Advancing truth and reconciliation in health care: A commitment to healing and empowerment – CPSA
September 5, 2024
Read time: 2 minutes
Dear friends and supporters of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta,
As we prepare to recognize the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation this month, I want to emphasize the critical journey we must take together—one of truth and reconciliation in healthcare. The Indian Residential School (IRS) system has left a deep and lasting impact on Indigenous peoples, affecting individuals, families and communities. Racism and discrimination, especially Indigenous-specific racism, continue to challenge Alberta’s healthcare system. It’s vital that we acknowledge these injustices and take active steps to address them. This trauma is not just history; it’s a lifelong journey of healing that we must all support.
Being the first Indigenous person to serve as a former CPSA Councillor and former Co-Chair of CPSA’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in addressing discriminatory practices within CPSA. And yet, as an Indigenous person myself, Siksikaitsitapi of the Blackfoot Siksika Nation, and CEO of Siksika Health Services, I know firsthand that there’s still much work ahead.
Since 2021, Siksika Nation and the CPSA have worked together to fight racism and discrimination in health care. We recognize the key role that physicians and physician assistants play as leaders in health care and have committed to taking meaningful action against racism. Our partnership, supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is a significant step towards reconciliation. It’s built on mutual respect, equal standing, and the recognition of Siksika’s right to self-determination, as affirmed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP).
