Decolonizing and Indigenizing pharmacy education in Canada

Abstract

Background: An emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion is growing within the field of education, including health professions education. In particular, no published literature exists regarding decolonizing and Indigenizing pharmacy education. Post-secondary pharmacy programs in Canada have a unique opportunity to learn from the decolonizing and Indigenizing practices observed in the educational programs of other health professions and post-secondary institutions and become international leaders in this area.

Methods: Literature searches on PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC (Ovid), iPortal, and PsycINFO were performed, revealing zero articles on decolonizing and/or Indigenizing pharmacy education. Search terms were expanded to include all health professions education programs with published literature on decolonizing and Indigenizing practices. All publications that included either or both terms (decolonizing and/or Indigenizing) and within any realm of health professions education (e.g., curriculum, assessment, evaluation, instructional design) were reviewed.

Results: Literature on decolonizing and Indigenizing health professions education in health disciplines, such as nursing and speech pathology, were reviewed. In conjunction with literature on decolonization and Indigenization of education, with a focus on post-secondary institutions, a number of strategies are proposed to decolonize and Indigenize pharmacy education.

Implications: Findings from this review will better inform post-secondary pharmacy education programs to engage in decolonization and Indigenization practices. Engaging in decolonization and Indigenization of pharmacy education is expected to not only improve the educational experience of Indigenous students in pharmacy programs, but also improve the care received by Indigenous patients from all graduates of pharmacy.

Keywords: Aboriginal; Alaska Native; American Indian; Decolonization; Decolonize; Decolonizing; Diversity; Equity; First Nations; Inclusion; Indigenization; Indigenize; Indigenizing; Indigenous; Inuit; Métis; Native American; Pharmacy education; Reconciliation.