Culturally safe health and social service access for urban Métis women: a scoping review

Abstract

Métis people, one of Canada’s three constitutionally recognized Indigenous groups, experience detrimental impacts on their health, identity, and access to culturally safe services as a result of colonial systems and policies. There is also a critical gap in research surrounding the health of urban Métis women. This scoping review aims to explore the experiences of Métis women seeking to access culturally safe health and social services in urban settings across Canada. To conduct this knowledge synthesis, the authors applied a decolonizing methodological approach to Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for conducting a scoping search. A thematical analysis of relevant literature identified three interwoven themes: (a) racism, discrimination, and marginalization; (b) jurisdictional barriers to health and social services; and (c) lack of culturally safe care. The article concludes with opportunities and recommendations for further development to support culturally safe health and social service access for urban Métis communities.