Philomena Hughes has been a photographer in Prince George for 30 years.

Through her long career, she never once thought she would have the opportunity to freelance for a world-renowned medical journal.

Photo credit: Philomena Hughes

In January 2018, Hughes was approached by The Lancet to create a photo essay portraying the stories of Indigenous healthcare providers.

The project focuses on the successes, challenges and shortcomings in the Canadian health care system regarding Indigenous health.

Hughes worked alongside Nadine Caron, a Prince George based surgeon and chair of the B.C. Medical Association’s Committee on Aboriginal Health, to create the images.

Photo credit: The LancetPreston B Guno, Provincial Director, Indigenous Cancer Care, B.C. Cancer Agency, sharing sacred items of traditional medicine

In order to create the project, 10 individuals who are part of the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities in B.C. were contacted and asked to be photographed.

Hughes then set up a short questionnaire in order to receive some background information.

She then took that information and determined where she wanted to meet the individuals for the photograph.

All photos were taken around Prince George and out of the 10 individuals, seven of them are native to our community.

Photo credit: The LancetMegan A Hunt, Director, Primary Care, First Nations Health Authority, B.C.

“I came and sat with the camera and listened. After an hour or two I would pick up the camera and photograph,” says Hughes.

“They wanted this chance to be heard. They wanted to be respected and seen. They wanted to be viewed as someone who has value and has a right to have a say in things.”

Photo credit: The LancetSharon A Springer, Cedar Research Nurse at Cedar Project

Hughes was put in contact with elders, chiefs, researchers, students and healthcare professionals.

A short monologue about the individual's personal experiences regarding healthcare was then attached to the corresponding photo. 

“It was very powerful to be sitting among people from all walks of life,” said Hughes.

Photo credit: The LancetWeekly team and clinical meeting at Central Interior Native Health Society, Prince George, B.C.

This process gave Hughes a much deeper understanding of the problems Indigenous people face in the healthcare system.

“I understood on a much deeper level the imbalances of healthcare and how scary it is that as an Indigenous person you can walk into a hospital and see the judgements that are made of you,” said Hughes. “It was very eye-opening and something I cannot unsee.”

Hughes hopes that viewers will apply their new-found perspective into their everyday conversations.

“I am consciously aware that my conversations with people have changed. I see a shift and I hope, in a positive way, that I can keep that up. There are times when there are teaching moments and because of this, I can share more than I ever expected,” says Hughes.

Photo credit: The LancetNadine R Caron, general and endocrine surgeon, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Surgery, Northern Medical Program; Co-Director UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health

The experience gave Hughes an appreciation for the role of traditional practices and methods.

Through the project, she hopes people will consider the way we treat others.

“We are all human, we are all the same. Everybody has hopes and dreams. The difference is just in the way we treat each other. I hope people would sit down and see the accomplishments of some people and see that it has nothing to do with where you're from,” says Hughes.

Photo credit: The LancetEarl Henderson, Adjunct Professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and a respected Elder in the Prince George community

Picturing health: health advocates for Indigenous communities in British Columbia, Canada, can be viewed online.