Why Cultivating Safe Spaces Isn’t About Cultural Safety - but Here’s Why It’s Still Important

In many workplaces, “cultural safety” is approached as a set of rules about what’s “right” or “wrong.” While some cultural safety programs can help, they’re often rooted in fear—fear of saying or doing the “wrong thing”—and this fear can hold people back from genuine engagement and meaningful connection.

Cultivating Safe Spaces (CSS) takes a different approach. Rather than prescribing behaviors, CSS centers on Indigenous values and relational principles that foster deep respect, understanding, and inclusive spaces where learning thrives.

Here’s why CSS is valuable, even though it isn’t strictly a cultural safety program:

• CSS Encourages Genuine Connection, Not Fear CSS teaches participants to engage with openness and curiosity, not worry about missteps. By emphasizing empathy, patience, and relational thinking, CSS helps people connect on a human level. This supports true inclusion, where people interact meaningfully rather than follow rules out of fear.
• Respect Over Rules CSS doesn’t rely on a checklist of “do’s and don’ts.” Instead, it draws on Indigenous principles like relationality, active listening, and humility. These values guide us to approach one another with respect and awareness, fostering authentic relationships and a shift in workplace culture that goes beyond behavior guidelines.
• Relational Engagement as the Heart of Reconciliation Reconciliation is about building relationships, not just knowing “right” words or actions. CSS helps organizations bring Indigenous values into their reconciliation practices by creating opportunities for mutual respect, understanding, and connection. This way, reconciliation becomes an active, living part of an organization, rooted in engagement rather than compliance.
• Fostering Adaptive Learning and Growth CSS emphasizes adaptive leadership and growth, encouraging ongoing learning. This keeps the learning process dynamic and flexible, allowing people to respond thoughtfully to diverse situations and deepen their understanding over time.
• Creating Lasting, Inclusive Environments CSS is about cultivating a culture where everyone feels they belong and can express themselves openly. It values diversity as a source of strength and understanding, rather than as a compliance measure.

In short, Cultivating Safe Spaces isn’t about cultural safety because it’s not just about behavior—it’s about values, understanding, and connection. CSS encourages learning free from shame and fear, creating space for genuine understanding, respect, and growth. By embracing these principles, organizations build inclusive, resilient workplaces that support reconciliation and respectful relationships.

When learning is rooted in shame and fear, it shuts us down and prevents genuine growth, leaving no room for true understanding or connection.

About the Author: Elaine Alec is the co-founder of Naqsmist Storytellers Inc. and the author of "Calling My Spirit Back." She is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations cultivate safe spaces through meaningful dialogue and transformative learning.