environment.

    “We make sure clients have the information they need to make informed choices about their birthplace, whether that’s at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital,” says Matheson, “and we support them in those choices.”

    She and another midwife provide care across Rocky Mountain House and surrounding areas, including O’Chiese and Big Horn First Nations communities.

    Matheson is one of Primary Care Alberta’s network of 180 midwives working autonomously across the province. This network includes an increasing number of Indigenous registered midwives. Many of whom develop close partnerships with Indigenous communities to provide culturally safe, people-centred care.

    Fellner’s birthing journey lasted more than two weeks, but she says it unfolded just as she had hoped. As a psychologist specializing in intergenerational and complex trauma, she believes that healthy communities begin at birth.

    “I want my children to have the best start they possibly can, and being born on the land is a part of that,” she explains. “Having the smudge, the drums and song helped so much with the pain and hard parts, along with Nicole’s reminders that the pain was temporary.”

    June is National Indigenous Peoples Month. This year’s theme - Embracing Cultural Safety - invites us to listen, learn and reflect on how healthcare providers can help Indigenous patients and families feel safe, respected and heard.

  • 2026 National Indigenous Peoples Month Design

    This year’s design, created by Métis artist Jacqueline Barr, was inspired by the 2026 theme: Embracing Cultural Safety. Jacqueline kindly shared with us the thoughts that went into her beautiful artwork this year:

    The Vision
    Right from the start, I envisioned a calm scene representing the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Alberta. When we feel comforted our bodies are at peace—and it is vital for people of all cultures and walks of life to feel safe and supported during their healthcare journey.

    Symbolic Elements
    To evoke this sense of calmness, I turned to the deep blues

    This year’s design, created by Métis artist Jacqueline Barr, was inspired by the 2026 theme: Embracing Cultural Safety. Jacqueline kindly shared with us the thoughts that went into her beautiful artwork this year:

    The Vision
    Right from the start, I envisioned a calm scene representing the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Alberta. When we feel comforted our bodies are at peace—and it is vital for people of all cultures and walks of life to feel safe and supported during their healthcare journey.

    Symbolic Elements
    To evoke this sense of calmness, I turned to the deep blues of a night sky, illuminated by stars and the aurora borealis. With guidance from Elder Colleen Jobin, Senior Advisor for North Indigenous Health and fellow committee member, we incorporated the aurora to honor our spiritual connection to our ancestors. Tobacco has been offered to acknowledge this spiritual connection.

    As Colleen shares:
    “Here is a good explanation of the aurora teachings for First Nations and one that I was taught as well.”

    Three other symbolic elements added to the design include:

    • the tipi/teepee (Watoopas or kiyawin (Cree), Niitoyis (Blackfoot), Tibi / Thípi (Stoney Nakoda), Kuwa (Tsuut’ina), and Lii Taant di Ohpayikewuk (Métis)) to represent First Nations
    • the Red River cart (An charet or aen waagoon (Michif)) to represent Métis
    • the inuksuk (Inuksuk (Inuktitut), Inukhuk (Inuinnaqtun), Iñuksuk (Iñupiaq), Inussuk (Greenlandic)) to represent Inuit

    Connection and Safety
    We also integrated the concept of family into the design, a suggestion from committee member Carolyn Paradis. This addition reinforces the visual sense of connection, belonging, and safety that lies at the heart of this year's theme.