Challenging the Status Quo. Indigenous-Led Innovation in Healthcare

When we talk about fixing healthcare in Canada, we rarely talk about what it means to reclaim sovereignty in the process. But that’s exactly what Indigenous professionals like Chrystal Toop (Blackbird Medicines) and Amy Silva are doing.

Their tireless, daily work confronts systemic racism while laying the foundation for something better. Culturally grounded care. Trauma-informed support. Birth and death workers who help families grieve and give birth in ways that reflect their Nation’s teachings. Social enterprises that create community wealth and wellness.

For me, this story became personal. I was keen to learn more about the role of death workers from Chrystal (it's something our society doesn’t talk about often), but her words reframed the conversation around care and grief in a way that stuck with me. And Amy's ability to continue showing up for others, despite all she’s witnessed in the healthcare system, moved me deeply. These women are advocating for a better way, and through their passionate work, I learned they are the systems we need.

This article, published in Indigenous Business Report (Spring 2025), brings their stories forward. It’s a glimpse into what Indigenous-led healthcare could (and should) look like across the country.

Featured Quote

“Birth and death are two sides of the same coin. There's no avoiding either of them, but there's power in facing them with cultural understanding and community support.”
— Chrystal Toop

Read the Full Article
Indigenous Business Report – Spring 2025, pg. 28
View full issue online
Download the full article as a PDF

💡 OCInsight: Why We Say “Birth and Death Worker”

Many Indigenous caregivers are shifting away from the word doula in favour of worker.

While “doula” has Greek origins and is commonly recognized in Western healthcare, it doesn’t always reflect the full scope of Indigenous roles, nor the ancestral knowledge and responsibilities carried through community care. The word also translates in literal terms to "female slave."

By using “birth and death worker,” we’re reclaiming language and honouring the sacred work of supporting families through life’s most powerful transitions in ways that reflect our teachings, not just mainstream systems. It's not just about terminology, it's about sovereignty.

About Bryan Hansen

Bryan Hansen is a Métis educator, speaker, and writer. He’s the founder of OCI, where he helps organizations move beyond land acknowledgments into meaningful, Nation-based reconciliation. His work appears in She Is Wise, Forward Magazine, Indigenous Business Report, and through partnerships with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB).

As a proud Two-Spirit person, Bryan brings a lens shaped by lived experience, cultural knowledge, and deep relational accountability. His work blends humour, truth-telling, and clarity, inviting audiences to go beyond optics and into transformation.

Curious about working together or inviting Bryan to speak?
Let’s chat.