“I think accessibility is about compassion. Really looking at individuals as human beings. They're your brother, they're your sister, they're your auntie, they're your uncle. They're whoever they might be, they're somebody's person, right?... It's not just about access, but it's also about the elements that kind of come behind that." — Project participant, Accessibility Research Study
FNHA is honoured to share the release of “A Journey Towards Accessibility: Perspectives from First Nations in BC", a community-based research study led by the FNHA Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) team, in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation and DIALOG.
This study explores First Nations' perspectives on accessibility, what it means in everyday life, what barriers exist, and how accessibility can be improved, reflecting community values, priorities, and lived experiences. Accessibility is about more than physical spaces; it's about belonging, dignity and being able to live well in community. From 2021 to 2025, FNHA worked alongside First Nations to better understand their experiences and perspectives, and to identify ways systems can better support their rights, realities and ways of being.
Through interviews and focus groups with 89 participants across BC, including Knowledge Keepers, health care providers, and community members with lived or living experience, we heard powerful stories and insights that challenge current approaches to accessibility and call for culturally safe, community-driven solutions. The findings of this research offer a meaningful foundation to reshape accessibility standards, policies and services across sectors.
As we continue this journey, we look forward to promoting and deepening this work through future activities, events and resources that support our communities and partners in advancing accessibility. Together, we can build systems that are more inclusive, culturally safe, and responsive to the needs of First Nations peoples.
We invite you to read and share these findings as part of an ongoing conversation about accessibility and inclusion in First Nation communities.
Explore the Reports:
Want to learn more about the project or collaborate on this work? Reach out to us at RKE@fnha.ca.
