MARCH 31, 2025 - RENEWAL DEADLINELearn about the culture and experiences of First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in BC, the importance of acknowledging racism in healthcare, and the role of cultural humility and safety in providing care in this Cultural Safety and Humility ReadLinks Series. The series also captures the College's journey in learning about cultural safety and humility including what we hear through engagement with First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in BC.
The College of Pharmacists of BC is committed to making our health system more culturally safe for First Nations and Aboriginal people.
Learn more about the College's commitment at: bcpharmacists.org/humility.
From now until November 30, 2021, The Government of BC is asking British Columbians to provide input on proposed anti-racism legislation as members of marginalized communities say the collection of data will help groups flourish.
This past month, we were disheartened and appalled to learn of the discovery of the remains of 215 children in unmarked graves on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School as well as the more recent discovery of the remains of 182 children on the site of the former St. Eugene's Mission School. We stand with the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, and Ktunaxa First Nations and all Indigenous People in BC as they continue to process this news.
We call on all health professionals to practice vigilant cultural humility and safety. To learn about and understand the impacts of residential schools on First Nations Communities in Canada; to acknowledge and reflect on the social issues faced by Indigenous Peoples; and to understand the historical contexts from which these issues originate.
Monday, June 21st, 2021 marks the 25th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. On this day, and throughout the month of June, BC’s health professionals are reminded to take some time to celebrate,reflect on, and learn about the culture, heritage and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Communities
In December 2020, Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond presented findings from her investigation into anti-indigenous racism within BC’s health care system. The report, entitled In Plain Sight, is based on consultations with almost 9,000 Indigenous peoples and health care workers and finds clear evidence of widespread systemic racism within our province.
BC Health Regulators (BCHR) welcomes the In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care report, which outlines the findings and recommendations from the Addressing Racism: An Independent Investigation into Indigenous-specific Racism in BC Health Care led by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.
In January 2020, College Staff, as part of the British Columbia Health Regulators Cultural Safety Task Force, took part in the First Nations Health Authorities’ (FNHA) Tenth Annual Gathering Wisdom Forum (GWX).
In addition to providing hand-out materials to event attendees, the task force collected responses to different questions, each focused on cultural safety in BC’s healthcare settings.
September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day, in recognition of the harm the residential school system has left on generations of indigenous families and their communities.
BC Health Regulators (BCHR) members are united in declaring that any racist behaviour among regulated health professionals is unprofessional, harmful to patients, and unacceptable. It contravenes the professional conduct standards to which health professionals are held and constitutes a danger to the public.
Sunday, June 21st marks the 24th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. On this day, and throughout the month of June, BC’s health professionals are asked to take some time to both celebrate and reflect on the culture, heritage and contributions of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis Communities.
September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day, in recognition of the harm the residential school system has left on generations of indigenous families and their communities. Wear an orange shirt and help create awareness of the individual, family and inter-generational impacts of Residential Schools in Canada.